CONSIDERED
A CAREER AS AN FBI INTELLIGENCE ANALYST?
Here's What It's Like: Up Close and Personal
11/05/04
Randall A. brings
a lot to the table. He has served as an FBI Intelligence Analyst for
17 "totally fascinating" years. From 1987 on, he worked in
the area of Organized Crime, specializing in the Italian and American
mafia. Then, galvanized by the 9/11 attacks, he transferred to Counterterrorism,
bringing his skills and many years of experience to bear on international
terrorist groups.
Q: Randall,
what's a typical working day like for you?
A: Interesting.
Never boring. Fast paced. I pretty much hit the ground running every
morning, poring over terrorist-related information from intelligence
sources in the U.S. and around the world. I assess and analyze intelligence
in these documents--like gathering pieces of puzzle and putting the
puzzle together. Then, as appropriate, I write threat assessments for
FBI executives and members of the national security and law enforcement
communities. An overriding focus of my work is to develop a topical
expertise in my assigned extremist groups so I can determine how they
may adversely affect the U.S. I will say this: at the end of any given
day, you feel like your work has made a difference.
Q: Have you
ever traveled overseas or in the U.S. on a case?
A. Yes.
Over the years I've traveled to England, Canada, Australia, France,
and Switzerland to assist in ongoing investigations. Five years ago
I gave a lecture to analysts in London on Internet gambling--and was
interviewed by Skyone TV News, BBC radio, and the Daily Mail newspaper.
That was quite a charge.
Q: After
17 years as an analyst, what are your best memories?
A: I
will never forget working with the Italian National Police on the 1992
assassinations of anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino
by the Sicilian Mafia. More recently, working on the Oklahoma City Bombing
case and, of course, on Penttbom, the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Plus, it's
a thrill to brief the Attorney General in person on an ongoing case--and
also to brief Congressional committees on crime problems that might be
addressed by legislation.
Q: Any advice
to prospective FBI recruits?
A: I'd
say to read up, study, and seek out expert advice in the field you
wish to pursue at the FBI. Becoming an expert is a never-ending process.
Link:
Interested in applying? Go straight to www.fbijobs.gov