Which entity provides guidance on the conduct of intelligence collection?

The National Intelligence Program (NIP) serves as the framework that guides the conduct of intelligence collection across various intelligence agencies. It outlines priorities, goals, and specific initiatives for the development and integration of intelligence capabilities. The NIP ensures that intelligence activities are aligned with national security objectives and provides a structure for resource allocation.

In contrast, while the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Intelligence Agency play significant roles in intelligence operations, they do not primarily provide overarching guidance for intelligence collection across all agencies. The Director of National Intelligence oversees the entire intelligence community and manages the NIP, but the NIP itself is the authoritative source that delineates how intelligence collection should be conducted. This makes NIP the correct choice as it encompasses strategic direction and the coordination needed among different agencies to ensure effective intelligence operations.