Universal GEOINT Credentialing Christopher K
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GEOINT ESSENTIAL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE Transparent Transportable TransIndustry USGIF is a 501(c)(3) non-lobbying, nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger community of interest between Government, Industry, Academia, and Professional Organizations. Almost 500 students Twelve Accredited Geospatial have graduated from Intelligence Certificate Programs Northeastern West Point USGIF-accredited Penn State U. of Utah programs with George Mason UM Columbia Air Force GEOINT Certificates. Redlands Academy Fayetteville State USC UT Dallas U. of South Carolina Did you know USGIF offers hundreds of hours of training, education, and professional development opportunities throughout the year? in Scholarships $792K awarded since 2004 u S gif Monograph Serie S V o L u M e 1 USGIF in 2014 published the Human Geography monograph as a community resource. Socio-Cultural Dynamics and USGIF is developing the first GEOGRAPHYChallenges to Global Security Darryl G. Murdock, Robert R. Tomes and Universal GEOINT Credentialing Christopher K. Tucker, editors Program to bolster profesional development in the GEOINT tradecraft. USGIF produces the GEOINT Symposium, the largest intelligence event in the world. Sustaining Member 240 Organizations TEN YEARS Launched in 2012 as USGIF’s first official print magazine. GEOINT ESSENTIAL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE SECTION I The GEOINT Essential Body of Knowledge �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 Transparency and Transportability �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 Essential Body of Knowledge Background� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 Essential Body of Knowledge Purpose� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 Essential Body of Knowledge Competency Areas � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 SECTION II Universal GEOINT Competency Areas � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7 COMPETENCY I: GIS & Analysis Tools� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7 COMPETENCY II: Remote Sensing & Imagery Analysis� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 COMPETENCY III: Geospatial Data Management �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 COMPETENCY IV: Data Visualization � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 SECTION III GEOINT Essential Body of Knowledge Cross-Functional Knowledge and Skills� � � � � � � � � 11 COMPETENCY: Synthesis �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 COMPETENCY: Reporting �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 COMPETENCY: Collaboration �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 SECTION IV Evolution of the GEOINT Essential Body of Knowledge �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 Genesis � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 Development of the Essential Body of Knowledge� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 Relationship to Other Organizations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15 Future �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15 APPENDIX Sources �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16 1 Throughout the past 20 years, geographic, Being the first and only organization of its kind, mathematical, scientific, technical, collections, and USGIF has helped advance the GEOINT tradecraft analysis disciplines have converged as components of through its many events and programs, such as the a larger discipline—geospatial intelligence (GEOINT)� highly acclaimed GEOINT Symposium and GEOINT GEOINT has become the cornerstone of U�S� national Community Week� The Foundation has awarded almost and homeland security activities through its place at the $800,000 in scholarships to students studying the functional center of many diverse intelligence methods geospatial sciences—from high school students to and applications� doctoral candidates� USGIF has accredited 12 college In 2003, a group of leading authorities realized an and university GEOINT programs: Fayetteville State inherent need for a unified vision and approach to University, George Mason University, Northeastern promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft� University, Pennsylvania State University, University of This group created the successful GEO-INTEL 2003 Missouri, University of Redlands, University of South conference—the predecessor to the annual GEOINT Carolina, University of Southern California, University Symposium—and in early 2004 established the United of Texas at Dallas, University of Utah, the U�S� Air Force States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)� The Foundation’s mission was, and continues to be, to bring Academy, and the U�S� Military Academy at West Point� together government, industry, academia, professional USGIF has awarded more than 500 GEOINT certificates organizations, and individuals for the advancement of to students graduating from these accredited schools the geospatial intelligence tradecraft� with hundreds more matriculating through the programs� The Foundation also offers more than 100 hours of Recently, the private sector has experienced a similar training and education sessions throughout the year� rise in its applications of GEOINT� Geospatial Intelligence USGIF currently has more than 240 sustaining member is now part of Business Intelligence (BI)� Place and time are part of the working fabric that forms BI and informs organizations supporting and assisting in executing the decision-makers at all levels� However, the practice of Foundation’s objectives, but is primarily an educational GEOINT still requires exceptional skill and training� foundation� SECTION I The GEOINT Essential Body of Knowledge Transparency and Transportability This document provides background information and was created and will evolve over time� The EBK is not context as well as outlines standards for the broad a one-time creation� Rather, it will grow and change to practice of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)� The Essential reflect the sweeping changes we see in the wide variety Body of Knowledge (EBK) is at the heart of USGIF’s of GEOINT sub-disciplines� efforts to professionalize the global GEOINT workforce� Within this document are examples of transparency and Transportability means the Universal GEOINT transportability, the hallmarks of our program� Certification, built and administered by USGIF, will be valued within and between many industries� Thus, the Transparency means not only may any aspiring concept of a “trans-industry” credential is introduced GEOINT professional gain access to the EBK, but he or as a manifestation of transportability� she can also understand the process by which the EBK Essential Body of Knowledge Background While there are several definitions that attempt to frame In response to Vickers’ memo, then-NGA Director the Geospatial Intelligence profession, the most well- Letitia A� Long cited USGIF as a partner organization known definition of GEOINT stems from the United to help the agency meet this goal� In October 2013, States Code, Title 10, section 467 (10 U�S�C� § 467), USGIF and NGA entered into a cooperative research which states: and development agreement allowing the two organizations to share best practices and partner on “The term ‘geospatial intelligence’ means defining a set of GEOINT competencies for the entire the exploitation and analysis of imagery and community� geospatial information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and USGIF recognized the practice of GEOINT extended geographically referenced activities on the well beyond the U�S� Defense, Intelligence, and earth. Geospatial intelligence consists of Homeland Security Communities� This realization imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial prompted the development of a Universal GEOINT information.” Certification� The goal was to create industry’s answer to government-specific credentials through In October 2011, Dr� Michael Vickers, then Undersecretary the development of a transparent, transportable, of Defense for Intelligence, issued a memorandum and trans-industry certification appropriate for both calling for the accredited certification of intelligence government and commercial GEOINT practitioners� professionals, including those at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)� In the memo, USGIF embarked upon a 16-month effort to define Vickers cited the professionalization of the Intelligence this GEOINT EBK, which depicts the knowledge, skills, Community workforce as critical to evolving mission and abilities a practicing GEOINT professional should demands and called upon training and education to possess� USGIF engaged the subject matter expertise meet skill gaps in analysis, foreign language, cyber, of industry organizations such as the American human