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(U) Analysts: Networking With IC Peers Pays Off
FROM: Cindy Farkus, NSA/CSS Senior Intelligence Authority and
Asst. Dep. Director for A&P (S2)
Run Date: 09/15/2006
(U//FOUO) Collaboration with our analytic peers at other Agencies can reap great rewards. The
following example from the Office of International Security Issues (S2C) illustrates how "two
heads" can be better than one when dealing with a complex issue and the great success that can
be achieved when NSA analysts work closely with their counterparts.
(U//FOUO) From Regina Hambleton, the NSA/CSS Representative - Defense, and former Global
Capabilities Manager for International Security Issues (S2C):
(C) I am sure that there are many success stories that derive from NSA and CIA collaboration. I
just wanted to share with you another that has its roots in a Career Analysis Program (CAP) tour
that a CIA analyst took within NSA.
(C) International Security Issues mission has benefited from the work of several analysts who
came to NSA for 6 weeks under CAP. We integrate them into the workforce and use their
language and analytic skills to produce SIGINT reports. If there are customer visits, community
analytic discussions, or target relevant meetings the CIA analysts are also encouraged to
participate. At the end of their tours, all the analysts have said it was a worthwhile experience -improving their understanding of SIGINT and providing them with a network of contacts. The CIA
analyst in this story was a CAP participant in 2003. It only goes to underscore that these
relationships can be long lasting.
(U) The Story:
(S//SI) International Security Issues (ISI) was recently analyzing a lengthy French-language
conversation concerning international agricultural negotiations. The conversation provided great
detail but was VERY technical. After very long and thorough research, a senior ISI analyst felt
she had figured out the majority of it, but 1) wanted a second opinion, and 2) still needed one
piece to the puzzle. She called a CIA counterpart who had been an integree in the ISI office for
one month back in 2003.
(S//SI) They discussed the problem areas in detail; the ISI analyst sent her counterpart the text
in question and the two spent a very long time working on it together. According to the ISI
analyst, it was interesting to see her CIA counterpart almost immediately put ideas together
that had taken her a lot longer to grasp.
(C) In the words of the ISI senior analyst, her counterpart is a fabulous resource who is very
willing to help and generous with her time. She would likely be willing to work with the other ISI
branches if the need arises. Getting to know her has really demonstrated the value of having
experts from other agencies integrated here (and vice versa) for a period of time.
(U) Making Contacts of Your Own...
(U) Analysis and Production has made "Achieving a collaborative analytic community" a strategic
goal for 2007-2010. One way to achieve this goal is by working more closely with our
customers, providing them with a more complete intelligence picture through collaborative
analysis.
(U) Working closely with our counterparts at other Agencies benefits both parties and insures
that the Intelligence Community (IC) is providing the best intelligence to our customers, be they
policy makers or the war-fighter in the field. Now is the time to reach out to your counterparts -
- pick up the phone, start an e-mail exchange, or arrange for a visit. If you're not sure who your
counterpart is at a specific agency, work with the folks in Customer Gateway who will be glad to
put you in touch with the right NSA liaison. Working together we can put the "pieces of the
puzzle" together and accomplish so much more.
(U//FOUO) Note: The Senior Intelligence Authority, Cindy Farkus, continues to keep the IA
Community up-to-date with periodic articles on SIDtoday. If you have anything you would like to
bring to her attention regarding the IA skill community, or any other item that involves the
Analysis and Production organization or its processes, she can be reached by email at
"(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