--- title: "The Office of Strategic Services, precursor to the modern CIA, is back" description: "The Office of Strategic Services was the forerunner of today's CIA. The CIA isn't going anywhere but the OSS is making a comeback." date: "2026-11-14" modified: "2026-11-14" authors: - name: "Miguel Ortiz" job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/miguelortiz.md" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-news/the-office-of-strategic-services-precursor-to-the-modern-cia-is-back/" categories: - "History" - "Military News" - "War History" tags: - "CIA" - "Military History" - "Special Operations" - "World War II" --- # The Office of Strategic Services, precursor to the modern CIA, is back ![the OSS is back office of strategic services army]() *(Department of Defense/War)* During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was created as a civilian intelligence agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for all branches of the U.S. military. Dissolved after the war, OSS operations were later taken up by the Central Intelligence Group which became the modern Central Intelligence Agency. Now, though the CIA isn’t going anywhere, the OSS is back. **Also Read: [The difference between Special Forces and special operations]()** On Nov. 12, 2026, the Department of War [publicly announced]() that the Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (ASW SO/LIC) would be elevated to equal footing with the Military Department Secretaries. Along with this, the secretariat has been renamed the Assistant Secretary of War for the Office of Strategic Services (ASW(OSS)) to honor the office’s special operations heritage. The Department press release notes that “active legislative proposals \[are\] underway to establish a permanent Under Secretary of Strategic Services.” ![Office of Strategic Services (OSS) world war II victory]() *While conventional forces fought on the frontlines of World War II, the OSS operated behind enemy lines. (National Archives)* In addition to the press release, the War Department publicly shared the [memo]() directing the action. Dated November 2, 2026, it calls the elevation a “bold, foundational change.” The office is currently held by Army Special Forces veteran Derrick Anderson. Confirmed by the Senate in December 2025, Anderson commanded two special forces teams during five deployments across the Middle East. He later served on the National Security Council as a counterterrorism director and as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Citing direction from Congress in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, the ASW (OSS) will have expanded responsibility for strategic guidance and governance, Special Operations Forces funding and budget matters, Special Operations-peculiar acquisition, and personnel policy. To that end, the memo calls for a budget reallocation of at least $45 million. It also includes the addition of 100 dedicated military and civilian personnel billets. ![OSS maritime unit world war II]() *The OSS Maritime Unit is a predecessor to the modern U.S. Navy SEALs. (National Archives)* The original OSS carried out high-risk operations behind enemy lines including espionage, sabotage, and subversion. This laid the ground work for the eventual creation of SOF units like the Green Berets and the Navy SEALs. Through the Global War on Terror, USSOCOM took on an increased role in direction action operations. When conventional troops were barred from seeking out enemy forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, combatant commanders often turned to Green Beret ODAs and SEAL platoons with looser engagement criteria. Although SOF units trained and led native forces, the unreliability of the Afghan National Army often led to U.S. troops doing the majority of the fighting. With a refocus of national defense policy to threats like Russia and China, USSOCOM is similarly shifting from direct action back to its asymmetric roots. The return of the OSS reflects this strategic change and reinforces the role of SOF in the larger military and defense apparatus. **Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty** **• [The Indian Scouts that forged the legacy of American Special Forces]()** **• [Special Forces fought North Vietnamese tanks for the first time at Lang Vei]()** **• [The President’s Hundred tab is more rare than Sapper, Ranger, or even Special Forces]()** ## Author Miguel Ortiz is a Senior Contributor for We Are The Mighty covering primarily military news and history with an emphasis on weapons technology. He is a former active duty Army officer and remains a member of the Army IRR. After commissioning through San Diego State University Army ROTC, Miguel served with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. He has written for We Are The Mighty since 2020, drawing from his passion for the military community and history. Miguel’s work has also been seen on Business Insider and The Blast. He remains an avid shooter, competing in local USPSA matches. Miguel’s other hobbies are traveling and watch collecting. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() ## More - [The father of the CIA: Wild Bill Donovan]() - [That time when Green Berets who avenged 9/11 on horseback recreated this legendary WWII jump]() - [One of the pioneers of the Navy SEALs lived almost a century]() - [A single map shows how crazy successful the OSS was in France]() - [The ‘Simple Sabotage Field Manual’ will make you question your coworkers’ loyalties]() - [Meet the one-legged spy who helped rid the world of the Nazis]() - [Italian women quietly enabled a new front for the Allies in World War II]() - [This CIA agent behind ‘Argo’ was the ‘Master of Disguise’]()