- Info
Who We Are
With 29 years (mostly) in the DI, I have had five separate careers, each
one building on expertise developed in the previous assignments. I've lived
overseas, worked in the White House Situation Room, extensively researched
absorbing topics, and had policymakers and colleagues interested in what I've
discovered. I've learned an immense amount about the field I studied at
university: international relations, but I've also learned so much more about
people, systems, politics, critical thinking, writing, briefing, and topics as
diverse as sanctions to biography to satellites. I don't have a yacht or a home
worth millions, but I have never been bored at work. I've always been challenged
to think and work at the most sophisticated levels, and I know that what I have
done has helped my country prosper and be safe. The people I work with are
intellectually curious, have wide-ranging and surprising interests and
knowledge, and possess dynamic, rigorous, and sophisticated thinking standards.
They also demonstrate the highest of ethical and personal standards; it is a
pleasure to work daily with such impressive people. –Jane, manager,
29 years
Serving as a first-line manager was one of the
most rewarding experiences I've had in my eleven years with the DI. The
intelligence and dedication to the mission of people with whom I've had the
pleasure to work never ceased to amaze me. As chief of two highly productive and
fast-paced teams—responsible for South Asian and Middle Eastern issues—I was
exposed to the best and the worst of the Intelligence Community, and I'm
optimistic that the folks manning the analytic trenches are as capable and ready
as ever to fight the good fight. Few organizations could have afforded me the
wide array of experiences I had prior to management; I've worked in four
different DI offices, traveled all over the world, and served as a PDB
briefer—briefing the most senior of our Policy customers and meeting the
President. –Steve, analytic manager/military analyst, 11
years
As a collection analyst I have had the opportunity to develop technical
expertise, brief a wide variety of customers, and travel extensively. I work
closely with regional as well as transnational analysts, helping them to
leverage collection systems to answer their key questions and further refine
their analysis, which in turn is passed on to policymakers. As collection
analysis is a relatively small field, analysts have considerable responsibility
as well as considerable autonomy in accomplishing their mission. This is a
unique and challenging field, and allows you to learn about the varied and
formidable resources available to assist other analysts in getting the
information they need to help make this country a safer place.
–Mike, collections analyst, 3.5 years
I came to the Agency from local government and
was able to jump right in and work on challenging and timely issues. After
receiving my master’s in peace operations, I was not sure where I wanted to
work, but the Agency had a need and I was proud to answer the call to serve my
country. I’ve been able to write for and brief top officials and diplomats,
bringing them up to speed on issues about the United Nations and impacting US
policy. In the DI, we often collaborate across offices to bring our collective
analytic best forward--and that creates a unique synergy. CIA has great employee
morale and an understanding management team that regularly asks for feedback.
One of the more exciting aspects of work is having the opportunity to be trained
in a variety of skills and subjects, usually with other members of the
Intelligence Community. –Michael, political analyst, 2 years
I was recruited by the Agency from my
communications graduate program at American University. I had no idea what was
in store for me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that working in the DI
provides a vast range of opportunities and relationships beyond what I had
imagined. In my day-to-day job I not only coordinate with analysts covering
every region of the world, but I also interact with graphics designers,
electronic publishers, and IT developers in order to provide our products to
policymakers and a wide variety of customers across the Intelligence Community.
The feedback we receive on our products is positive and encouraging; it provides
me with a clear sense of the Agency mission and a feeling of accomplishment in
directly supporting US policymakers—especially knowing that the products I edit
are read by the President on a regular basis! I also appreciate the “continuous
learning” aspect that is advocated throughout the DI—I have been able to attend
conferences, training, customer outreach events, and working groups and am
consistently encouraged to take advantage of opportunities that will further my
professional development. Although I have been at the Agency a short time, I
have been able to develop skills quickly that will serve me well in my future
career here—I look forward to the new experiences that await me.
–Jessica, publications officer (editor), 1.5 years
Posted: May 06, 2007 03:27 PM
Last Updated: Sep 04, 2008 02:50 PM
Last Reviewed: Sep 04, 2008 02:50 PM