Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 3, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2018

Global Security and Intelligence Studies • Volume 3, Number 1 • Spring / Summer 2018 Strategic Warning and Anticipating Surprise: Assessing the Education and Training of Intelligence Analysts Richard J. Kilroy Jr. Coastal Carolina University Katie Brooks Coastal Carolina University Abstract Education of intelligence analysts is important in how the nation responds to emerging threats. In the last 15 years, a number of colleges and universities have developed undergraduate intelligence studies programs, with the intent that many of their graduates would pursue careers in the intelligence community. The purpose of this article is to examine the extent to which these undergraduate degree programs are providing students the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to become intelligence analysts. The methodology employed consists of conducting content analysis of syllabi from schools offering courses in intelligence analysis to compare and contrast student learning outcomes, pedagogy, assessment, use of analytic tools and processes (such as structured analytical techniques, simulations, and exercises), and other instructional methodologies. It also includes interviewing faculty teaching in these programs, as well as interviewing intelligence analysts currently working in the intelligence community and instructors at the professional schools which train intelligence analysts. This article argues that while undergraduate education in intelligence analysis does a good job in exposing students to the unique challenges intelligence analysts face in assessing threats and providing strategic warning, an overemphasis on using structured analytical techniques in some of these courses may not be providing students with the critical thinking skills necessary to become intelligence analysts who are able to anticipate strategic surprise. Key Terms: Intelligence analysis, structured analytical techniques, intelligence community, education, training, strategic surprise, critical thinking 33 doi: 10.18278/gsis.3.1.3

Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 3, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2018 | Page 34