Air Force Office of Special Investigations

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The AFOSI/XILI office is responsible for processing requests for OSI records under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Written requests may be received by postal service, facsimile or electronically at afosi.hq.foia@ogn.af.mil. Requests received by facsimile or electronically must have a mailing address included since it may not be practical to provide a substantive response electronically.

What is the FOIA?

The Freedom of Information Act Program (DODR 5400.7) allows the general public including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, to request records electronically or in writing from the Federal Government. Some records are released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act, and may therefore reflect deletion of some information in accordance with the FOIA's nine statutory exemptions or two law enforcement record exclusions. A consolidated list of such records is on Defense Link and the U.S. Air Force FOIA site. Currently the law requires agencies to respond to requesters within 20 working days upon receipt of the request in the FOIA office.

Who can submit a FOIA request?

Members of the public, including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, organizations and businesses, and individual members of the Congress for themselves or constituents, may request records in writing. It is important to remember that the Freedom of Information Act applies only to federal agencies. It does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals. Each state has its own public access laws that should by consulted for access to state and local records.

How to Make a FOIA Request

Please click here and fill out this Verification of Identity Form, sign it at the bottom and forward it to:
HQ AFOSI/XILI (FOIA Queue Manager)
P.O. Box 2218
Waldorf, MD 20604-2218.
Please ensure you mention "FOIA." Written requests may be received by postal service, facsimile or electronically at afosi.hq.foia@ogn.af.mil. Faxed or e-mailed requests must have a mailing address included since it may not be practical to provide a substantive response electronically.

Release of E-mail Addresses

Air Force policy is to deny requests for lists of e-mail addresses (both personal and organizational) using FOIA exemption (b)(2)(high). We also rely on FOIA exemption (b)(6) when denying lists of personal e-mail addresses. High (b)(2) protects internal information, the disclosure of which would risk circumvention of a statute or agency regulation. Because DoD e-mail systems are to be used only for official and authorized purposes, the addresses are considered primarily internal. The regulations at issue that could be circumvented include DoD and AF regulations that require us to limit use of e-mail to authorized purposes, and to protect the security of your computer and information systems. Exemption (b)(6) protects information that if released would permit a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This does not prohibit an organization from including a single e-mail address on a Web page of in correspondence.

What are the fees for a FOIA request?

Please call the FOIA Office for a schedule of fees.

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FOIA Office

FOIA Office
HQ AFOSI/XILI
P.O. Box 2218
Waldorf, MD 20604-2218

Tel.: (301) 870-1104/1100
Fax: (301) 870-1116

Click here to e-mail the FOIA Office

FOIA Reading Room

The FOIA Reading Room is available where the public may inspect copies of any previously processed Air Force FOIA releases.

If dissatisfied with the response received from the center, you may contact
the FOIA Public Liaison at (703) 696-6487 or email here.

Public Affairs Office

AFOSI Public Affairs
1535 Command Drive
Suite C-309
Andrews AFB, MD 20762