The CIA seal is one of the most recognizable images in the world. You’ve probably seen it on book covers, T-shirts and in the movies.

But what’s the meaning behind the seal? What does it represent to the CIA, its employees and the US citizens we serve?

Section 2 of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 provided for a seal of office for the CIA. The seal’s design was approved on Feb. 17, 1950 in President Harry Truman's Executive Order 10111.

In this Order, the CIA seal is described in heraldic terms as follows:



SHIELD: Argent, a compass rose of sixteen points gules. CREST: On a wreath argent and gules an American bald eagle's head

erased proper. Below the shield on a gold color scroll the inscription "United States of

America" in red letters and encircling the shield and crest at the top

the inscription "Central Intelligence Agency" in white letters. All on a circular blue background with a narrow gold edge. AND WHEREAS it appears that such seal is of suitable design and is

appropriate for establishment as the official seal of the Central

Intelligence Agency



But the formal verbiage in President Truman’s Executive Order does not clearly explain what the various parts of the seal mean.

Here’s how we interpret our seal: