The 9-11 Commission identified a widespread lack of cultural knowledge within the intelligence community (Lilly, 2004). That lack of knowledge was considered to run from the ground up, all the way to the board room. Cultural knowledge cannot be overstated because it provides a "foot in the door" for intelligence gathering and analysis. Outsiders will be shunned even more because of subtle cultural missteps, and information may not be correctly placed into context when analyzing information. Without understanding the culture of the target it will be easy to miss the "big picture."
The 9-11 Commission also identified information sharing, particularly within the FBI, to be problematic (Lilly, 2004). The Bureau did not demonstrate the capacity to facilitate large threat analysis and had numerous institutional barriers shifting from a law enforcement mission to a national security mission. Such a large intelligence inadequacy needs to be addressed for obvious reasons. Until the FBI witnessed significant changes in its structure (e.g., resources, management, etc.) the nation would be at increased risk (Lilly, 2004).
The 9-11 Commission's third recommendation was as much a call for reform as it was a criticism. The Commission determined that the National Security Council must be involved in all decisions involved with the management of U.S. intelligence (Lilly, 2004). In this way, the higher managerial oversight provided by the National Security Council can resolve problems with the intelligence infrastructure that would persist without such oversight.
The 9-11 Commission's findings call for a number of changes or improvements in U.S. intelligence. The intelligence needs span the continuum from intelligence training to national security bureaucratic additions. Intelligence training and guidance in national security can be accomplished in an online format within the context of an undergraduate or advanced degree. Depending upon the school chosen for intelligence training, the prospective student can learn from CIA Faculty.
The needs of the intelligence community explicated by the 9-11 Commission have been heard by private institutions of higher education. Some universities offer intelligence training, but not all have faculty with real experience in national security, and not all universities have CIA faculty as part of the university. Though there are a few schools available that offer accredited degrees in national security related fields, the prospective student is well served by identifying that institution that distinguishes itself from its peers, be it by its commitment to academic excellence or other factors (e.g., CIA Faculty).
The benefits of a degree from a national security university are numerous. Importantly, such education and training helps address the needs identified by the 9-11 Commission.
1. Lilly, S. (2004). Fixing Our Intelligence Problem. Center for American Progress.
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Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, national security, CIA faculty, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu
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