GEOINT - Opening Session Focuses on Mom, Apple Pie and Training

The GEIONT conference is focused on the applications of geospatial technology for military and civilian intelligence gathering and interpretation. Much of the opening sessions at this year’s GEOINT conference in Orlando, Florida focussed on reviewing the mission of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency now headed by Vice Admiral Robert Murrett. Murrett delivered the keynote that presented the mission of the NGA and the fine shape in which he found the organization vacated by General James Clapper (ret.). However, a recurring theme that transcended Murrett’s presentation, his subsequent press conference and another general session during the morning was the challenge of finding and keeping talented and experienced geospatial analysts. Murrett addressed the issue of retaining personnel over the long term in a job in which the workforce finds satisfaction. Robert Cardillo, deputy director for analysis of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) said that over 50% if his workforce was not employed before 9-11. He has a daily challenge of training staff.He worries about his middle management which have not had the training of managing the analytical teams and sees no progress in training middle management. Dr. John Stopher, Budget Director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence commented that, "There are not many people on the hill (referring to Congress) that have the time and energy to devote to this," referring to personnel policy.

Priorities for GEOINT Research at NGA

Gary at ResourceShelf shares this info on a new GEOINT publication from the National Research Council:

Priorities for GEOINT Research at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Authors:
Committee on Basic and Applied Research Priorities in Geospatial Science for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Mapping Science Committee, National Research Council

“The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) provides geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) to support national security, both as a national intelligence and a combat support agency. In the post-9/11 world, the need for faster and more accurate geospatial intelligence is increasing. GEOINT uses imagery and geospatial data and information to provide knowledge for planning, decisions, and action. For example, data from satellites, pilotless aircraft and ground sensors are integrated with maps and other intelligence data to provide location information on a potential target. This report defines 12 hard problems in geospatial science that NGA must resolve in order to evolve their capabilities to meet future needs. Many of the hard research problems are related to integration of data collected from an ever-growing variety of sensors and non-spatial data sources, and analysis of spatial data collected during a sequence of time (spatio-temporal data). The report also suggests promising approaches in geospatial science and related disciplines for meeting these challenges. The results of this study are intended to help NGA prioritize geospatial science research directions.”