Education & Training
ISA’s Education & Training practice focuses on increasing our customer's workforce competence by enhancing analytic thinking and communications skills, technical expertise, and leadership ability at all levels. We equip our customers to meet the difficult challenges they face in a constantly changing environment by developing and unleashing the talent of their workforce.
COURSE PORTFOLIO
Approach to Education & Training
ISA believes in a blended approach to education. Depending on the type of training, we vary teaching techniques, including presentations by subject matter experts, featured guest speakers from senior roles across the interagency, in-class exercises, case studies with student presentations and discussions, and the use of other media that allow students to apply their knowledge in real-time. ISA will help bridge whatever knowledge gaps an organization may have.
Smaller Class Sizes
Our small class sizes of approximately 12 to 24 learners support delivery of training that resonates with learners, engages them, and encourages active participation. Learners have the freedom to converse directly with the instructor and each other, asking questions and raising relevant issues about their work experience.
Our Instructors
Our seasoned instructors bring a dynamic approach to learning that combines explanation of concepts with relevant problem-solving activities. Our instructors relate to the learners in a unique way because they have done similar work in their own careers. Their experience-based ability to illuminate broader considerations at an agency-wide, or even inter-agency, level helps learners understand how their day-to-day work yields greater effect on their mission.
Tailored Courses
The flexibility of ISA’s curriculum allows us to serve each of our customers precisely. We have successfully worked with National Security, Federal /State / Local Law Enforcement, and private sector customers to compress or expand course length, tailor design, and address material to meet the need. With every customer, we evaluate course objectives and tie them to the intended audience to adjust the level and type of content provided.
Contract Vehicles
Commercial Price List for Training Courses
Based on $400/student per day plus additional items described in table above.
Contact ISA for FY24 pricing. This list is not all-encompassing of the ISA course catalog, contact us for additional course offerings.
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
“This is by far the best course I have taken at the Agency.
I think it would serve well in being offered more regularly and extended to employees beyond the minimum five-year requirement.”
Department of Defense (DoD)
Intelligence Community 101 (IC-101) Training
“Exceptional instructors, I am OSD-Comptroller certified level III and this is the best training I’ve ever received.”
U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)
Intelligence Resource Management Training
“Both instructors plus all guest lecturers were great, with a wealth of real-world experience to share.”
Department of Defense (DoD)
Intelligence Community 101 (IC-101) Training
Experienced Instructors
ISA offers a cadre of instructors with relevant first-hand experience working in the U.S. Government and Intelligence Community. ISA instructors bring unparalleled experience and insights from years of high-profile service in the executive and legislative branches of government as well as the private sector. Their experience-based competence affords the instructors the ability to illuminate broader considerations and help learners understand how their day-to-day work yields greater effect and importance for their mission.
Active TS/SCI clearances
20 years of experience in the following fields: intelligence and security analysis, financial management, contracting and acquisitions, auditing and oversight, Congressional relations, accounting, risk management, information technology and protection, law and policy, governance, professional research, and government service
A master’s degree or higher in a relevant field
Professional and instructional experience with U.S. intelligence
agencies and DoD intelligence components, foreign governments, and the private sector
OUR INSTRUCTORS
Dr. Mark M. Lowenthal, an internationally recognized expert on intelligence, is the former President of The Intelligence and Security Academy where he now serves as a senior instructor. From 2002-2005, Dr. Lowenthal served as the Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and Production and also as the Vice Chairman for Evaluation on the National Intelligence Council. Prior to these duties, he served as Counselor to the Director of Central Intelligence. Dr. Lowenthal was the Staff Director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the 104th Congress (1995-97), where he directed the committee’s study on the future of the Intelligence Community, IC21: The Intelligence Community in the 21st Century. He also served in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), as both office director and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and has been the Senior Specialist in U.S. Foreign Policy at the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Dr. Lowenthal has written extensively on intelligence and national security issues, including six books and over 100 articles and studies. His most recent book, Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy (Sage/CQ Press, 8th ed., 2019), has become the standard college and graduate school textbook on the subject. He has also written three novels, Crispan Magicker (1979) The Great God Pan, and Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger (the latter two both Kindle e-books). Dr. Lowenthal is a frequent public commentator on intelligence issues. He has appeared on each of the major networks, the Lehrer Newshour, and Charlie Rose; his op-eds have appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Neil Wiley retired from government service in 2021 with 38 years of experience in the national security arena, both as a naval officer and as a civilian intelligence professional. He is currently a Professor of Practice at the University of Maryland Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) and Managing Principal of Lyseon Consulting LLC.He most recently served in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as Principal Executive, performing the duties and responsibilities of the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. Prior to that, Mr. Wiley served in ODNI as Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (NIC). In this capacity, he was responsible for leading NIC analysis across the Intelligence Community to inform immediate and long-term national policy deliberations. Mr. Wiley held multiple leadership positions with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) including the Director for Analysis where he led DIA's all-source analytic effort. Mr. Wiley also served as the DIA Principal Deputy Director for Analysis, Chief of the Defense Technology and Long-Range Analysis Office, and Chief, of the Military Forces Analysis Office.
He also served at the United States European Command's Joint Analysis Center in various capacities including Deputy Director of Intelligence.
From 1983 through 2003, Mr. Wiley served in the United States Navy, initially as a Surface Line Officer and, latterly, as an Intelligence Officer. Awards and honors include the Presidential Rank Award-Meritorious Senior Executive, the National Intelligence Distinguished and Superior Service Medals, DIA Director's Award, and creation as an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for service as US Liaison Officer to the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. Wiley attended the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he studied Biological Sciences, and Ancient History and Classical Languages. He is married to Alison Michelli, a writer.
Denny Watson spent most of her career at the CIA, where she created and led several large, innovative analytic programs and served as a President’s Daily Briefer (PDB) in two administrations. In addition to being a lifelong analyst, Denny’s CIA postings included Chief of Staff of the National Resources Division, Chief of the Agency’s performance management organization, and Chief of the Emerging Issues and Advanced Analytics Group – she created the latter two programs. She also served overseas and completed assignments with the (real) State Department and on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Denny received her BA in International Affairs and MBA from The George Washington University and has been adjunct faculty at both GWU and Georgetown University. After leaving federal service in 2012, Denny moved to the private sector, where she has been delivering analytic solutions to address global risk challenges at several organizations. She is currently an advisor to several data analytics companies that are doing groundbreaking work and consults for others.
John Stopher is an independent consultant in national security space and intelligence. He is also a Senior Fellow supporting PSSI’s Space Security Program.
John previously served as the Principal Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force for Space and was responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force for establishing a Space Force as well as governance, planning, policy, strategy, development and execution across the defense space portfolio and integration with the National Security Space Enterprise. He was also the lead for international space relations and interdepartmental and interagency matters.
Prior to joining the Air Force in 2017, Dr. Stopher was the President of 377 Omega, a national security space and intelligence community technology, policy, and programs focused consulting company.
From 1998 until 2007, John served on the U.S. House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as Budget Director, Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, and Program Monitor for the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. John also worked at SeiCorp, TASC, and Eastman Kodak as an engineer on national space programs.
He earned his PhD in electrical engineering from the University at Buffalo. His research was sponsored by the Strategic Defense Initiative in the area of advanced pulsed power for space systems and taught courses in electromagnetic theory, probability and statistics, electric circuits, and physical electronics laboratory.
John Sano is a former accomplished CIA Executive at the highest level of the Clandestine Service with a unique career in directing complex intelligence programs internationally and with Corporate America. He directed the operational focus of U.S. global intelligence operations on terrorism, weapons proliferation, counterintelligence, regional and country-specific issues at a time of unprecedented growth in both human and budgetary resources and unprecedented threats. Intimately involved in the creation and management of the (then) newly formed National Clandestine Service.
John has extensive overseas experience in negotiating agreements, creating alliances and implementing programs with various foreign governments, particularly in regionally unstable areas.
From 2007 through 2013, as a senior executive with Cisco Systems, Inc., John advised senior leadership on business initiatives involving the U.S. government, other industry leaders and foreign entities.
Since 2007, John is a Director on the Board of Garda Federal Services. He is also an adjunct professor of graduate intelligence studies at The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C. and a lecturer at The Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C. He has been a Senior Advisor with The Chertoff Group, Washington, D.C. since 2014 and is currently the Vice-President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers.
Richard P. McFarland is an independent consultant in the national security and infrastructure communities. He is also an active member of the Professional Services Council and Mt. Vernon Historical Association.
Mr. McFarland’s experience includes positions in both the public and private sectors. Before retiring from industry in the spring of 2022, he served as a career Air Force officer working on both Service and national space and intelligence programs which was followed by positions at Raytheon as Director of Congressional Relations, and at Parsons where he led their Washington Operations group.
He holds an MPA from Auburn University, an MA in systems management from the University of Southern California, a BS in Russian political science and history from the Air Force Academy and is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College. He is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Award.
Mark T. Damiano retired from government service in 2023 after over 38 years as an active participant and vital contributor at all levels in the national security community, both as an Air Force officer and civilian intelligence professional. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Net Assessment LLC, a South Carolina-based, Veteran-Owned small business.
Mark most recently served as the Senior Director of the White House Situation Room under both the Trump and Biden Administrations. He led 24/7 global situational awareness, intelligence alerting and reporting, and crisis management support to the President, Vice President, National Security Advisor, and senior White House staff.
Prior to that role, Mark held multiple operational and business leadership positions as a Defense Intelligence Senior Executive at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, to include as the first Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation and as the Deputy Director of the Source Operations Group.
In addition to his civil service, Mark is a retired Air Force officer with over 25 years of active duty service during which he commanded at the Wing, Group and Squadron levels. He served as a Military Assistant to both Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and Donald H. Rumsfeld, and as the Principle Military Assistant to Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy, and Master’s degrees from the National War College, Naval War College and Central Michigan University. He is married to Ellery Damiano and they have two children in college.
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