Education & Training

International Association For Intelligence Education (IAFIE) Certified Course

This 5-day course seeks to draw back the cloak on one of the U.S. Government’s most storied institutions: The Intelligence Community (IC). Designed for learners who are new to the intelligence and national security field, IC 101 offers insight into the Community’s roles, responsibilities, missions, and processes. The course includes quizzes, exercises, a capstone simulation, and an end-of-course test.

A 3-day course for mid-career professionals, IC 201 is tailored to the client to provide more in-depth discussion of specific topics. Clients may opt for a budget-heavy version for Resource Managers, for example, or a course emphasizing interagency relations and the National Security Council process for Liaison Officers and Policy Support Staff. Learners on a leadership track, moreover, may be best served by options that examine ongoing Community management challenges as well as evolving geopolitical and technology issues that could disrupt IC business practices. The course combines classroom lecture with group exercises and discussions to provide attendees with a holistic learning experience. It concludes with a capstone event and post-course test.

IC 301 is a 1-day seminar-style workshop for senior personnel dealing with some of the most complex issues confronting the Intelligence Community. Custom-built to meet the client’s needs, this course can address issues ranging from challenges in the budget process to navigating the interagency to the introduction of “game changing” technologies. Students will observe the IC from the perspective of the warfighter, as well as the decision maker. Furthermore, they will learn from interaction with their peers as well as extensive contact time with their instructors—highly qualified experts who have held senior positions in the Intelligence Community. This course goes beyond simply identifying or describing challenges facing the IC: It encourages students to assess how those challenges impact their organization and develop courses of action to address them.

International Association For Intelligence Education (IAFIE) Certified Course

Our DoD 101 course is designed for learners who are unfamiliar with the Department of Defense (DoD). This 5-day course seeks to unlock the secrets of one of the most complex bureaucracies in the U.S. Government. The course includes exercises and quizzes throughout and concludes with a capstone simulation as well as an end-of-course test.

This 3-day course is for mid-career learners who are ready for a more sophisticated and nuanced discussion of the topics covered in DoD 101. Designed to be tailored to meet the specific needs of the class, this course can offer “deep dives” into issues such as the acquisition and budget process, stakeholder management in DoD, cultivating effective relationships with Congress, the changing nature of warfare, the impact of Great Power Competition, and the effect of new and evolving technologies on DoD. The course combines classroom lecture with group exercises and discussions to provide attendees with a holistic learning experience. It concludes with a capstone event and post-course test.

Senior personnel will benefit from this 1-day roundtable-style seminar examining some of the most complex issues facing the DoD. Tailored to the needs of the client, this course can address challenges such as acquisition reforms, interagency cooperation, the changing nature of conflict, and the evolving logistics and support needs of the DoD. Students will learn from interaction with their peers as well as extensive contact time with their instructors—highly qualified experts who have held senior positions in the Department of Defense. This course goes beyond simply identifying or describing challenges facing the DoD: It encourages students to assess how those challenges impact their organization and develop courses of action to address them.

International Association For Intelligence Education (IAFIE) Certified Course

This 3-day course explains how military and national-level intelligence resource requirements are met through the federal budget process. With the instructional materials and discussions, learners gain a foundational understanding of the associated budgetary processes and terminology. The course includes instructor guidance, exercises, quizzes, guest speakers, and an end-of-course test.

Fundamentals of Analytic Methodologies is a 3-day course focused on helping students develop the research, thinking, and presentation skills essential for becoming an effective Intelligence Analyst. With an emphasis on the Intelligence Community Directive 203 Analytic Standards, the course covers the tradecraft skills inherent in the profession. It concludes with a hands-on exercise.

This 3-day course discusses the exploitation of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)—intelligence produced from publicly-available information. It examines essential tradecraft related to security, collection, and analysis, while giving practitioners the skills they need to effectively exploit the full-range of OSINT sources—including commercial data, social media, the Deep Web, and the Dark Web.

This 3-day course is designed to familiarize the learner with how counterproliferation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) fits into the overall defense and national security enterprise. It discusses the legal and policy framework that created, funds, and regulates ISR activities, the expectations decisionmakers have, and the challenges to producing relevant analysis. Moreover, the course exposes the learner to the impact that developments in the cyber realm and nuclear proliferation have had on counterproliferation ISR.

This 3-day course examines the process by which U.S. national security policy is developed, coordinated, funded, and implemented. Through lectures, case studies, and simulations, students will learn to navigate the complex national security landscape and recognize the equities, perspectives, and mission priorities of various stakeholders.

ISA’s Regional Seminars offer a survey of the countries and areas that are critical to U.S. national security. Taught by subject matter experts who have “boots on the ground” experience and a deep understanding of the region’s language, culture, history, and politics, the Seminars are a great introduction for learners taking on a new portfolio or seeking a deeper understanding of the area they cover.

This 1-day course focuses on the relationship between the government and its vendors. It seeks to provide learners with an understanding of how the government aligns its requirements for personnel, equipment, facilities, resources, and services with the financial resources needed to fund these requirements. This course introduces learners to government contracting basics and the processes the government uses that lead to contracting opportunities. It also presents learners with a fundamental explanation of the Defense Acquisition System, the various government contract vehicles, and the roles and responsibilities of those working on such contracts.

This 1- to 3-day course, will help Intelligence Analysts improve their ability to identify bias and other factors that inhibit objectivity, as well as incorporate techniques to improve critical thinking and analytic rigor in intelligence production. The course incorporates several hands-on exercises to practice the techniques discussed.