UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Life as an Intelligence Analyst
05/05/06
Luis Arias’ work
as an intelligence analyst for almost nine
years in the FBI’s El Paso field
office has placed him at the heart of some
interesting cases. Among them: investigation
of the Texas 7, a band of murderers, robbers,
and felons who escaped a South Texas prison
in 2000 and killed a Dallas police officer.
He was on the multi-agency task force that
gathered and developed the intelligence
that helped round-up the convicts in less
than two months. A probation officer for
14 years before joining the FBI, Luis now
supervises a team of analysts who work
both national security and criminal cases.
Luis talked to us about his job and his
critical role in the FBI mission.
Q. What is your typical day like?
Luis: As a supervisor,
I spend much of my time leading a team of
intelligence analysts. I review, assign,
cover leads given to intelligence analysts,
and I review and approve their work. I often
meet with executive management and special
agents to find out what they need and to
show results of our analysis. Also, I sometimes
coordinate the work of analysts from state
and local agencies targeting primarily drug
trafficking in the region.
Q. What is the most challenging
part of the job?
Luis: Just knowing that
it’s up to us to prevent the next terrorist
attack. We have to be on our toes every day.
The analysis we provide to national security
leaders and local law enforcement has to
be timely, insightful, and on the mark. The
country is counting on us. Local communities
are counting on us. We can’t let them
down.
Q. What do you like best about the
job?
Luis: Every day brings
new challenges, and I have to adjust all
the time to meet them head-on. One day I’m
leading a team of intelligence analysts track
down fugitives; another day I’m investigating
leads on a Mexican drug cartel unearthed
at a crime scene on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Another day I might be traveling with the
analysts and special agents to brief other
FBI divisions, the Intelligence Community,
and law enforcement agencies on how we perform
strategic analysis. I also get a lot out
of my work with the El Paso division’s
Community Outreach Program, where I created
a law enforcement education program for a
local Job Corps center, and I was the brainchild
of the Sandra Day O’Connor Criminal
Justice/Public Service Academy at a local
high school.
Q. Do you have any advice for prospective
FBI recruits?
Luis: Yes, I would say this:
If you want to make a significant contribution
serving this country and making a difference,
then please apply. It’s a rewarding career;
you’ll leave each day having the sense
you’ve served and protected the country’s
interests and feeling good about what you’ve
done. As a supervisor, I can also tell you
what we’re looking for in prospective
FBI recruits: a positive attitude, a solid
work ethic, integrity, and motivation. You
need good communication skills and you need
to be organized. And, of course, you need to
be flexible, because in the FBI you never know
what task the next day may bring.
Links: Apply
today at FBI Jobs |
Up Close and Personal Stories
