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(U) The TAC's Social Network Analysis Workcenter (SNAW)
FROM:
Chief, SNAW
Run Date: 03/15/2004
FROM:
Chief, SNAW
(U) Social Network Analysis (SNA) is an analytic approach that
uses sociology, graph theory, and statistics to characterize the
structure and behavior of networks and individuals . Understanding
the target's social network enhances and enables intelligence
production.
(U) The Target Analysis Center's Social Network Analysis
Workcenter (SNAW) is developing an integrated Social Network
Analysis methodology supporting event analysis within the SIGINT
community. SNA includes information on actors (people,
organizations, companies, etc), attributes (facts about or
properties of actors), relations (socially meaningful ties across
actors), and metadata (from information source). By mapping and
analyzing the pattern of social interactions ('works with', 'knows',
'receives money from', etc.) between individuals, SNA illuminates
the scope, complexity, and structure of networks, and the roles
individuals play within them.
(U) SNA can provide an overview or "organizational snapshot" of a
target organization and show the degree of 'interconnectedness' of
the target organization and its individuals. Key individuals who play
significant social roles can be identified. This, in turn, supports
SIGINT Development efforts and potentially highlights exploitable
weaknesses in targets for the target analyst.
(U) Understanding the character and behavior of key individuals
within the mission area also supports military operations planning
and execution. Additionally, SNA may provide metrics for Measures
of Effectiveness (MOEs) within a campaign.
(U) The SNA Workcenter is also charged with capturing and
translating the analyst's information needs into valid requirements
that enhance the total target analytic results.
(U) Here is just one example of how work in this division leads to
intelligence:
(TS//SI) SNAW Supports SSIO Project : SNAW analyst continued to
work with members of the SIGINT Support to Information
Operations (SSIO), Foreign Information Operations Threat Division
(S2K1) to support an SNA project on the Mujahedin-E-Kalq (MEK)
terrorist group in Iraq. SNAW provided initial analyses and
visualizations for the MEK project to help refine analytic
hypotheses and focus on potential high-value areas for analytic
exploitation. This project will contribute to an in-depth SIGINT
assessment report on the MEK and should provide insight on
numerous aspects of the target, including its power structure and
potential avenues for influence.
CON,
SERIES:
(U) SIGINT Development
1. SIGINT
Development: A
Network of Discovery
Networks
2. Target Technology
Trends
3. SIGINT
Development: the
Target Analysis
Center (TAC)
4. The TAC's Metadata
Analysis Cell (MAC)
5. The TAC's Social
Network Analysis
Workcenter (SNAW)
6. TAC's Target
Development
Services (TDS): In
the Spotlight and
Behind the Scenes
7. The NAC's Advanced
Network
Development &
Analysis (ANDA)
Division
8. The NAC's
Data/Network
Operations Center
(DNOC)
SNAW, 963-0095s)
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108