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(U//FOUO) September Travels -- Utah and the Wye River Conference
Center
FROM: Cindy M. Farkus
NSA/CSS Senior Intelligence Authority
Run Date: 10/12/2006
(U//FOUO) The NSA/CSS Senior Intelligence Authority visits the Utah Regional Language Center
and a forum on "Understanding Emergence"
(U//FOUO) I'd like to take a few minutes of your time to bring you up to date on some steps we
are taking to change our approach to how we conduct our business.
(U//FOUO) Update on the URLC
(U//FOUO) In early September, NSA representatives* attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for
the Utah Regional Language Center (URLC). Honored guests and speakers included Governor
Jon Huntsman, Jr. and MG Tarbet, Utah National Guard TAG**. The URLC is NSA/CSS's first
language processing center - and just one year ago, it was just a dream. The URLC has come a
long way over the past year and is already achieving its primary goal of "Supporting National
Security through Linguistic Excellence."
(S) The URLC was established in response to direction by Congress after 9/11 for NSA/CSS to
increase its pool of diverse language analysts critical to the Global War on Terrorism. To
accomplish that goal, we chose to focus on language processing in non-traditional locations likely
to provide access to a broader pool of language skilled recruits who could be hired within a short
time. Recruiting began in September 2005, and just seven months later, the first linguists
walked through the door. The URLC currently has 16 linguists on board, some of whom are
proficient in two or three dialects, or are already cross-training into other critical languages.
These talented linguists are already making a difference for our mission and we're proud to have
them as part of the Analysis & Production family.
(S) Many of the party had the opportunity to see other elements of the Utah SIGINT system via
a BLACKHAWK helicopter tour to Ogden and Salt Lake City. The long-standing relationship we
have had with the National Guard has certainly paid outstanding dividends! Type "GO URLC" or
click on this link for more information on the URLC and the ribbon cutting ceremony.
(U//FOUO) URLC HQ in Draper, Utah (at a National Guard facility)
(U//FOUO) IFA Forum: "Understanding Emergence"
(U//FOUO) In mid-September, I attended the Institute for Analysis (IFA) forum on
Understanding Emergence. The IFA is an Advanced Analysis Lab (AAL)-sponsored activity
designed to reach out to experts, the vast majority of whom have not been involved with the
intelligence community, in order to increase the intellectual capital engaged in intelligence
analysis and develop new processes, methodologies, techniques and tools for the analytic
community (see background article ).
(U//FOUO) Why emergence? An essential aspect of intelligence-gathering is to avoid surprise.
This requires anticipating phenomena that emerge without obvious warning. Without a playbook
of pre-identified threats, understanding, detecting, and avoiding emergent threats poses
substantial analytic and organizational challenges. The Intelligence Community is looking
for new ways of understanding emergent phenomena - new methodologies, mindsets,
and technologies that may enhance our ability to avoid surprise.
(U//FOUO) The forum brought together thought leaders, experts and our intelligence analysts at
the Wye River Conference Center. We explored best practices for understanding emerging
trends from a variety of disciplines, and how leaders in various fields anticipate, manage and
sometimes gain advantage from emergent phenomena. We developed a framework for
understanding the ways that the intelligence community can augment its understanding of
emergence.
(U//FOUO) You'll be hearing more about what challenges we looked at and how we intend to
apply the framework to today's problem sets. Type "go ifa" to learn more or click here: IFA
webpage .
(U) Look for more details on these activities (and more) in the future.
(U) Notes:
*(U//FOUO) Representatives from the following organizations attended:
Analysis & Production
Installations and Logistics
Human Resources
Information Technology Directorate
Legislative Affairs Office
Associate Directorate for Education and Training
The Senior Language Authority
Denver Security Operations Center
The Cryptologic Centers
**(U) TAG = The Adjutant General
"(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