An Overview of the National Intelligence Community

George Mason University Course AIT 675 – Fall 2013 An Overview of the National Intelligence Community

Instructor: James M. Wilson

Phone: 703-201-3960 (cell) Email: ([email protected]) or ([email protected])

Meeting Day/Time/Location: Fridays / 4:30-7:10 PM / AQUIA 219

Overview: This graduate level course will introduce students to the structure and basic operations of the United States Intelligence Community (IC) with focus on Applied Information Technology. Students will learn general information about the organization, structure, operation and missions of the IC and about tools and techniques employed by US intelligence agencies and other intelligence services. The course will survey a range of intelligence problems and challenges, the types of data and data collectors employed, and how information is processed, analyzed, and disseminated. This course is completely unclassified in content and presentation.

Course Goals: Students will exhibit a basic understanding of the structure and operation of the US Intelligence Community. Students will be able to describe how diverse intelligence problems are addressed, information is collected and processed, and how analysis is conducted, to include some of the technical tools utilized for selected intelligence problems. Students will be able to identify issues encountered in accurate intelligence analysis as well as potential moral, ethical and legal issues encountered in intelligence operations.

Course Approach and Requirements: The course will employ lectures, class discussion, homework including directed readings, a writing assignment, a case study outline and presentation and two exams; mid-term and final. Course content will generally follow the text.

Students will be required to write a short (3-5 page) graduate level paper on an intelligence topic of their choice, approved in advance by the instructor. The best of the papers may be eligible for publication. Students will also be required to participate in a case study that addresses the functions of requirements definition, collection and processing, analysis, and dissemination and consumption which will include a formal presentation.

Grading:

 Class participation: 20%  Paper 10%  Case Study (20%) & outline (10%) 30%  Exams (20% each) 40%

1 AIT 675 Class Schedule: All classes meet on Friday from 4:30 to 7:10 PM in AQUIA 219

1. Aug/30/2013: Class Overview; Intelligence Community History and Organization. Prep: Text, Chapters 1, 2, and 3

2. Sep/06/2013: Intelligence Process and Disciplines; overview of paper and case study plan. Prep: Text, Chapters 4 and 5

3. Sep/13/2013: Analysis and Dissemination Prep: Text, Chapter 6

4. Sep/20/2013: Psychology of Intelligence Analysis Prep: Text, Chapter 6; and Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, Heuer

5. Sep/27/2013: Information and Data Management; Exam Prep

6. Oct/04/2013: Mid-Term Exam (20% of your grade )

Oct/11/2013: No class (Columbus Day Weekend)

7. Oct/18/2013: Mid-term Exam discussion; Paper and Outline Prep time

8. Oct/25/2013: Counterintelligence, Covert Action, Foreign Intelligence Services; Paper and Case Study Outlines due (30 % of your grade) Prep: Text, Chapter 7, 8, 15

9. Nov/01/2013: Policy Makers; Oversight and Accountability Prep: Text, Chapters 9, 10 Assign teams for case study presentations - First Team Meetings

10. Nov/08/2013 : Contemporary Intelligence Problems – The Intelligence Agenda Prep: Text, Chapters 11 and 12; Second Team Meetings

11. Nov/15/2013: Ethical and Moral Issues; Intelligence Reform Prep: Text, Chapters 13, 14; Third Team Meetings

12. Nov/22/2013: Case Study Presentations (20% of your grade ) Part One

Nov/29/2013: No class – Thanksgiving Break (27 Nov – 01 Dec)

13. Dec/06/2013: Case Study Presentations (20% of your grade) , Part Two: Exam Preparation

14. Dec/13/2013: Final Exam – (20% of your grade)

Required Text: Intelligence: From Secrets To Policy, Mark Lowenthal, CQ Press, Washington, DC, 2009. Note: This text is available as an eBook, which may be a less expensive and more

2 mobile option. The link for the eBook is http://store.vitalsource.com/show/978-1-4522-2813-6; contact Makenzie Verbout at [email protected] for more information.

Supplemental Readings:

 Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, Richards J. Heuer, Jr. 2007  An Overview of the National Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), 2007  National Intelligence: A Consumers Guide, ODNI, 2009  Current news items of relevance (Classroom discussion topics)

Additional Information:

Use of personal electronic devices for communications or activities unrelated to the course is discouraged during class except for emergencies; lack of adherence to this courtesy will be reflected in the class participation grade, which is 20% of your grade.

GMU is an Honor Code University and uses a variety of sophisticated software to detect plagiarism. Please see the University Catalog for a full description of the Honor Code and the honor committee process. http://honorcode.gmu.edu/

Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through ODS. http://ods.gmu.edu.

A more complete description of University Policies may be found in the University Catalog at http://www.gmu.edu/academics/catalog/0809/policies/index.html

The following Grade Translator will be used for the Fall 2013 Semester in AIT 675

Percentage Grade 98-100 A+ 94-97 A 91-93 A- 87-90 B+ 84-86 B 80-83 B- 77-79 C+ 74-76 C 70-73 C- 60-69 D 0 – 59 F