NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE UNIVERSITY

2014 Annual Report

A strategic and critical resource for the Intelligence Community 

. . . for more than 50 years

Education•Research•Outreach
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

the VISION:

NIU—the Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

the MISSION:

Through dynamic teaching and learning, original research, and worldwide engagement, NIU offers 

relevant, accessible, and career-long intelligence education that provides members of the Intelligence 

Community and national security communities with knowledge, analytical skills, and strategic 

awareness of the critical role Intelligence plays in the security of the nation.

the GOAL:

Develop strategic leaders capable of objectivity and critical thinking, in an academic environment that 

fosters a comprehensive understanding of the Intelligence Community.

Produce and publish value-added research that develops analytical and creative thinking skills, 

contributes to the Intelligence mission, and sparks innovation.

Serve as a catalyst for national and international Intelligence Community engagement.

Enhance the integration of the Intelligence Community through personal and professional relationships 

established in University programs.
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

TA B L E 

o f CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ................................................................................................................................................................... 11

NIU HIGHLIGHTS............................................................................................................................................................................................ 13

YEAR OF THE FACULTY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

YEAR IN REVIEW 2013–14.............................................................................................................................................................................. 25

NIU Student Profile ................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 

Institutional Effectiveness................................................................................................................................................................................. 32

Education........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 35

NIU Undergraduate Degree Program......................................................................................................................................................... 35

NIU Graduate Programs............................................................................................................................................................................. 36

College of Strategic Intelligence................................................................................................................................................................. 37

School of Science and Technology Intelligence.......................................................................................................................................... 39

NIU Academic Centers................................................................................................................................................................................ 40

Research............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43

Office of Research ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 43

Faculty Research and Conferences............................................................................................................................................................. 52

Outreach ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 53

Office of Outreach and Alumni Relations................................................................................................................................................... 53

Faculty Scholarship and IC Outreach.......................................................................................................................................................... 56

NIU Guest Speaker Program....................................................................................................................................................................... 60

Center for International Engagement ........................................................................................................................................................ 61

Administration.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 71

Registrar and Enrollment Services ............................................................................................................................................................. 71

Information and Educational Technology................................................................................................................................................... 71

Fiscal Resources ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 72

2014 COMMENCEMENT HONOREES AND AWARDS........................................................................................................................................ 73

MISSION SOURCE DOCUMENT....................................................................................................................................................................... 79
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

M E S S A G E 

from the

PRESIDENT

I am delighted to share with you the National Intelligence University (NIU) Annual Report for the Academic Year (AY) August 2013–August 2014. This 

annual report has been prepared in accordance with the accreditation and eligibility requirements of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education 

(MSCHE). The facts and figures presented are in compliance with reporting requirements and are verified by NIU’s Institutional Effectiveness Department.

The focus of the University’s 2014 Annual Report is on the “Year of the Faculty.” Our faculty members are engaging the world with relevant, accessible, and 

career-long intelligence education; innovative research; and international engagement and outreach programs that provide more opportunities for senior 

members of the Intelligence Community (IC). 

In 2014, the University

• Established a National Intelligence University Faculty Senate.

• Awarded emeritus status during convocation to those members of the faculty who have served the University in a long and distinguished manner.

• Highlighted exceptional research conducted by NIU faculty by awarding the Faculty Research Award at graduation.

Most importantly, NIU has reached a significant juncture in our history. After three years of adhering to a very ambitious yet practical strategic plan, we have 

emerged a stronger institution. We went to great lengths to better serve our students and the IC. New degree programs are being considered in collaboration 

with IC members, and the University examined more research and outreach programs to provide more opportunities for the senior members of the IC. 

Simultaneously, we have increased in size, reputation, and stature. The academic innovations highlighted in the Annual Report are just a small sampling of 

the exciting scholarly activity—with real-world implications—that our students are exposed to every day. 

On November 21, 2013, MSCHE reaffirmed NIU accreditation. The accreditation process examines the whole of an institution (planning, budget, 

programs, information technology, stakeholders, culture, personnel, etc.) to determine how well the parts are working together to meet the needs of the 

students. The Board of Visitors congratulated NIU on that achievement and on the commendation it received from MSCHE on the quality of its Periodic 

Review. 

We are now embarking on a new National Intelligence University Strategic Plan. We recognize that the economy, national and regional 

demographics, and changes within higher education pose special challenges for colleges and universities during the next five years. We believe that 

while those challenges may create risks, they also create opportunities. As we embark on this plan, we will remain true to our mission of educating our 

students to become strategic leaders, capable of objectivity and critical thinking, and IC leaders in their chosen professions. We will also remain 

dedicated to being the center of academic life for the Intelligence Community, contributing to the advancement of higher education and 

improvement of society through partnerships, purposeful change, and creativity.

DAVID R. ELLISON, PH.D., REAR ADMIRAL, USN (RET.)

(from left to right) John Robinson, Center for International Engagement, Dr. Ellison, and

Rear Admiral Willie Metts, Director for Intelligence, U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), April 2014
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

The University, in its 52nd year as an institution, is

• Providing a worldwide dimension through its Academic Centers and instructional sites.

• Making substantial progress with the implementation of a Faculty Hiring Pilot Program in 2014.

• Reinforcing and enhancing the integration and development of the Fused Cyber Operations Program with NIU’s Information Operations/Cyber

Intelligence academic program.

• Launching two new cooperative research initiatives: one for the Western Hemisphere and one for Science and Technology Intelligence.

• Supporting the Center for International Engagement’s new Strategic Intelligence Leadership Program (SILC) that brings more junior international

partner-leaders together in a joint educational environment.

• Taking its first steps toward the establishment of a formal Alumni Association.

These opportunities, and the goals detailed in the 2014–2018 Strategic Plan, light the way to the future of the National Intelligence University. They are 

rooted in the broadened IC mission and values of the University; they are achievable; and, if accomplished with creativity and verve, they will result in 

substantial growth in excellence and reputation. 

The academic innovation you see in this report is the result of a strong and fruitful partnership among faculty, administration, staff, and students. It is 

a privilege to lead an institution with the depth and the talent that we have at the National Intelligence University.

DAVID R. ELLISON, PH.D., REAR ADMIRAL, USN (RET.)
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

NIU

HIGHLIGHTS

 NIU and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) leveraged the strategic role of DEA as a member of the Intelligence Community by

establishing the first full-time DEA Faculty Chair at NIU. A historic first for both organizations, the formal agreement solidifies a new collaborative 

partnership that represents the successful goals of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) by instilling critical knowledge of DEA

within the University curriculum.

 NIU’s Center for Strategic Intelligence Research (CSIR) launched two new cooperative research initiatives: one for the Western Hemisphere and

one for Science and Technology Intelligence.

• The Western Hemisphere Research Initiative (WHRI) conducts collaborative and/or individual original research focused primarily on Latin

America. It is guided by a senior fellow with over 25 years of academic and intelligence experience in the region. The WHRI cohosted a workshop

with the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) on “Transnational Organized Crime: Challenges for Mexico and the Northern Triangle

of Central America,” among other events in 2013 and 2014. WHRI also provided a keynote address at a forum at the U.S. Northern Command

(USNORTHCOM) that provided insight into Mexican security, politics, human rights, and economics over the last 20 years.

• The Science and Technology Intelligence Research Initiative (STIRI) conducts collaborative and individual research focused primarily on

Intelligence Community priorities. This initiative is a collaborative effort with NIU’s Anthony G. Oettinger School of Science and Technology

Intelligence (S&TI), and pairs a CSIR research faculty member with a faculty member in the S&TI School. Their work focuses on Weapons of

Mass Destruction and Emerging and Destructive Technologies. The initial research project, completed in summer 2014, was an investigation into

the current state of Russian nanotechnology.

 Middle States Commission on Higher Education approved the following new developments within the scope of NIU’s accreditation—further orienting

the University in academic centers and instructional sites that provide a worldwide dimension:

• Location at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Quantico, Virginia. This additional location has been

named NIU’s Quantico Academic Center.

• Instructional sites at the Defense Intelligence Officers (DIO) Headquarters in Canberra, Australia, and Joint Intelligence Training Academy Pacific

(JITAP), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

 NIU President Dr. David Ellison announced that the University will begin offering graduate courses in Quantico, Virginia, in fall 2014–15.

NIU, in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity, will offer the Master of Science of Strategic

Intelligence (MSSI) degree program as part of the new NIU Quantico Academic Center, located at the FBI Academy. Beginning in August 2014, this

new academic center will provide part-time graduate study for military and federal civilian intelligence professionals living or working in the Quantico

region.
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

	All full-time degree programs at NIU now count for IC civilian joint duty credit qualification. On October 22, Assistant Director of National 

Intelligence (ADNI) for Human Capital, Deborah Kircher, announced that the NIU Bachelor of Science in Intelligence (BSI) program is a joint duty 

qualifying experience for IC civilians at the GS-11 or Pay Band Level 2 and above who complete the year-long full-time undergraduate degree program. 

This announcement expands ADNI Kircher’s earlier guidance (February 2013) that designated full-time study in either of the NIU master’s programs 

as joint qualifying experiences.

	NIU is taking the first steps toward the establishment of a formal Alumni Association. The Office of Outreach and Alumni Relations continues to 

make progress in its multi-year effort to build a campus community that weaves alumni, former staff, and former faculty into the fabric of University 

life. After three years, the University’s alumni began engaging back in their own right: alumni helped organize and run events, and formed a charter 

group to begin planning the creation of a formal organization. With increasing frequency, alumni are asking, “How can I help?” 

NIU Annual Alumni Reunion—June 2014
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

YEAR

of the

F A C U LT Y 

NIU Celebrates the “Year of the Faculty”

NIU is proud to have been able to highlight faculty achievement 

and showcase faculty expertise throughout AY 2013–14. As the 

University begins its second half-century with deep roots and a 

bright future, nowhere are the roots deeper than where they have 

been planted and nurtured by faculty, cultivating future leaders for 

a safer nation. 

Besides providing education, research, and engagement essential 

for developing and challenging strategic leaders, faculty members 

have given generously of their time to make outreach successful 

in 2013–14: participating in talks to Capitol Hill staffers during 

the work day, and after hours as guests or guest speakers at alumni 

events. A quick glance at the news stories on the NIU websites 

reveals the great work of faculty in more than half of the stories. 

From the faculty emeritus induction ceremony at the beginning 

of the academic year, to Dr. Leitner’s Arctic adventures, to new 

certificate offerings and participation in war games, faculty are the 

lifeblood of the University. 
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation

The Director of National Intelligence recognized the faculty of NIU’s Anthony G. Oettinger School of Science and Technology Intelligence with the 

National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation for their efforts securing authorization of the school in record time. The NIU team, led by the Dean and 

Associate Dean of the Oettinger School, received commendation for those efforts at a National Intelligence Community award ceremony in December.

“Because of the tremendous work of everyone and our IC engagement network, NIU is able to provide a broader curriculum to students interested in 

pursuing intelligence in the hard sciences like cyber, biological, and nuclear threats,” said NIU President, Dr. David Ellison. “This achievement demonstrates 

the best of everyone’s commitment to the University’s vision of integrating the community one student at a time. I am very proud of the team’s efforts.”

The National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation recognizes an act of meritorious service performed by an organization within the Intelligence 

Community. Dr. Brian Shaw, first dean of the Oettinger School, and Dr. Duncan McGill, first associate dean, realized early on that NIU would better serve 

the IC with the establishment of the school and its newest graduate degree, the Master of Science and Technology Intelligence (MSTI), so they combined 

efforts to pursue it. The NIU Board of Visitors agreed—as did the Director of National Intelligence (DNI)—and the effort launched.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (left) awards Oettinger

School Dean Dr. Brian Shaw (center) and Associate Dean Dr. Duncan McGill

(right) with the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation for their

effortsin expanding NIU education into science and technology intelligence.

The United States of America

National Intelligence Community

CITATION

Anthony G. Oettinger School of Science and Technology Intelligence

is hereby awarded the

National Intelligence

Meritorious Unit Citation

in recognition of exceptional service from January 2010 through October 2012. During this 

period, the School rose to an unprecedented challenge of creating chartering, and securing 

authorization for a graduate school within the National Intelligence University under 

Department of Defense Instructions. The School is now a strategic and critical resource for the 

entire Intelligence Community. The addition of this new Science and Technology program is 

essential for continuing development of the National Intelligence University, broadening the 

academic offering base of the institution as well as bring mission-critical knowledge and 

education to the Intelligence Community. The School’s distinctive accomplishments reflect 

great credit upon its staff, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Intelligence Community.
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

. . . And the Faculty Research Award Goes to—Dr. Peter Leitner!

The National Intelligence University’s Center for Strategic Intelligence Research is pleased to announce the winner of the 2014 NIU Faculty Research 

Award—Dr. Peter Leitner. The criteria for this award include: (1) research that produced significant results for the Intelligence Community, such as a field 

experiment, classified research, or research on intelligence methods; or (2) publication in a peer-reviewed academic press or commercial press and potential 

or demonstrated benefit to the Intelligence Community. 

Dr. Leitner earned the NIU Faculty Research Award specifically for his work on furthering our understanding of extreme weather conditions on the 

operations of unmanned aerial systems in the Arctic, and for his continuing work on the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) 

threat. In the first case, Dr. Leitner oversaw research conducted by a thesis student in 2011. This student helped the Air Force test unmanned airborne 

navigation systems in the Arctic. In 2013, Dr. Leitner extended this research by collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA) to conduct a mission in the Arctic that tested a 13-pound Puma aircraft loaded with video and other sensors. This exceptional case highlights 

how student and faculty research turned into a collaborative effort among the Air Force, Coast Guard, NOAA, University of Alaska, and the Intelligence 

Community. For his efforts, Dr. Leitner received a Certificate of Merit from the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

In addition to his research in the Arctic, Dr. Leitner continues to conduct research and to publish on the CBRNE threat. In particular, Dr. Leitner is a 

cochair of the World Congress on CBRNE Science and Consequence Management. This international body brings together scientists from around the 

world to discuss research on CBRNE. Dr. Leitner also presented on this topic at eight symposia and conferences in 2013–14 and at nine different events 

in 2012. 

Dr. Leitner’s research reflects a deep personal interest in defending the U.S. homeland. In addition to the activities described above, Dr. Leitner also trains 

U.S. law enforcement in how to understand the context of biological and chemical threats, as well as how to deal with the potential aftermath of an attack. 

Dr. Leitner works to bring people together around a complex issue, and then he brings this new knowledge and energy back to the classroom and the 

Intelligence Community by engaging NIU students in collaborative research projects that extend our nation’s understanding of this threat. It is a great 

example of how NIU faculty can really make a positive impact.

Dr. Leitner is a member of the School of Science and Technology Intelligence faculty at the National Intelligence University, and teaches courses on CBRNE 

threats; intelligence analysis; weapons of mass destruction; and other topics. Dr. Leitner holds a doctorate in Public Administration from the University of 

Southern California, and master’s degrees in International Relations (Northern Arizona University), Science and Public Policy (Washington University), and 

American History (State University of New York).
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

FAC U LT Y S P OT L I G H T: An Arctic Story

NIU FACULTY MEMBER BRAVES THE ARCTIC 

TO STUDY UNMANNED SYSTEMS

Dr. Peter Leitner, a faculty member of the Anthony G. Oettinger School of 

Science and Technology Intelligence and winner of the 2013–14 Faculty 

Research Award, braved Arctic temperatures to understand the effects of 

extreme weather on unmanned systems. As part of his first trip in the 

northern ocean this past September, he worked with a team led by the 

U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center as they investigated 

implications for national security. NIU encourages faculty and students 

to address important questions concerning the Intelligence Community 

as part of the University’s focus on education, research, and outreach. 
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Eight Honored as Faculty Emeritus

At the August 26, 2013, Convocation, NIU honored eight men and one woman with the title of “NIU Faculty Emeritus”—given to retired faculty for 

significant contributions in teaching, research, and scholarship. These individuals continue to demonstrate their resolve for knowledge and learning through 

teaching, writing, and sharing their experiences with others to make a positive impact. We can look to them as excellent examples of dedicated service to 

the mission. 

From left to right: Mr. Robert Mirabello, Dr. Robert DeGross, Mr. Thomas Fields, Dr. Russell Swenson,

Mr. Francis Hughes, Dr. Max Gross, Dr. Elizabeth Pickering, and Mr. James Major.
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Noted for his tactical reconnaissance and Intelligence experience, Mr. Robert Mirabello contributed enormously to the NIU faculty. Early in his career, 

he listened to some good advice and decided to “take charge of enhancing his learning.” In doing so, he sought out the Defense Intelligence College and 

eventually joined as a faculty member. While there, he directed the wargaming and joint components of the academic program, and continues to serve today 

as an adjunct faculty member. In talking about NIU’s transformation, he said, “My respect and appreciation has continued to grow for the contribution that 

this institution and its people make to the nation’s security.” 

Dr. Robert L. DeGross served as the first Dean, and later Provost, of what was then the Defense Intelligence College. He spearheaded efforts to revise the 

college’s curriculum and gain congressional degree-granting authorization. Dr. DeGross reflected about the positive changes he sees today, stating, “NIU is 

transforming the IC into a more professional intelligence community workforce, capable of meeting the demands placed on it by the nation.” 

Mr. Thomas J. Fields taught national security policy, strategy, and decisionmaking, as part of the Joint Military Intelligence College (JMIC). During his 

tenure with what is now NIU, Mr. Fields published scholarly articles related to intelligence collection. Fondly remembering his teaching experience, Fields 

viewed his students as “the next generation to our nation,” and his contributions as “an honor and a pleasure.” 

Well known in the area of strategic intelligence is Dr. Russell Swenson, who served at NIU as a faculty member and later as Director of Applied Research. 

He is an author and editor of numerous publications on intelligence processes, with his latest expected in 2014 on areas that cover professionalism, 

democratization, and management. Dr. Swenson emphasized the importance of thoughtful reflection in learning. He credits NIU for promoting “serious 

reflection on what we do, how we do it, and why.” This, he says, leads all of us in the Intelligence Community to “improve our habits through mindfulness.”

Mr. Francis J. Hughes holds an advanced degree in Theoretical Physics from George Washington University. In retirement, he continues to work on an 

NIU textbook in evidence analysis. “Intelligence analysis is about knowledge and the discipline of thought,” he said. “Intelligence professionals must be held 

to a high standard, fully recognizing the potential consequences of the decisions they render.” 

Another well-published NIU emeritus is former NIU Dean, Dr. Max Gross, who authored a number of articles on Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Syria, 

and Islam. Considered an expert in international relations in the Middle East, Dr. Gross is the course director for the Afghanistan Advanced Area Studies 

at the Foreign Service Institute. Dr. Gross believes that an IC professional career can offer many fascinating challenges that stimulate critical thinking. His 

advice to IC professionals: “Work hard, keep learning, and interesting things will happen to you.” 

Dr. Elizabeth Pickering was known for challenging her students and demanding excellence. Highly regarded as a faculty member, writer, and trusted thesis 

advisor, Dr. Pickering was frequently sought out as a guest speaker for her superb lectures. In addition to teaching at NIU, Dr. Pickering taught at the United 

States Military Academy at West Point and at Harvard Business School.

And did you ever wonder who wrote the book on intelligence writing? The answer is: Mr. James Major, who joined the faculty in 1985 to create and direct 

NIU’s Writing Center. He worked individually with students as a writing counselor, tutor, and mentor, and taught writing, public speaking, and the MyersBriggs Type Indicator to thousands of graduate and undergraduate students. Currently, Mr. Major is revising an edition of Communicating with Intelligence, 

planned for publication in 2014. “The highlight of my 20 years at NIU was my one-to-one work with both graduate and undergraduate students,” he said 

about his students. “They were—without exception—anxious to learn and ready to write better.” His hope is that NIU faculty and students will “keep a 

continued and close dialogue” to promote their mutual understanding. 
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

National Intelligence University Faculty Senate 

The NIU Faculty Senate began in the fall of 2013 to “develop the process for discussing, managing, and communicating faculty input to the decision 

process of NIU” in an advisory capacity. Twelve senators were elected at large from the government employees of the core faculty; eight from the College 

of Strategic Intelligence (Dr. Daniel Burghart, Dr. Jennifer Davis, Mr. Christopher Marshall, Mr. Julian Meade, Mr. Joseph O’Neill, Dr. Joel Shapiro, Mr. 

Gerald Sherrill, and Dr. Barry Zulauf) and four from the School of Science and Technology Intelligence (Dr. Samiah Baroni, Dr. Brian Holmes, Mr. Russell 

Rochte, and LTC Tobias Vogt, Ph.D.). Senators selected officers serving for the first year: Chairman, Dr. Joel Shapiro; Vice Chairman, Dr. Barry Zulauf; 

and Secretary, Mr. Christopher Marshall. 

The Senate’s first job was to develop its own charter and by-laws, which it completed in December. The Senate’s major accomplishment in its first year was 

to help familiarize and socialize, among the faculty at large, the plans for revamping NIU’s core curriculum—an issue of deep concern for the faculty. 

New elections to the Senate will take place in August 2014. As it enters its second year, the Senate will continue to focus on key issues that involve the 

academic future of NIU.
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Y E A R I N 

REVIEW

2013–14

NIU Student Profile 

University enrollment for 2013–14 totaled 732 students, which represents a 2.4 percent increase from the previous academic year and an average 26.2 

percent increase over the past five years. Of the full-time students, 75 percent are from the military services and 25 percent are from civilian agencies. Among 

the part-time and thesis-only students, 41 percent are from the military services and 59 percent are from civilian agencies.

The University reflects demographic diversity among its student 

body, inasmuch as it is part of the Federal Government. This 

commitment is reflected in the policy of the Federal Government, 

as an equal employment opportunity institution committed to 

the principle that access to study or employment opportunities 

afforded by the University, including all benefits and privileges, 

be accorded each person—student, faculty, or staff member—on 

the basis of individual merit and without regard to race, color, 

religion, national origin, disability, sex, or age.

Student Enrollment AY 2010–2014
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

FALL 2013 - 14 STUDENT ENROLLMENT DATA 1

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT

BSI Program

Table 1: BSI Enrollment Table 2: BSI Student Race/Ethnicity

Table 3: BSI Student Gender and Age Table 4: BSI Student Academic Background

 1 Enrollment data reflects the student population as of the AY 2013–14 census date, August 27, 2013.

College of Strategic Intelligence

Bachelor of Science in Intelligence (BSI)

24 Full-Time Students | 22 Military • 2 Civilian

MILITARY U.S. Air Force 10

U.S. Coast Guard 1

U.S. Marine Corps 3

U.S. Navy 8

CIVILIAN Defense Intelligence Agency 1

Office of the Director of National Intelligence 1

College of Strategic Intelligence

Bachelor of Science in Intelligence (BSI)

Race/Ethnicity

African American 20.8%

Asian/Pacific Islander 0.0%

Caucasian 50.0%

Hispanic 8.3%

Native American/Alaskan 0.0%

Two or More Races 4.2%

Other/Unknown 16.7%

College of Strategic Intelligence

Bachelor of Science in Intelligence (BSI)

Student Gender AY 2010–2014

2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Male 52% 69% 76% 78% 75%

Female 48% 31% 24% 22% 25%

Student Age AY 2010–2014

2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Average 31 37 33 32 32

Range 24–50 21–54 24–49 25–41 24–48

College of Strategic Intelligence

Bachelor of Science in Intelligence (BSI)

Student Academic Background

Average Entrance Grade Point Average (GPA) 3.30
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

GRADUATE ENROLLMENT

MSSI and MSTI Programs 

Table 5: MSSI Full-Time Enrollment Table 6: MSTI Full-Time Enrollment 

College of Strategic Intelligence

Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence (MSSI)

173 Full-Time Students | 131 Military • 42 Civilian

MILITARY U.S. Air National Guard 1 

U.S. Air Force 42

U.S. Air Force Reserve 2 

U.S. Army 61

U.S. Army Reserve 2

U.S. Coast Guard 10

U.S. Marine Corps 3 

U.S. Navy 10

CIVILIAN AFPAK Hands 3

Air Force Office of Special Investigations 2

Central Intelligence Agency 1 

Defense Intelligence Agency 9 

Department of Defense (other) 2 

Department of Homeland Security 2

Department of State 8

Federal Bureau of Investigation 3 

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 8 

National Security Agency 2 

Naval Criminal Investigative Service 1 

Office of the Director of National Intelligence 1

School of Science and Technology Intelligence

Master of Science and Technology Intelligence (MSTI)

39 Full-Time Students | 25 Military • 14 Civilian

MILITARY U.S. Air Force 8 

U.S. Army 14

U.S. Army Reserve 1

U.S. Navy 2

CIVILIAN Defense Intelligence Agency 3 

Department of the Army 1 

Department of Health and Human Services 1 

Department of Homeland Security 2

Department of State 2

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 1 

National Security Agency 1 

Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence 3 
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

G RADUATE ENROLLMENT

MSSI and MSTI Programs

Table 7: MSSI and MSTI Part-Time Enrollment Table 8: MSSI and MSTI Thesis-Only Enrollment

MSSI and MSTI Part-Time Enrollment

363 Students | 158 Military • 205 Civilian

MILITARY CIVILIAN

U.S. Air Force 32 Air Force Office of Special 

Investigations

3 

U.S. Air Force Reserve 6 Central Intelligence Agency 3

U.S. Air National Guard 2 Defense Intelligence Agency 68

U.S. Army 29 Department of the Air Force 1 

U.S. Army National Guard 10 Department of the Army 2

U.S. Army Reserve 6 Department of Defense (other) 10

U.S. Coast Guard 5 Department of Health and Human 

Services

1 

U.S. Coast Guard Reserve 3 Department of Homeland Security 14

U.S. Marine Corps 14 Department of Justice (other) 1

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 5 Department of State 13

U.S. Navy 33 Department of Treasury 3

U.S. Navy Reserve 13 Federal Bureau of Investigation 14

Missile Defense Agency 1 

National Geospatial-Intelligence 

Agency

31

National Security Agency 33

Naval Criminal Investigative Service 1 

Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence

1 

Office of the Secretary of Defense 1 

Office of Naval Intelligence 3

U.S. Capitol Police Department 1 

MSSI and MSTI Thesis-Only Enrollment

57 Students | 26 Military • 31 Civilian

MILITARY

U.S. Air Force 2

U.S. Air Force Reserve 2

U.S. Air National Guard 1 

U.S. Army 4 

U.S. Army Reserve 2 

U.S. Coast Guard 2

U.S. Marine Corps 5

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 1

U.S. Navy 7 

CIVILIAN

AFPAK Hands 3

Defense Intelligence Agency 8

Department of the Army 1 

Department of Defense (other) 1 

Department of State 4 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 1

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 6

National Security Agency 4 

Naval Criminal Investigative Service 1 

Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence

1 

Office of Naval Intelligence 1
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

MSSI and MSTI Programs

Table 9: Graduate Student Academic Background Table 10: Graduate Race/Ethnicity

MSSI and MSTI

Student Academic Background2

Average Baccalaureate GPA 3.11

Average Graduate GPA 3.64

Average Graduate Record Evaluations (GRE)3 154

Average GRE Quantitative Reasoning Score 146

Average GRE Analytical Writing Score 3.89

Table 11: Graduate Student Gender and Age

2 Student academic background/preparation averages are based on student academic files completed as of September 23, 2013. Students with academic documents 

outstanding on September 23, 2013, are not represented.

3 GRE verbal and quantitative reasoning scores are now on a 130–170 scale. In previous years, the scale was 200–800.

MSSI and MSTI

Race/Ethnicity

African American 3.1%

Asian/Pacific Islander 2.1%

Caucasian 34.5%

Hispanic 2.5%

Native American/Alaskan 0.3%

Two or More Races 1.9%

Other/Unknown 55.6%

MSSI and MSTI

Student Gender AY 2010–2014

2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Male 70% 74% 85% 72% 72%

Female 30% 26% 15% 28% 28%

Student Age AY 2010–2014

2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Average 35 38 35 35 35

Range 22–60 22–44 22–55 21–64 20–65
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

GRADUATE ENROLLMENT

Certificate of Intelligence Studies Program

Table 12: Fall Certificate Enrollment

College of Strategic Intelligence

Certificates of Intelligence Studies

76 Students | 20 Military • 56 Civilian

MILITARY U.S. Air Force 4 U.S. Army Reserve 1 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 1 

U.S. Army 6 U.S. Marine Corps 3 U.S. Navy 5 

CIVILIAN Central Intelligence Agency 1 Department of the Navy 1 Naval Criminal Investigative Service 1

Defense Intelligence Agency 19 Department of Treasury 1 Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence 1 

Department of the Army 1 Drug Enforcement Administration 1 Office of Naval Intelligence 1 

Department of Defense (other) 3 Federal Bureau of Investigation 1 U.S. Agency for International 

Development 1 

Department of Health and Human 

Services 1 Missile Defense Agency 1 U.S. Secret Service 1 

Department of Homeland Security 8 National Security Agency 3 Alliance of Intelligence Operations 10
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

GRADUATE ENROLLMENT

Enrollment at NIU Academic Centers4

(Enrollment numbers are included in previous military and civilian program enrollment tables) 

Table 13: Academic Center Enrollment

NIU Academic Centers

European 

Academic Center 

Southern 

Academic Center

Academic Center at 

National Security Agency

Academic Center at

National GeospatialIntelligence Agency

25 33 36 35

U.S. Air Force 3 3 6 8 

U.S. Air Force Reserve 1 0 0 0 

U.S. Army 4 3 1 1 

U.S. Army Reserve 2 0 0 0 

U.S. Marine Corps 1 1 2 0 

U.S. Navy 2 4 7 0 

Defense Intelligence Agency 10 17 0 2 

Department of Defense (other) 0 2 0 0 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 0 1 0 0 

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 1 2 2 24

National Security Agency 1 0 18 0 

4 Middle States Commission on Higher Education approved NIU’s additional location at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy, Marine Corps Base Quantico, 

Quantico, VA within the scope of the institution’s accreditation. Classes at this location, named NIU’s Quantico Academic Center, will begin in the fall of AY 2014-15.
32

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Y E A R I N 

REVIEW

2013–14

Institutional Effectiveness Department

The Institutional Effectiveness (IE) Department serves as a resource to provide information, leadership, and coordination in the areas of institutional 

research and outcomes assessment in support of University planning, resource allocation, the continuous improvement of educational programs, and the 

achievement of the University’s mission, goals, and accreditation.

Under the principal purview of the Office of the Provost, the Vice Provost/Director of Institutional Effectiveness collaborates closely with the University’s 

faculty governance; senior leadership; deans; and office, center, and academic program directors to maintain MSCHE and JPME accreditation.

The primary goal of IE is to aid in the accountability of NIU to its constituents, both internal and external—accomplished through the collection, analysis, 

and reporting of data and information in order to measure the progress of the University in carrying out assigned functions and to provide the basis for 

informed decisionmaking and planning. 

ACCREDITATION

The National Intelligence University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 

3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency 

recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

To maintain accreditation, institutions undergo a comprehensive evaluation process. The decennial evaluation 

cycle includes the submission of a self-study report and an onsite visit by an accreditation team composed of 

experienced professionals from other institutions. Additionally, a periodic review report is required every five 

years, at the midpoint between accreditation visits. In 2013, NIU successfully completed the five-year periodic 

review process and had its accreditation reaffirmed on November 21. The accreditation process examines the 

whole of an institution (planning, budget, programs, information technology, stakeholders, culture, personnel, 

etc.) to determine how well the parts are working together to meet the needs of the students. The Board of 

Visitors (BOV) congratulated NIU on that achievement and on the commendation it received from MSCHE 

on the quality of its periodic review. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2017–2018. 

Institutional Effectiveness

N I U s t a t e m e n t 

of accreditation

s t a t u s i s 

a v a i l a b l e o n t h e 

M i d d l e S t a t e s 

C o m m i s s i o n 

website.
33

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Joint Professional Military Education Accreditation

In December 2012, the University was granted initial Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I accreditation by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of 

Staff. This specialized professional accreditation is available to select military officers who participate in the designated joint curriculum. The period of initial 

JPME Phase I accreditation is through October 2015.

OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT, INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION

Accreditation standards increasingly address outcomes assessment and institutional effectiveness issues. NIU continues to develop and implement a more 

institution-wide approach to the academic and institutional planning and resource allocation process. Beyond externally imposed demands, NIU has already 

recognized the need to develop more and better measures in these areas. For example, the Vice Provost/Director of IE is working closely with the Vice 

President of Finance and Administration to play an important role in tracking and measuring the University’s strategic plan success over the next two years, 

and in integrating strategic plan progress evaluation with outcomes assessment, institutional planning, and budgeting.

The Role of Program Review in 

Assessment and Improvement

Academic planning is facilitated by a process of 

program review, in which current academic and 

non-academic programs are reviewed for their 

quality, demand, cost-effectiveness, and centrality 

to mission. The results of the review are then used to 

develop academic program plans.5

 In accordance, 

the University has begun a program review process 

in which each department will follow a three-year 

review cycle. Reviews will span the academic year. 

5 Middle States Commission on Higher Education, “Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education: Requirements of Affiliation and Standards for 

Accreditation,” Philadelphia, PA, 2006, revised March 2011.

2013–14

Graduate Core Curriculum

Information and Education 

Technology 

JPME Program

Registrar and Enrollment Services

Undergraduate Program

University Operations and 

Resource Support 

2014–15

Center for International 

Engagement

College of Strategic Intelligence 

(Partial)

John T. Hughes Library

NIU Academic Centers

Office of Research

School of Science and Technology 

Intelligence (Partial)

2015–16

College of Strategic Intelligence 

(Remaining)

Institutional Effectiveness 

Department

Office of Outreach and Foundation 

and Alumni Relations

School of Science and Technology 

Intelligence (Remaining) 

NIU Units of Review and Review Schedules as of 2013–14
34

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES

The Vice Provost/Director of IE continues to work with the College of 

Strategic Intelligence, the School of Science and Technology Intelligence, 

the Office of Research, the Center for International Engagement, and 

administrators to implement DIA Directive (DIAD) 3200.100, Human 

Subjects Research Management Plan; create an Office of Human Subjects 

Research Protection; implement training modules; and develop an NIU 

Institutional Review Board (IRB) and DIA Institutional Review Board. 

These research initiatives will ensure that all research conducted at the 

University and at DIA complies with international ethical standards 

and assurances. NIU and DIA protect the rights of all human subjects 

in conducting research, as expressed by Federal Regulation 45 CFR 46 

and Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 3216.02, Protection of 

Human Subjects and Adherence to Ethical Standards in DoD-Supported 

Research. 

All DIA employees engaging in human subjects research, as well as 

NIU faculty and students, are required to complete the Collaborative 

Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) and DoD Human Research 

Protection Program eLearning on AGILE, which educates them to be 

aware of how human subjects must be informed, willing, and protected 

when involved with research. During AY 2013–14, the Human Subjects 

Research Protection Team worked with the Army’s Human Research 

Protection Office on the inspection of NIU Human Subjects Research 

Protocols and submission of an application for DoD federal-wide assurance 

on behalf of the University and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Vice 

Provost/Director of IE serves as the Human Protections Administrator for 

the Human Research Protection Program/IRBs, ensuring that appropriate 

oversight mechanisms, policies, and procedures have been implemented to 

guarantee compliance and assurance with the Department of Health and 

Human Services (DHHS) and DoD determinations of the IRBs.
35

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Y E A R I N 

REVIEW

2013–14

NIU Undergraduate Degree Program

COLLEGE OF STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTELLIGENCE (BSI)

The BSI program continues to provide the Intelligence Community with the opportunity for the completion of a bachelor’s degree in a fourth year, inresidence setting. Earning this undergraduate degree has enhanced the careers of countless U.S. intelligence professionals with more opportunities for 

advancement and retention after graduation. Ten percent of BSI graduates continue on at the University and also earn their master’s degree. 

Taking advantage of the learning-rich environment in the National Capital Region, the BSI Class of 2014 was introduced to many of the intelligence and 

intellectual organizations and institutions found around or near the capital beltway. Seminars and learning visits were made to the Central Intelligence 

Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Department of State, and the United States Holocaust Memorial 

Museum. A select group of undergraduate students was chosen to visit the NIU European Academic Center at the Joint Analysis Center, Molesworth, and 

Cambridge University. 

The Class of 2014 took advantage of a new elective on Europe and Intelligence Issues in order to prepare for the culminating course for the program, the 

Capstone Project. Four teams stretched their analytical capabilities with global topics such as economics, energy policy, and demographics. These joint 

and interagency teams once again impressed the leadership, faculty, and supporting IC analysts with innovative approaches to real-world projections and 

alternate futures for Europe and its relationship to the United States.

The importance of the BSI program was recognized in October 2013, when it was designated as a joint duty qualifying opportunity for civilians (GG11 

and above) who complete the program. The undergraduate program at NIU continues to thrive, and its impact on the students and the many components 

of the IC that it comes in contact with belies its small size. 

Education

CSI Faculty | In the Spotlight

Dr. Bowman Miller	supported	the	BSI	Capstone	as	the	2013	Winter	Term	regional	course	focus	instructor	on	Europe	(BSI	498E),	and	

as	a	contributing	subject	matter	expert	(SME)	consultant	with	all	four	BSI	capstone	subgroups	as	they	prepared	their	final	briefs	and	

written	products.
36

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

NIU Graduate Programs

CERTIFICATE OF INTELLIGENCE STUDIES 

NIU continues to explore certificate offerings for non-degree-seeking professionals. The Certificates of Intelligence Studies program allows non-degreeseeking students the opportunity for an in-depth, graduate-level study of intelligence topics. NIU currently offers up to eight certificates (Africa, China, 

Afghanistan-Pakistan, Eurasia, Counterintelligence, Leadership and Management, Strategic Warning Analysis, and NIU Foreign Denial and Deception) 

conducted at designated offsite locations and/or at the main campus located at DIA HQ.

CERTIFICATE STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

CHINA INTEL STUDIES CERTIFICATE—The College of Strategic Intelligence delivered the China Intel Studies Graduate Certificate Program for 

international (Alliance of Intelligence Operations) partners and IC professionals from April 28 to May 23, 2014, and also delivered the U.S.–only China 

Intel Studies Graduate Certificate for Washington, DC–based IC professionals during the academic year. The graduate certificate consists of China Military 

Capabilities and Strategy (MSI 578), Introduction to China Intelligence Studies (MSI 576), and Chinese Intelligence and Information Operations (MSI 579). A 

total of nine students earned the international certificate. A total of 14 students earned the U.S.–only certificate.

STRATEGIC WARNING ANALYSIS CERTIFICATE—The Strategic Warning Analysis Certificate Program started this year, with one course per quarter. 

The academic year program finished in July 2014. The certificate will be offered again in AY 2014–15, with the program open to Alliance of Intelligence 

Operations countries.

EURASIA CERTIFICATE—The first iteration of the Eurasia Certificate was offered in July 2013, with 12 students completing the requirements and 

receiving their certificate at graduation. Fourteen students have signed up for the program in AY 2014–15, and are working on the certificate requirements.

NIU FOREIGN DENIAL AND DECEPTION CERTIFICATE—The NIU Foreign Denial and Deception (D&D) Certificate centers on advanced 

analysis of adversarial denial and deception activities that span the core focus of the NIU curriculum. Two years ago the certificate was approved for Alliance 

of Intelligence Operations partners. In February 2014, NIU leadership attended the graduation ceremony and addressed the students on the significance 

of this program and students’ accomplishments, marking the completion of the first-ever graduate certificate program offered outside of NIU to a coalition 

partner. 

Building on the success of the certificate offered in Australia, a similar graduate certificate program for U.S. and international students began in January 

2014 at NIU’s Southern Academic Center (SAC) in Tampa, Florida. The program at SAC is designed to be completed in 15 months, and has integrated 

a video teleconference (VTC) capability for NIU graduate students at USCENTCOM, USSOCOM, and USSOUTHCOM. This program will create 

an opportunity for international and U.S. graduate students enrolled at NIU to study together and exchange ideas regarding this discipline, despite their 

dispersed geographic location.

This past year, all five graduate courses in the D&D curriculum were offered as both day and evening classes. The NIU Foreign D&D Certificate continues 

to provide the flexibility needed to meet the needs of the full- and part-time students from both the College of Strategic Intelligence and the School of 

Science and Technology Intelligence.
37

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

MASTER’S DEGREE CORE

Master’s core courses represent a framework of knowledge that the University 

believes graduate-level students must have in order to understand intelligence at 

the strategic and operational level and to study more advanced topics. In 2014, a 

new faculty NIU Graduate Core Working Group (NIU/GCWG) was established. 

Chaired by Graduate Program Directors from the College of Strategic Intelligence 

and School of Science and Technology Intelligence, NIU/GCWG will ensure the 

quality and relevance of the graduate core curriculum, and will also ensure that the 

courses meet academic minimums for course credits and MSCHE accreditation 

standards. 

COLLEGE OF STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE (CSI)| 

Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence (MSSI)

JOINT PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION PROGRAM (JPME)

NIU awarded JPME Phase I credit to 20 graduate students, who completed the 

specialized curriculum this year. During 2014, the JPME program continued 

broadening its students’ perspectives through providing intelligence support to the 

Naval War College capstone exercise, and initiated a new relationship with the 

Marine Corps Command and Staff College, participating in their capstone exercise 

as well.
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT
39

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTELLIGENCE | Master of Science and Technology Intelligence (MSTI)

The Director of National Intelligence recognized the faculty of NIU’s Anthony G. Oettinger School of Science and Technology Intelligence with the National 

Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation for their efforts in securing authorization of the school in record time. The National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation 

recognizes an act of meritorious service performed by an organization within the Intelligence Community.

By higher education standards, the road to the establishment of the school and degree occurred remarkably quickly. “As we remind our students, we—

faculty—did our homework,” said Shaw. “Everyone paid careful attention to the details and completed the prep work before starting the formal process, so 

we never had to do something twice.”

The curriculum was closely reviewed by federal oversight and academic standards groups to ensure that the 

University produces the highest quality education in science and technology intelligence. These experienced 

institutions and government organizations provided input two years before the formal process began.

“ODNI provided intelligence-specific skills criteria so the National Academy of Sciences could use them to 

review our curriculum,” he said. “It helped them better understand the intelligence community. They wanted to understand and this helped them to better 

comprehend and effectively evaluate us.”

The curriculum was also closely reviewed by the U.S. Department of Education, with recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on 

Institutional Quality and Integrity to the U.S. Secretary of Education to ensure the quality of the education at NIU and that the University upholds the 

rigorous academic standards provided by the department.

T h e P a t h t o 

a n O e t t i n g e r 

School

“We had great leadership ensuring we had the resources ... [including] Dr. Susan Studds,

who knew the process and had completed similar projects at other colleges.”

—Dean Shaw, referring to NIU’s provost

“There was never a period of 

time where I had doubts that we { would succeed.” —Dean Shaw }
40

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

NIU ACADEMIC CENTERS

ACADEMIC CENTER AT THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (NGA) 

The NIU Academic Center at NGA celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2014. The Center offers an MSSI degree program for 

part-time students over a two-year period of study. The Center has sites in Springfield, Virginia; Dayton, Ohio; and St. Louis, 

Missouri, which are linked by simultaneous secure VTC for seminar sessions. Recruiting for incoming cohorts continues, with an 

average of 15 students accepted each year, spread evenly among the Center’s three sites.

In addition to NGA employees, students at the Center are drawn from USTRANSCOM and the FBI Field Office in St. Louis, 

from Air Force civilian and military personnel in Dayton, and from students at NIU’s main campus and other part-time programs 

in Springfield. Several of NGA’s students have completed their core classes at the Springfield site and then have chosen to take their electives at NIU’s main 

campus in order to earn the MSTI degree.

Main campus faculty members provide about three-quarters of the instruction at the Center, with the director and his adjunct faculty providing the 

remainder of the instruction, and about half of the Center’s thesis chairs.

ACADEMIC CENTER AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY (NSA) 

The NIU Academic Center at NSA is located within the Center for the Advanced Study of Language (CASL) in College Park, Maryland. The Center offers 

the MSSI degree, during the day. NSA students attend classes, study, and conduct research during regular work hours all day every Tuesday and Thursday. 

The Center VTCs the MSSI program to NSA Georgia and NSA Colorado. Generally, students complete the required courses in their first year, and then 

their electives in the second year. The Center uses the cohort system, which allows each cohort to vote on electives. Because this is a two-year, part-time 

program, the NSA Center always has two “NSA cohorts” attending classes at any time.

NSA Cohort 23 began in August of 2012 with 22 students and ended the 2014 academic year with 19 students. This included 11 students in Maryland, 4 

in Georgia, and 4 in Colorado. NSA Cohort 24 began in August of 2013 with 18 students and ended the academic year with 16 students. This included 7 

students in Maryland, 7 in Georgia, and 2 in Colorado.

This winter, the weather was difficult for everyone, and caused the NSA Center to cancel three platform classes, which 

were later completed using Blackboard’s online discussion board. During these makeup classes, the instructor posted 

questions to the class in real time; every student replied to the instructor and at least one other student. This approach 

proved very effective, and most discussions significantly exceeded the minimum requirements. Every student had an 

opportunity to reply to every discussion topic, and received instructor feedback from at least two comments. Most 

students read the input from all other students. With the NSA cohort dispersed across three states, it is essential that 

there is a plan to make up classes missed due to weather or instructor illness. This synchronous online discussion 

proved effective and was well received by the students.

Celebrating 

10 years 

at NGA

Overcoming a 

difficult winter 

through flexibility
41

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

EUROPEAN ACADEMIC CENTER 

The European Academic Center (EAC) was established in 2011 as NIU’s third academic center. In June 2013, following evaluation, MSCHE approved 

EAC as an additional NIU location, and the Center was included within the scope of NIU’s accreditation. Offices for the EAC director and staff are 

located at Royal Air Force (RAF) Molesworth, United Kingdom, with classrooms at three locations: (1) RAF Molesworth, (2) U.S. European Command 

(USEUCOM), Stuttgart, Germany; and (3) European Technical Center (ETC), Wiesbaden (Mainz-Kastel), Germany. A collaborative effort among NIU, 

USEUCOM, and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) enables EAC to serve students from DIA; uniform and civilian personnel of the U.S. Army, 

Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; and NGA and other personnel from U.S. Intelligence Community 

organizations assigned at or near these locations. Of NIU’s five academic centers, EAC is unique, in that 

it was established to serve the only two combatant commands headquartered outside the United States. 

As such, it provides higher education access to a diverse and dynamic group of military and civil service 

personnel. The missions of the two combatant commands the EAC serves and the turnover of personnel 

assigned to them should continue to provide sufficient demand to ensure long-term sustainability of the 

program.

EAC offers courses that are sufficient in number and diversity to enable students to earn an MSSI over 

a two-year period in the part-time program or participate in its continuing education program. In July 

2013, four students from EAC’s first cohort earned their MSSI degree. EAC expects to graduate another 10 

students by December 2014. In AY 2014–15, EAC expects enrollment of 13–15 students in the part-time 

MSSI program, and a maximum of 16 in academic year 2015–16.

SOUTHERN ACADEMIC CENTER 

Located on the campus of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) in Tampa, Florida, the Southern Academic Center (SAC) is now entering its third year 

as an established Academic Center. SAC primarily serves students from USCENTCOM, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), U.S. Southern 

Command (USSOUTHCOM), and other agencies within the southern region. These commands are staffed by intelligence personnel from multiple civilian 

and military organizations, which provide ideal diversity in the NIU student population and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the program. 

MSCHE acknowledged SAC as an additional location in AY 2012–13 and included the 

location within the scope of NIU’s accreditation.

Demand at the SAC continues to exceed all expectations as the student (degree, certificate, 

and continuing education) population reached 60 students during AY 2013–14. SAC faculty 

consists of both full-time members of NIU’s core faculty and part-time adjunct faculty 

members approved by NIU deans and academic program directors.

EAC is unique in that 

it serves the only two 

combatant commands 

headquartered outside 

the United States

SAC serves combatant 

commands headquartered 

within the U.S. southern region
42

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

QUANTICO ACADEMIC CENTER

NIU established its fifth Academic Center in 2014 with the opening of the Quantico Academic Center (QAC) on the campus of the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation (FBI) Academy in Quantico, Virginia. A collaborative effort among NIU, FBI, and the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA), QAC 

will primarily serve students from the FBI, United States Marine Corps, Defense Intelligence Agency, Drug Enforcement Administration, Defense Security 

Service, United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and United States Army Criminal Investigation 

Command, all of which are located at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico. The large, diverse, and transient nature of the military and civil service 

population located at MCB Quantico should provide sufficient demand and personnel turnover to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program. 

QAC will offer courses in sufficient numbers and diversity to allow students to earn either an MSSI over the course of two years or a Certificate of Intelligence 

Studies in Counterintelligence over the course of a single year. QAC expects to achieve a student enrollment of 30 students between both programs in AY 

2014–15, and a maximum enrollment of 40 students between both programs starting AY 2015–16. FBI provides a full-time director and staff officer to 

operate the Center; MCIA supplements this with a part-time liaison officer. QAC courses are taught in the Intelligence and Investigative Training Center 

on the campus of the FBI Academy. QAC faculty consists of both full-time members of NIU’s core faculty and part-time adjunct faculty members approved 

by NIU deans and academic program directors.
43

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Y E A R I N 

REVIEW

2013–14

Office of Research 

In fall 2013, NIU created the position of Vice President of Research, who answers directly to the President of NIU. The Center for Strategic Intelligence 

Research (CSIR) was removed from the Provost’s oversight and placed in the new Office of Research (OOR). OOR now houses CSIR, the National 

Intelligence (NI) Press, and the John T. Hughes Library. CSIR maintains a wide array of research and writing resources for faculty and students; the 

NI Press staff edits and publishes University publications; and the library provides cutting-edge assistance to students, faculty, and DIA and IC analysts, 

and also provides oversight of the NIU student textbook program.

The mission of the office remains the same: to produce, publish, and present strategic intelligence research for the intelligence and national security 

communities. This goal is pursued through the three NIU missions of Education, Research, and Outreach. In addition, OOR provides ongoing support to 

NIU’s Human Subjects Research Program, manages an IC-wide research topics call, and runs the NIU Faculty Research Award. Some highlights of 2014 

include two new research initiatives launched by CSIR, a new NIU Faculty “Work in Progress” Seminar Series, and the NI Press’s Editorial Board. 

HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH

OOR assists NIU’s IE department to maintain the day-to-day activities of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The purpose of the IRB is to ensure that 

all research at the University complies with international ethical standards in the treatment of human subjects for research purposes. Most NIU human 

subjects research consists of interviews, surveys, and questionnaires. This year, OOR reviewed over 180 student thesis proposals, and helped manage over 

30 protocols. 

IC RESEARCH TOPICS CALL

OOR issues an annual call for research topics to all Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and U.S. Combatant Command intelligence 

elements. The topics are presented to NIU faculty and students who may have a professional and/or academic interest in addressing these problems. In 

those cases where faculty and students are willing and able to respond to these needs, OOR coordinates with the researchers and the requestors to ensure 

that requirements of both are met. 

Research
44

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

OOR | Center for Strategic Intelligence Research

The Center for Strategic Intelligence Research fosters quality in both research and publications of NIU students, faculty, and research fellows by providing 

advice and support designed to ensure that their work meets the highest standards of scholarly research. It does so by holding research design and 

methodology consultation hours, and by sponsoring presentations and discussions that focus on student and faculty research issues. If the work meets the 

highest academic standards, it becomes eligible for publication by the National Intelligence Press. CSIR also maintains online resources via Blackboard on 

a wide range of research and writing topics. 

CSIR embarked on three new initiatives to expand NIU’s research and outreach program: a research and education partnership with the Cambridge 

University (UK) and two new research initiatives on the Western Hemisphere and Science and Technology Intelligence (see NIU Highlights section of this 

report for more information about the latter two research initiatives). In the area of education support, CSIR also developed a monthly NIU Faculty 

“Work in Progress” Seminar Series, designed to support NIU faculty research.

COOPERATION WITH CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY 

CSIR sent its first group of ODNI Exceptional Analyst research fellows to participate in the Cambridge University’s International Security and Intelligence 

Summer Program. Hosted by Pembroke College at Cambridge, the program offers a unique opportunity to work with intelligence practitioners, 

former senior officials, and leading academics from the security and intelligence communities in the UK and the United States. Participants explored 

the role of intelligence and security agencies in a democratic society, while pursuing research focused on regional and functional intelligence and 

security issues. The three-week program served as a kickoff to the fellows’ year-long research project hosted by CSIR. 

NIU FACULTY “WORK IN PROGRESS” SEMINAR SERIES

In January, CSIR launched a monthly forum for NIU faculty to receive feedback from their peers on nearly completed research that they are preparing to 

brief or publish. CSIR also hosts an informal monthly get-together for NIU faculty to discuss ongoing research projects. Members of the group support each 

other in problem-solving and setting goals for research design, data collection, and analysis, and communicating research results. 

STRATEGIC RESEARCH INITIATIVES

CSIR operates strategic research initiatives focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Hemisphere, and Science and Technology Intelligence. They do 

this by consulting with senior analytic leadership and other intelligence analysts to develop a strategic research agenda that focuses on issues that receive less 

attention in other parts of the Intelligence Community. The initiatives are responsive to IC needs and complementary to existing research efforts within and 

outside the community. Each initiative is run by a research faculty member who holds a Ph.D. and has experience conducting strategic research on behalf 

of DoD and the IC. Research faculty members in CSIR either conduct the research themselves or recruit scholars from academia to provide lectures and 

written products that broaden and deepen analytic knowledge in their given subject matter areas. The 2014 initiatives included research on issues such as 

public opinion in Africa, drug decriminalization in Guatemala, and an analysis of Russian nanotechnology.
45

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

NIU-IC RESEARCH WORKING GROUP

CSIR also supports research efforts across the IC. The primary mechanism for this is the NIU-IC Research Working Group, an assemblage of representatives 

from various research offices in the IC, chaired by NIU’s Acting Vice President of Research and ODNI’s Director for Science and Technology. This 

year, the Research Working Group hosted a forum that focused on how research personnel in the IC can better communicate their research findings to 

decisionmakers and IC managers. 

CSIR | 2013–14 NIU Research Fellows

In 2003, CSIR launched the Research Fellows program. Since then, CSIR has hosted between five and nine fellows per year from various intelligence 

agencies and the military services, including as many as five ODNI Exceptional Analysts per year in collaboration with the National Intelligence Council. 

CSIR provides the fellows with full access to CSIR staff and NIU faculty mentors to help craft their research design, and access to NI Press editorial staff 

to assist with research publication. CSIR also provides research travel funding, computers, and workspace. The program is open to mid-career or senior 

intelligence professionals or military personnel. Fellows are encouraged to publish their research in classified and unclassified intelligence periodicals, 

journals, newsletters, and magazines. 

The 2014 fellows conducted research on diverse strategic intelligence topics, including mapping civil society actors in Lagos, Nigeria; examining Russia’s Far 

East policy; exploring how to better coordinate Coast Guard sector commander’s and intelligence officers’ expectations in order to improve performance; 

and the potential impact of politicized discourse on intelligence analysis.

NIU sent its first research fellow to Cambridge for a year-long fellowship.
46

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

NIU RESEARCH FELLOWS PROGRAM

2010–2014 

Home Agency 10 11 12 13 14

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 1 1 

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) 1 1 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 1 1 1 

U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) 1 1 1 1 

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) 1 

National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) 1 

National Intelligence University (NIU) 1 1 

National Security Agency (NSA) 2 

Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) 1 

Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) 1 

Open Source Center (OSC) 1 

GREEN: ODNI Exceptional Analyst Program 
47

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

NIU RESEARCH FELLOWS PROGRAM

2010–2014 

Home Agency 10 11 12 13 14

U.S. Air Force (USAF) 1 2 1 1 

U.S. Army (USA) 1 

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 1 1 1 1 1 

U.S. Navy (USN) 1 

U.S. State Department (State) 2 1 1 1 

TOTALS 9 6 7 9 6 

GREEN: ODNI Exceptional Analyst Program 
48

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

OOR | National Intelligence Press

Long a producer of acclaimed intelligence publications, the National Intelligence (NI) Press has taken several recent steps to standardize its operations. 

Perhaps most significantly, the NI Press has established an Editorial Board to broaden participation, promote transparency, and advance professionalism 

in its selection of manuscripts for publication. The nine-person board includes Board of Visitors members, faculty members, OOR leaders, and an NIU 

graduate student. The Editorial Board reviews submissions and then votes to decide which manuscripts the press should publish.

The NI Press publishes the work of NIU faculty, research fellows, students, and IC professionals. It encourages its authors to introduce new perspectives 

on topics of critical interest to the IC and, more broadly, the U.S. government. Since its founding in 1996 (originally as the NDIC Press), the NI Press has 

established itself as a major resource for the IC. NI Press publications have 

been featured in IC classrooms and serve as important tools for analysts, 

collectors, and others seeking new outlooks and paths to professional 

improvement.

The NI Press continues to increase its readership through its digital 

publication initiative, with a monthly average of 4,000 book downloads. 

The NI Press has an online catalog with more than 40 titles available 

for free download. In addition, the NI Press has made most of its titles 

available in eBook form.

Through a partnership with the Government Printing Office (GPO), the Press has enhanced its marketing. The collaborative relationship with the GPO 

allows the NI Press to showcase its publications online at the GPO Bookstore, as well as on Amazon.com. Government employees may request complimentary 

books through the NI Press; on average, the NI Press receives 90 book requests each month. Presentations about the NI Press were made at several academic 

and professional conferences over the past year. A strong presence at gatherings such as the International Studies Association (ISA) and the International 

Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) conferences helped call attention to key research by NIU faculty, students, and research fellows.

OOR | John T. Hughes Library

The John T. Hughes Library plays a key role in enhancing the competence of our intelligence professionals by providing all-source research assistance, 

instruction, and comprehensive collections and tools that support the curriculum of NIU. Guided by the standards for libraries in higher education set by 

the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the John T. Hughes Library is committed to the principles set forth in the standards, and to 

increased accountability to the students and administration of NIU.

The NI Press is pleased to bring a new 

and exciting innovation to the IC by 

providing readers with digital eBooks! 

Readers can now receive their desired 

publications more quickly—with more 

flexibility—and they can download 

them anywhere, from the NIU 

website to their iPads, Nooks, Kindles, 

smartphones, or desktop eReaders.
49

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

ACCESS SERVICES

Improving the library image through customer service training was one of the key activities for access services this year. The staff held in-service training and 

viewed webinars to gain valuable insight into the needs of our customers. The library circulation staff continued to provide NIU students and faculty with 

excellent resources and services. While serving as the University bookstore, handling textbook distribution, and providing unclassified academic research 

resources, the library staff expanded the “Meet the Author” series. The program brings renowned authors—writing on topics of importance to our students 

and our analysts—to the library, and allows our patrons the opportunity to have a deeper understanding of the author’s work. Authors for this year included 

Terry McKnight, CDR Youssef Aboul-Enein, Frank Jones, Sandra Grimes, John Wood, and Dr. Anne Speckhard.

Expanding support to our distance programs has been a difficult, but not insurmountable, task. The library has developed contacts with each of our 

Academic Centers and its applicable nodes. 

Creating a space that encourages collaboration and enhances small group interactions was the driving force behind the construction of the three small 

conference rooms in the library. The new library conference rooms continue to be popular locations in the DIA HQ building. The rooms are used by NIU 

faculty, students, and Outreach programs, and are generally open to DIA at large. 

RESEARCH SERVICES

The library research staff continued their instruction presence in the graduate thesis proposal course, focusing on increasing the information literacy skills 

of our students. The research librarians also continued to provide formalized workshop instruction on various electronic resources including RefWorks, 

academic research databases, and research plans and strategies sessions. 

The faculty-librarian liaison program was adjusted for this academic year. The program focuses on the NIU core courses, with each librarian assigned two 

cores. This has helped increase interaction between the faculty and the research staff, and increased the librarians’ capabilities for assisting the students in 

the foundation-level research services. The research librarians continued to create bibliographies in support of the Center for Language, Regional Expertise, 

and Cultural Regional Initiatives Geographical Seminars, DIA Security Awareness Day, Career Development Day, and NIU’s CSIR Research Initiatives.

LIBRARY RESOURCES 

In AY 2013–14, the library budget slightly increased, with 75 percent allocated for research content (49 percent of which was e-content) and 12 percent 

allocated to textbook purchases. 

The library added over 5,000 new items to the general collection (books, maps, DVDs, and audio CDs). In an effort to increase student research productivity, 

the library continued to maintain subscriptions to RefWorks, 360 Link Resolver, and Serials Solutions A-Z list. In addition to the 23 research databases to 

which the library provides access, NIU students have access to the DNI’s Open Source Center commercial content and other research resources through 

contract agreements.
50

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

CDR Youssef H. Aboul-Enein, USN, author of 

• The Secret War for the Middle East: The Influence of Axis and Allied Intelligence Operations during World War II (his

most recent presentation at the library)

• Iraq in Turmoil: Historical Perspectives of Dr. Ali al-Wardi, from the Ottoman Empire to King Feisal

• Militant Islamist Ideology: Understanding the Global Threat.

CDR Youssef H. Aboul-Enein, USN, is an officer in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps and a Middle East foreign 

officer. He serves as Subject Matter Expert on Violent Islamist Groups at DIA’s Defense Combating Terrorism Center 

(DCTC), and adjunct military professor and chair of Islamic studies at the National Defense University’s Dwight D. 

Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. He holds a master’s degree in strategic intelligence 

from the National Intelligence University, where he currently serves as an adjunct instructor, teaching a graduate-level 

course on Islam, Islamist Political Theories, and Militant Islamist ideologies.

Retired CIA officer Sandra Grimes spoke recently at the John T. Hughes Library about her book, Circle of Treason: A 

CIA Account of Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed, written with co-author Jeanne Vertefeuille. The book is 

an insider portrayal of the take-down of one of the most destructive moles in CIA history. 

Frank Leith Jones, author of Blowtorch: Robert Komer, Vietnam, and American Cold War Strategy.

Mr. Jones is a professor of security studies at the U.S. Army War College, where he holds the General Dwight D. 

Eisenhower Chair of National Security. He is a retired member of the Senior Executive Service and has served in 

several high-level policy and strategy positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Asia Center for Strategic 

Studies. 

NIU MEET THE AUTHOR SERIES
51

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

RADM Terry McKnight, USN (Ret.), author of Pirate Alley: Commanding Task Force 151 Off Somalia. 

McKnight is a 31-year Navy veteran who was selected in 2009 to be the first commander of Combined Task Force 

151, a multinational coalition newly designed to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden. As task force commander, he 

directed operations that disrupted several hijackings and resulted in the capture of 16 Somali pirates.

Dr. Anne Speckhard, author of Talking to Terrorists: Understanding the Psycho-Social Motivations of Militant Jihadi 

Terrorists, Mass Hostage Takers, Suicide Bombers & “Martyrs.”

Dr. Anne Speckhard has been working in the field of posttraumatic stress disorder since the 1980s, studying 

psychological resilience to terrorism and toxic disasters in various populations. She has also provided expert consultation 

on programs for prevention and rehabilitation of individuals committed to political violence and militant jihad to 

the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO, the U.N., and European and Middle Eastern governments. Dr. Speckhard 

currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School. She is also 

the director of the Holocaust Survivors Oral Histories Project–Belarus and is at work on a book called The Minsk 

Ghetto & Beyond: Eyewitness Accounts of the Holocaust in Belarus.

John K. Wood, author of From Kabul to Baghdad and Back: The U.S. at War in Afghanistan and Iraq.

John K. Wood retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army after 28 years of service. He is now an Associate Professor at 

the National Defense University, on the faculty of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. His prior 

assignments include serving as the Senior Director for Afghanistan for the National Security Council, and as Assistant 

Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs–Asia for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

NIU MEET THE AUTHOR SERIES
52

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Faculty Research and Conferences

In April, the College of Strategic Intelligence’s faculty members attended the international conference “1944: Seventy Years On.” The conference was hosted 

by the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the peer-reviewed journal Global War Studies, and was cosponsored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial 

Museum and NIU’s College of Strategic Intelligence. NIU faculty chaired the conference’s four dedicated Intelligence panels, and presented papers at the 

conference. Due to the considerable interest sparked by the dedicated Intelligence panels, work has already begun on an “Intelligence in the 20th Century” 

international conference in Washington, DC, to be hosted by Global War Studies and the College of Strategic Intelligence, currently projected for summer 

2017.

Faculty Research and Conferences | In the Spotlight

MAJ Damian Jones attended a one-day conference titled “2013 Strategic Foresight Forum: Harnessing Disruption” on December

9, 2013, at the Atlantic Council. The major areas of emphasis for this event were the potential food-water-energy crisis, the risks

and opportunities emerging from the bio-information and communications technologies (ICT) convergence, the rise of the second

economy and its effects on global unemployment, and the increasing role of megacities as political actors moving forward.

MAJ Jones also attended a one-day conference titled “Perilous Desert: Insecurity in the Sahara” on May 22, 2013, at the Carnegie

Endowment for International Peace. This conference focused on events in the desert states of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya and the

transformations occurring in those states in the aftermath of the Arab Awakening, including the regional sources of instability and

the major global implications associated with the Arab Awakening transformation.

LTC Steve Park attended a one-day Conference ofthe International Council on Korean Studies, April 17, 2014, atthe Korea Economic

Institute in Washington, DC. The conference, titled “The Changing Situation on the Korean Peninsula: Issues and Opportunities,”

focused on current security, economic, and human rights issues relevant to the Korean Peninsula.
53

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Y E A R I N 

REVIEW

2013–14

Office of Outreach and Alumni Relations

The Office of Outreach and Alumni Relations is responsible for facilitating outreach efforts to alumni, the Intelligence Community, other parts of the 

Federal government, and academia to support NIU’s strategy to serve as an academic catalyst for IC engagement. Engagement with the IC occurs through 

events and outreach efforts that promote the University’s diverse expertise. Engagement with the Federal government is facilitated by the efforts of DIA 

representatives serving on the faculties of the senior- and intermediate-level professional military education schools, who work with other IC faculty at 

those schools and NIU faculty to improve understanding of the role of intelligence among the diverse student body from across the U.S. government and 

from allied nations. In addition, the office continues to build a vibrant alumni network through ongoing communications and a recurring series of events 

of interest to alumni, with the long-range goal of encouraging the establishment of a formal alumni organization. The Office of Outreach and Alumni 

Relations is responsible for leading the University’s strategic marketing effort and overseeing implementation of a strategic marketing plan, which includes 

management of the University’s three websites; serving as a de facto public affairs office for the University; and managing the consistency of the NIU brand 

in publications, graphics, and messaging. 

The Outreach and Alumni Relations Office continues to provide a wide range of services to the University, and in mid-year began to expand its impact with 

the addition of two new personnel. The new arrivals included a Senior Outreach Advisor from the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research 

(INR) on a one-year joint assignment to NIU, and the hire of a new civilian knowledgeable in social media. Together, this new team brought 40 years of 

IC experience and two sets of fresh eyes to the NIU outreach mission area. The outreach mission was further bolstered in July when the Vice President for 

Outreach, Eric Hammersen, relinquished his additional duties as the DIA Executive Representative to the National Defense University and as the DIA 

Chair on the faculty of the National War College to Mr. Dan Daley. This will allow Mr. Hammersen to focus his efforts on NIU’s outreach activities.

Reaching In, Reaching Out Each member of the outreach team believes strongly that the outreach mission underpins and reinforces the primary 

mission area of intelligence education. This expanded outreach team began its work by immediately reaching inside the University to engage with faculty 

and staff to understand their expertise, needs, and desires, and to assess opportunities. This initial dialog between the outreach team and their education and 

research counterparts in the University helped establish important relationships early on and set a collaborative tone for future outreach success. 

The outreach team is fully engaged on a wide range of activities, including the design and implementation of two lecture series for NIU—one focused 

externally, the other internally. The external lecture series will consist of high-quality, thematic lectures delivered quarterly for the IC, around the IC. The IC 

lecture series supports NIU’s commitment to provide career-long learning opportunities for the Community, with the added benefit of improving general 

Outreach
54

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

awareness of the University and helping to brand NIU as a “think tank for the IC.” The theme for the first year’s IC lectures is “cyber,” and the inaugural 

lecture is expected to be delivered during the fall 2014–15 term.

The internal lecture series is not new: it involves a significant overhaul of the longstanding, weekly NIU Speakers Program, which will be formally renamed 

the President’s Lecture Series (PLS). President Ellison asked that the Outreach Team take this series on, redesign it, and ensure that it is customized to be 

relevant and meaningful to full-time students and faculty. In AY 2014–15, the PLS will feature leading experts on topics tied directly to NIU’s current 

course offerings and the IC’s top priorities. 

The outreach team is also cosponsoring new exchanges with the National Intelligence Council, including the “Scholar’s Hour” to showcase NIU talent and 

products. Moving forward, the Office of Outreach will work closely with the Centers for Strategic Intelligence Research and International Engagement to 

feature the findings and expertise of their fellows and foreign experts, respectively, in outreach activities across the IC. 

NIU advances IC integration and collaboration daily in the classroom and in the interagency process. The Outreach Office represents the University at the 

Analytic Outreach Committee of the National Intelligence Analysis Board, thereby allowing NIU to custom design exchanges with a variety of IC partners 

to create new knowledge and help prepare future IC professionals to succeed in the complex and rapidly changing environment they will lead. With each 

instance of outreach collaboration, NIU deepens its central role in the academic life of the IC.

First Steps toward an Alumni Association The Office of Outreach and Alumni Relations continued to make progress in its multi-year effort to 

build a campus community that weaves alumni, former staff, and former faculty into the fabric of University life. One particularly positive development 

is that after three years of engaging our alumni, this year the University’s alumni began engaging back in their own right: alumni helped organize and run 

events, formed a charter group to begin planning the creation of a formal organization, and with increasing frequency alumni are asking “How can I help?” 

While the University has not yet reached a turning point in the development of a robust alumni program, the increased alumni interest as active partners in 

organizing and running events is an indication that NIU is on the right track. 

The most promising alumni development occurred in March 2014 when the Outreach Office helped set up a conference call between National Intelligence 

University Foundation Chairman Mike McConnell ’74 and a small group of alumni from various class years to discuss a way forward in creating a formal 

alumni organization. The alumni participating on the call phoned in from San Diego, New York City, Norfolk (Virginia), and the national capital region. 

While geographically separated, all were excited to be joined together in common purpose and were happy to be part of the charter group. The general sense 

of the alumni and the foundation members on the call was that keeping the two organizations linked—alumni and Foundation—is a model that has worked 

successfully with other Defense Department universities and worth considering as the discussions continue.

Even as those first organizational steps were being taken, the Alumni Office continued to deliver a series of outreach events for alumni throughout the year, 

some of which are fast becoming annual traditions. The events included the quarterly “From Generation-to-Generation” dinner series, a second annual 

homecoming brunch in the fall, and a second annual reunion at the main campus. Again this year, more than 150 alumni participated in these special events, 

with the demand exceeding the number of seats available.

The Outreach Office continued to improve its ability to communicate with alumni, communicating more often with more alumni than ever before. The 

Outreach Office email distribution list boasts 3,800 alumni addresses, up from 2,800 at the start of the year, and that number continues to increase as 

ongoing marketing efforts and word-of-mouth advertising encourage alumni to reconnect with their intelligence alma mater. 
55

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Maintaining Consistency of the Brand NIU continued to implement the marketing plan, building on lessons learned from the previous year 

while giving special emphasis to achieving greater consistency in messaging and visual branding. With each passing month, as new materials are needed or 

older ones come due for reprint, the Outreach Office is taking the opportunity to help improve consistency for NIU materials.

An important branding milestone occurred when NIU was asked to begin using the Intelligence Community seal on its marketing materials in place of the 

DIA seal. Both the DIA Office of Corporate Communications (OCC) and the ODNI Public Affairs office felt that the IC seal better reflects the University’s 

expanded role as a service of common concern for the entire Intelligence Community. Using the IC seal does not alter the University’s special 

relationship with or the support it receives from DIA, which continues to serve as the executive agent for NIU. 

As previously reported, NIU developed a strategic marketing plan in AY 2011–12, the overarching goals of which are to increase NIU visibility to the 

IC and other key stakeholders, and to adjust the composition of the student body over time by increasing the proportion of enrollees from traditionally 

underrepresented organizations. This year, the Outreach Office took the lead in overseeing implementation of actions and processes to facilitate effective 

marketing, including tightening up existing literature to keep messaging consistent, and establishing better lead times for announcing, promoting, and 

implementing new programs, certificates, and courses. 

As part of the marketing plan, the Outreach Office continues to run two or three new general interest stories about NIU each month for websites and IC 

publications, and focused on delivering a small number of key marketing messages for the year: promoting JPME Level-1 opportunities for military officers 

who attend full-time NIU graduate degree programs, promoting the joint duty equivalent credit for civilians who attend full-time NIU undergraduate or 

graduate programs, announcing and promoting the Quantico Academic Center, and creating stakeholder awareness and excitement about the upcoming 

move to the Intelligence Community Campus–Bethesda in 2016. 

As part of NIU’s outreach and engagement with other U.S. Government graduate schools, the Outreach Office includes the DIA representatives teaching 

on the faculties of the intermediate- and senior-level colleges across the Department of Defense, including the National War College, Eisenhower School 

of National Security and Resource Strategy, Joint Forces Staff College, Naval War College, Army War College, Army Command & General Staff College, 

Marine Corps University, and Air University. In addition to their duties representing DIA to the leadership of these schools, these individuals also serve as 

the DIA Chairs on the respective faculties. This allows synergy between the efforts of NIU and of these professional military education schools, with NIU 

fulfilling its role of providing a service of common academic concern regarding graduate level instruction in intelligence-related topics. 

The DIA representatives at the PME schools reach back to NIU for faculty expertise, intelligence-related research, library resources, and intelligence 

publications, and open additional opportunities for NIU participation in relevant exercises at these schools. During this year, the DIA representative at 

the Eisenhower School coordinated the participation of several members of the NIU faculty in presenting intelligence-related presentations to the Inter–

American Defense College; this was so well received that IADC wants to make the relationship with NIU a permanent feature of their curriculum. NIU also 

hosted the semi-annual gathering of the representatives of all of the intelligence agencies and components (including CIA, NGA, NSA, Homeland Security, 

State, Treasury, FBI) teaching at all of the PME schools, providing an opportunity to share lessons learned regarding how best to present intelligence-related 

materials in the curricula of the various schools.

Improving Functionality behind the Scenes NIU websites continued to be critical and highly-used sources of information for a wide 

variety of constituents, including prospective and incoming students, alumni, and the higher education community, and to include our accreditors. Web 

usage trend data continue to show a high number of visitors to the www.ni-u.edu website, with usage trends running in parallel to previous years’ data. 

The NIU web team in the Outreach Office continued to research and develop a more functional content platform to 

improve the functionality of the NIU websites using techniques that reflect current best practices in website design, 

and hopes to move to WordPress from hypertext mark-up language (HTML) in the coming months. 

Visit Us at www.ni-u.edu
56

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Faculty Scholarship and IC Outreach

Academic and Think Tank Engagement The Center for Strategic Intelligence 

Research cosponsored two major public events in 2013–14 featuring DIA Director 

LTG Michael Flynn. 

• In November 2013, CSIR cohosted, with the Brookings Institution in

Washington, DC, a discussion by Flynn on “A New Model for Defense

Intelligence.”

• In February 2014, CSIR partnered with the Cambridge University in the

United Kingdom to host Flynn at Cambridge’s famed Intelligence Seminar,

a gathering of leading students, scholars, and former senior intelligence officials 

in the UK. The DIA Director met privately with graduate students at

Cambridge, and then gave a public talk on the challenges facing the U.S.

Intelligence Community in the future.

Working with the IC Faculty from the College of Strategic Intelligence continued a wide-ranging and successful outreach program that included many 

international efforts, such as 

•

•

• Attending the Swedish Joint Training Exercise, Viking 2014. Faculty members provided valuable mentors to Swedish and other international intelligence 

professionals throughout the conduct of the exercise.

• Hosting nine students from the Swedish National Defense College and facilitating discussions on intelligence support to national-level policymakers

and counterterrorism efforts.

CSI faculty developed a number of DIA’s Geostrategic Intelligence Seminars, which were open to the entire IC. Six seminars were held in summer 2014 

dealing with Russian foreign policy—this seminar also served as the Capstone Seminar for the Eurasia Certificate. CSI faculty members also served as judges 

for the Galileo Award, sponsored by the DNI for the entire IC. 

Presenting to the Central Eurasian Studies Society Regional Conference at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Lecturing on Chinese intelligence operations to an audience of Romanian intelligence personnel in Bucharest.
57

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community
58

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Faculty Scholarship and IC Outreach | In the Spotlight

Dr. Burghart

• Was keynote speaker at a professional development

conference at the University of Kansas, June 2013.

• Presided at the 9th Annual Conference of

the International Association for Intelligence

Education (IAFIE), June 2013.

• Spoke	on	Eurasian	Studies	at	the	Summer

Intensive	Language	Studies	Program	at

the	Indiana University,	July	2013.

•	Presented a paper on Eurasian Energy

Futures at the Annual Central Eurasian

Studies Society Conference at University

of Wisconsin, September 2013.

• Spoke on Russian Technology

Developments at an Intelligence seminar,

Washington, DC, October 2013.

• Spoke on the Caucasus at George

Mason University, November 2013.

• Spoke	at	the	Eurasia	Foundation	on careers

in	Area	Studies	to	their	fellows program,

Washington,	DC,	February	2014.

• Spoke on Central Asia at George

Mason University, April 2014.

• Spoke on the situation in Ukraine to the Intelligence

Club at George Mason University, May 2014.

• Presented a paper on Central Asia energy, chaired

a panel on Eurasian Political developments, and

served as a discussant on a panel on Central

Asian water futures, at the Central Eurasian

Studies Society Regional Conference, Nazarbayev

University, Astana, Kazakhstan, May 2014.

• Spoke on the situation in Ukraine at

the Congressional Research Service,

Washington, DC, May 2014.
59

The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Faculty Scholarship and IC Outreach | In the Spotlight

Dr. Gordon

• Presided at the 9th Annual Conference of

the International Association for Intelligence

Education (IAFIE), June 2013.

• Gave the keynote speech at the annual meeting of

the Australian Institute for Professional Intelligence

Officers (AIPIO) in Canberra, Australia, July 2013.

• Gave presentations on Intelligence Analysis at the

Korean Joint Intelligence School, South Korea, as

part of an NIU outreach team, in October 2013.

• Served as a discussant at the Balkans Intelligence

Conference, James Madison University,

Harrisonburg, VA, in March 2014.

• Taught warning analysis (two 1-week courses) at the

NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany, in May 2014.

Mr. Hugar 

• Delivered two one-week classified China

seminars to USPACOM in AY 2013–14; one at the

undergraduate level for 11 students and one at

the graduate level for 14 students. Students were

military and civilian IC analysts at USPACOM.

• Facilitated the 2014 East Asia Seminar for the Director,

DIA, and USPACOM J2, June 2–13, 2014. Twenty-one

multinational participants attended the seminar.

• Facilitated nine graduate-level seminars on China

and East Asia with Webster University on Ft.

Belvoir, VA, for military and civilian participants.

Dr. Miller

• Lectured at the Foreign Service Institute on intelligence

analysis and foreign policy formation on December 5,

2013, to a group of 25 mid-level professional students.

• Submitted an article for publication: “U.S.

Strategic Intelligence Forecasting and the Perils of

Prediction,” to appear in International Journal of

Intelligence and Counterintelligence in September

2014. The article is based on a paper Miller

presented in Paris, France, on March 16, 2012.

Mr. O’Neill

• Presented three 90-minute lectures on Chinese

intelligence and information operations to

an audience of 30 Romanian intelligence

personnel in Bucharest in November 2013.

• Presented a three-hour guest lecture on the

origins, evolution, organization, and missions

of Chinese intelligence to an audience of 50

students at the Joint CI Training Academy in

Quantico, VA, on December 2, 2013.

• Spoke	at	an IC conference on	February	6,	2014,	in	

Springfield,	VA.	The presentation,	to	an	audience	

of	200	IC	personnel, was	on	NIU	China	and	CI	

certificate	programs.
60

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

NIU Guest Speaker Program

The NIU Guest Speaker Program (formerly known as the Distinguished Speaker Program) provides students the opportunity to learn outside the classroom 

environment from senior military and civilian leaders with unique perspectives on topics concerning intelligence, policy, leadership, and important 

contemporary issues. The insights by speakers, who include service chiefs, Combatant Command (COCOM) J2s, and other leaders of national intelligence 

agencies and foreign embassies, complement formal instruction and are an integral part of NIU education. Guest speakers are scheduled throughout the 

fall, winter, and spring quarters. 

Guest Speakers — Fall Guest Speakers — Winter Guest Speakers — Spring

09 SEP Lieutenant General Michael T. 

Flynn

Director, DIA

18 NOV Mr. Mike Jeffress 

Director, Global and Emerging 

Issues, Strategic Futures Group, 

National Intelligence Group

31 MAR Mr. James Lawler 

Senior Advisor, CIA

21 OCT Dr. Richard Cronin 

Demographer-in-Residence, the 

Stimson Center

02 DEC Ms. Dana Priest

Staff Writer/Investigative Reporter, 

The Washington Post

07 APR Ms. Rosanne LeVitre

Chairman, National Intelligence 

Management Council, ODNI

25 OCT General David Rodriguez

Commander, US AFRICOM

09 DEC Mr. Brent Beardsley 

Major, Canadian Forces, Retired

21 APR The Honorable Juan Zarate

Senior Advisor, Center for Strategic 

and International Studies

28 OCT Mr. Sean Kanuck

National Intelligence Officer for 

Cyber, National Intelligence 

Council

16 DEC Mr. John Cohen

Principal Deputy Under Secretary 

for Intelligence and Analysis, 

Department of Homeland Security

30 APR Dr. Graham Allison

Director, Belfer Center for Science 

and International Affairs, Harvard 

Kennedy School

04 NOV Dr. Aref Ali Nayed

Libyan Ambassador to the United 

Arab Emirates

13 JAN Colonel Eduard Simion

Director, NATO HUMINT Center of 

Excellence

13 NOV Ms. Susan Herman 

President, American Civil Liberties 

Union

28 JAN Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn 

Director, DIA
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

Center for International Engagement 

The Center for International Engagement (CIE) is the University’s focal point for key outreach programs, including the International Intelligence Fellows 

Program (IIFP), educational seminars, conferences, and symposia promoting knowledge and understanding of key global, transnational, and geostrategic 

issues impacting the Intelligence Community. The following international engagement activities conducted by the University over the past year involved the 

participation of 300 officials from over 50 partner nations from around the world. 

HIGHLIGHT OF EVENTS

14–31 August 2013 | NIU held the 18th iteration of the IIFP. Focused on the theme “Intelligence Support to Combating Terrorism,” this executive-level 

seminar included participation by 22 senior intelligence officials from the following nations: The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Iraq, 

Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Nepal, Oman, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, and the United States. The 

goal of the IIFP is to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and senior international intelligence officials. The program 

included discussions on the nature of terrorism, the parameters of terrorism, and structures and processes in intelligence support to counterterrorism. 

The fellows not only heard from distinguished speakers, such as William E. Tarry Jr., the Undersecretary for Intelligence Analysis at the Department 

of Homeland Security, and retired LTG Robert Noonan 

of Booz Allen Hamilton, but also participated in a field 

studies program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they 

became acquainted with the issue of intelligence fusion 

during several onsite visits. The IIFP concluded with a 

capstone exercise, during which the fellows brainstormed 

the impediments and opportunities concerning intelligence 

sharing. They presented their results to an executive panel 

including NIU and DIA senior leadership. 

August International Intelligence Fellows Program
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

23–26 September 2013 | COL Faik Başan of the Turkish Air Force participated 

in NIU’s Visiting Scholars Program. COL Başan first met with DIA leadership and 

was familiarized with the University’s international programs. For the remainder of his 

visit, he had the unique opportunity to meet with and advise NIU thesis students, and 

to observe and speak in several University classes. 

22–25 October 2013 | A team of five NIU faculty members conducted a 

seminar on “The Challenges of Strategic Intelligence” at the Republic of Korea 

(ROK) Army Intelligence School. This seminar, requested by the Korean Defense 

Intelligence Agency (KDIA), continues a strong relationship between NIU and KDIA 

that has included two previous seminars to analysts at KDIA headquarters in Seoul in 

2011 and 2012. The program is designed to promote discussion of common issues in 

intelligence analysis and collaboration, and to explore mutual solutions. The 70 ROK 

seminar attendees included 40 army, navy, and air force officers attending the Joint 

Strategic Intelligence program at the Army Intelligence School, and 30 mid-grade 

senior analysts from KDIA. Participation in seminar activities and discussions was 

outstanding, and senior officers and leadership within KDIA stated the seminar was 

a great success.

November 2013 & April 2014 | NIU Conducts Successful Seminars at NATO HUMINT Center 

of Excellence (HCOE) in Romania. A team of five NIU faculty members taught a noncredit Human 

Intelligence seminar at the NATO HUMINT Centre of Excellence, Oradea, Romania, in November 

2013 and April 2014. One faculty member briefed legal and ethical issues, including topics of general 

intelligence interest such as international law of war and targeted killings. Another lectured on tactical 

and strategic HUMINT issues, including both case histories and current issues, and U.S. authorized 

interrogation approaches. The seminar was very well received by HCOE leadership and participants. 

13–17 January 2014 | COL Eduard Simion of the Romanian Army, Director for the NATO 

HUMINT Center of Excellence, participated in NIU’s Visiting Scholars Program. COL Simion was 

briefed on NIU’s international programs and met with DIA leadership. He also became acquainted with 

the College of Strategic Intelligence and met with NIU thesis students. His visit demonstrated NIU’s 

strong and growing ties with Romania, a nation the University considers an important partner and 

strategic ally. 

COL Simion (Romania)—NIU Strengthens Ties

with Romania during Visiting Scholars Program

COL Faik Başan (Turkey)—Turkish Military

Participates in Visiting Scholars Program
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19 February–7 March 2014 | NIU and USPACOM cohost the IIFP. For the past three years, NIU and United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) have 

brought together Indo-Asia-Pacific nations’ military intelligence leaders to discuss issues of mutual concern. The issues discussed during the 19 February–7 

March IIFP will be formally presented at the 2014 Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference (APICC), an annual meeting of military intelligence chiefs 

from the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, taking place September 1–5 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. During the program, the fellows identified failed past engagements, 

political differences, and disagreements in prioritization as elements that impede cooperation. The fellows noted that the most important aspects of the 

IIFP were hearing the variety of views on counterterrorism, gaining insight on the U.S. approach, and building partnerships with other countries. The IIFP 

also facilitated continued engagement between NIU and USPACOM, a relationship NIU considers critical, as the Asia-Pacific region becomes increasingly 

influential in international affairs.

The 2014 IIFP participants 

represented the following 

countries: Australia, Bangladesh, 

Brunei, Chile, Indonesia, Korea, 

Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, 

Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua 

New Guinea, the Philippines, 

Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, 

Tonga, and the United States.

February 2014 USPACOM International Intelligence Fellows Program
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USPACOM IIFP
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22 April–23 May 2014 | The National Intelligence University hosted the second Graduate Certificate program for the Alliance of Intelligence 

Operations in Washington, DC. The China certificate is an intensive one-month course designed to familiarize students from Alliance of Intelligence 

Operations nations with China’s foreign policy, strategic culture, and defense and military policies. The 10 students representing the United States, Australia, 

and Canada identified key internal and external factors influencing Beijing’s strategic and regional security perceptions and goals; explored current and future 

means for China’s uses of power to achieve its national modernization and development goals; and examined future intelligence and security challenges posed 

by China’s evolving military capabilities. NIU Provost Dr. Susan Studds hailed this particular Alliance of Intelligence Operations certificate as contributing 

significantly to DIA’s new efforts to expand Alliance of Intelligence Operations cooperation. It facilitated collaboration between DIA’s new Alliance of 

Intelligence Operations center and the China intelligence studies students through the use of Alliance of Intelligence Operations-common technologies. 

Consistent with DNI and DIA strategic goals, the program supports the University’s objective of serving as an academic catalyst for international intelligence 

community engagement. 

30 April–17 May 2014 | NIU held the 19th iteration of the IIFP. As with the previous IIFP, this seminar focused on the theme “Intelligence Support to 

Combating Terrorism.” Senior-level officers and civilians participated from the following countries: Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, 

Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and the United States. The fellows received a strategic 

overview of how the U.S. Intelligence Community manages counterterrorism issues, by combining NIU faculty-led seminars and site visits to the State 

Department, NCTC, DCTC, and the Pentagon to meet with senior intelligence leadership. NIU also arranged a trip to Norfolk, Virginia, for the fellows 

to visit the Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center, Naval 

Station Norfolk, and the FBI and Joint Counterterrorism 

Task Force. The program concluded with an executive 

session, during which the fellows not only identified a 

need to cooperate in a manner that takes into account 

current international counterterrorism shortcomings, but 

also devised opportunities for expanding cooperation.

May 2014 International Intelligence Fellows Program
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

19th IIFP
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The Center of Academic Life for the Intelligence Community

21–24 May 2014 | NIU participated in the 9th annual USEUCOM Black Sea and Caspian Sea Symposium in Bucharest, Romania. Mr. Tom Delare, 

NIU State Department Chair and former U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Bucharest, provided a presentation on regional security issues and moderated 

a panel on increasing instability in the region. This forum enabled the United States and Black Sea partner nations to exchange ideas and perspectives 

freely in an academic setting. Those attending this year hailed the program as critical to ongoing discussions on current regional security issues, particularly 

concerning Ukraine.

1–7 June 2014 | NIU cosponsored the 12th Black Sea Regional Workshop in conjunction with Harvard University and the Romanian government. 

Held in Bucharest, Romania, program events were coordinated by the Romanian Presidential Administration, the Romanian Intelligence Service, and the 

Romanian National Intelligence Academy. The 63 international participants included senior officials from around the region. Keynote presentations were 

delivered by the president and prime minister of Romania. NIU participation included a panel discussion moderated by NIU Provost, Dr. Susan Studds, 

and a presentation by School of Science and Technology Intelligence Dean, Dr. Brian Shaw. This program was a crucial inaugural effort by NIU to team 

with Harvard and the highest levels of a foreign government. NIU participation was so successful that the other sponsors have asked for increased NIU 

participation at future events. 

NIU Provost, Dr. Susan Studds, moderates the panel on security in the Black

Sea Region, while Dr. Matthew Rhodes and S&TI Dean, Dr. Brian Shaw,

share their remarks. Photo by Romanian Intelligence Service.
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, opens the 9th annual USEUCOM Black Sea and Caspian Sea Symposium at the Cotroceni Palace.

Photo by Romanian Intelligence Service.
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2 June 2014 | NIU facilitated the 2nd Annual 2014 DIA/USPACOM 

East Asia Symposium. An NIU faculty member conducted a two-week East 

Asia seminar, beginning on June 2 in Hawaii at USPACOM, for analysts 

from the United States and international intelligence communities. Focused 

on improving national and international capabilities to identify, assess, and 

forecast emerging East Asia security issues, the seminar sought to develop, 

through concentrated studies and in-depth discussions, a community of 

disciplined and innovative analysts. This was the second iteration of this very 

successful annual seminar, which is expected to become a routine part of 

NIU-USPACOM educational offerings to partner nations.
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

NIU HOSTS FOREIGN DELEGATIONS INTERESTED IN INTELLIGENCE EDUCATION 

CIE arranged several visits from senior-level international delegations. Often a component of a formal, broader visit to the Defense Intelligence Agency, 

these visits enabled the University to showcase its future-focused intelligence education and engagement initiatives. The University’s substantive international 

engagement with foreign delegations directly strengthened foreign intelligence relationships to help meet today’s global security challenges. Following are 

the highlights of 2013–14 foreign delegations at NIU.

Turkey—January 2014: LTG Mehmet Daysal, Chief of Intelligence of the Turkish General Staff, and an accompanying delegation met with NIU President, 

Dr. David Ellison, and Provost, Dr. Susan Studds. They also became acquainted with the University’s international programs, receiving an overview briefing 

from the Director of the Center for International Engagement, Larry Hiponia. 

Indonesia—February 2014: Mr. Suripto, Special Advisor to Chief of State Intelligence Agency, and Mr. Tri Yoga Waluyo, President of the Indonesian State 

Intelligence College (STIN), visited NIU, accompanied by Indonesian education officials. They received several briefings to become familiarized with the 

NIU mission, curriculum, and international outreach activities. The purpose of the visit was for the Indonesian delegation to learn how the University runs 

its master’s degree programs and to explore potential cooperation opportunities between NIU and STIN. 

Australia—March 2013: Major General (ret.) Stephen Meekin, Deputy Secretary, Intelligence and Security, in the Australian Department of Defence, 

visited NIU to learn about international outreach activities; specifically, opportunities available to Alliance of Intelligence Operations nations. MG Meekin, 

the only foreign recipient of an MSSI (Class of 1987), was very interested in pursuing additional opportunities in Leadership and Management, Strategic 

Warning, and China Intelligence Studies, and expressed appreciation for continued Denial and Deception (D&D) efforts. He pointed out that the D&D 

program has already reaped rewards in operational matters, and stated his intent to increase Australian involvement in NIU programs. 

Oman—April 2014: NIU hosted COL Sulaiman Khalid Al Zakwani, Director, Military Intelligence Directorate, Royal Army of Oman, and an 

accompanying delegation. After NIU President, Dr. Ellison, held an office call with the delegation, CIE Director, Larry Hiponia, provided an overview 

briefing on NIU’s international programs. COL Al Zakwani expressed his intent to increase Omani involvement in NIU international programs and bring 

NIU to Muscat to conduct a seminar in the near future. 

Other senior delegations from the following countries visited NIU for similar purposes: Azerbaijan (July 2013), Germany (January 2014), Saudi Arabia 

(January 2014), Bangladesh (February 2014), and Pakistan (June 2013 and April 2014).
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Y E A R I N 

REVIEW

2013–14

Registrar and Enrollment Services

Managing the Student Life Cycle The Registrar and Enrollment Services Department plays a vital role in the success of NIU students, faculty, 

and administration. Housing the admissions, registration, and advising support functions of NIU, this department follows students from initial contact 

through admittance, registration, graduation, and beyond. University Admissions works with agencies throughout the military and Intelligence Community 

to recruit highly qualified candidates for NIU full- and part-time programs. During AY 2013–14, the Admissions professionals successfully recruited a large 

and academically diverse class, representing agencies throughout the IC. 

Working with faculty and leadership, the Registrar provides professional advice in the area of enrollment management, develops the academic calendar 

and manages classroom availability, responds to data and reporting requests from the faculty and Institutional Effectiveness department, and provides 

support for the various conferences and symposia occurring each year. The Registrar takes the lead in planning and organizing the University’s annual 

graduation ceremony, which is attended by graduates, friends, family, and representatives from throughout the Intelligence Community. In AY 2014–15, 

the department will build on the results and recommendations of our internal program review with the goal of creating a better experience for our students.

Information and Educational Technology

Servicing the University Information and Educational Technology Department efforts centered on assisting and facilitating all educational 

technology needs and issues for students, faculty, research fellows, and staff. This year, the department 

•	 Expanded and improved the educational technology infrastructure, applications, and processes; provided support for over 8,000 assistance requests; 

and executed over 300 manual file transfers between security domains. 

•	 Furthered development and integration of institutional effectiveness tools. The department continued to work closely with the Institutional Effectiveness 

(IE) department to plan and integrate Blackboard Outcomes, a new tool acquired as a measuring tool to work with existing systems. The department 

also worked with IE to go live with the Verint survey tool on all three networks, providing users with a common survey tool.

•	 Provided technology support for more than 3,000 regular class sessions, 150 VTC class sessions, and more than 20 administrative VTC sessions. 

•	Conducted more than 30 student IT Orientation sessions over VTC and Blackboard Collaborate, with approximately 30 more conducted in person—

including onsite visits to remote Academic Centers.

Administration
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Supporting our Host Agency The department collaborated with DIA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) division and participated in testing the 

latest technologies that will be used in the near future. Department personnel upgraded workstations to Windows 7 and prepared for a migration to a new 

IC-wide standard computer system. Department personnel were actively involved in the Bethesda facility working groups and continued planning the IT 

and audiovisual designs for the facility.

Fiscal Resources

The University’s financial planning is based on the Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Execution (PPBE) system, which operates on a five-year cycle. 

The Defense Intelligence Agency, in conjunction with the Director of National Intelligence, provides financial resources to the University. The requirements 

are submitted by the University through the General Defense Intelligence Program (GDIP). 

Per Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 3305.01 guidance, the University continues to expand its educational, research, and outreach mission 

and responsibilities consistent with its ability to evolve, as a service of common concern to the Intelligence Community, to meet the demand of its 

customers. The University is acting on 

this charter and the University’s FiveYear Strategic Plan, and through the 

programming and budgeting process 

NIU has secured funding in FY 2014 

and FY 2015 to maintain IC academic 

offerings with faculty, staff, and 

University administration support. 

NIU is exclusively funded through 

the GDIP. FY 2014 sustained all of 

the educational research and outreach 

achievements implemented with the 

FY 2013 budget. Funding allowed for 

the continued growth of the School of 

Science and Technology Intelligence’s 

Cyber Lab program, and abilities for 

students to conduct thesis research. 

Funding also allowed additional 

certificate programs to be offered to a 

wider audience inside and outside of 

the Washington, DC, area.
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H O N O R E E S 

and

AWARDS

2014 COMMENCEMENT

HONORARY DOCTORATE

General Keith B. Alexander, U.S. Army (ret.)

Lieutenant General Samuel Vaughan Wilson, U.S. Army (ret.)

THE A. DENIS CLIFT AWARD

Staff Sergeant Terrel J. Sjostrom, U.S. Marine Corps

THE ANN CARACRISTI NAVAL INTELLIGENCE FOUNDATION AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Lieutenant Kevin Pudas, U.S. Navy 

THE BARTON WHALEY DENIAL AND DECEPTION RESEARCH AWARD

Captain Garrett Close, U.S. Army
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

THE ELIZEBETH S. FRIEDMAN AWARD

Mr. Alexander McClain, Department of Homeland Security

THE FLEET ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AWARD

Captain David Marlow, U.S. Army

THE FOREIGN AREA OFFICER ASSOCIATION LIEUTENANT GENERAL VERNON A. WALTERS AWARD FOR

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Petty Officer First Class Allison Palmer, U.S. Navy

THE JUDGE ALLAN NATHANIEL KORNBLUM AWARD

Law Category: Lieutenant Colonel (Select) Jonathan Bell, U.S. Air Force

Ethics Category: Mr. Jeffrey Chatterton, Federal Bureau of Investigation

THE LYMAN B. KIRKPATRICK JR., AWARD

Ms. Christal Archibald, Department of Defense
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THE MICHAEL D. KUSZEWSKI, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, AWARD

Mr. Charles Griffin, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE WORLD WARS AWARD

Mr. John Schwitz, Defense Intelligence Agency

THE NIU FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD

Dr. Peter Leitner

THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AWARD

Major Uriah Orland, U.S. Air Force

THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER FOR CYBER INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AWARD

Mr. Robert Mate, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT

THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER FOR S&T AWARD

Ms. Naomi Redmore, Department of Homeland Security

NATIONAL MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ASSOCIATION AWARD

Graduate Award: Captain James Weakley, U.S. Army

Baccalaureate Award: Technical Sergeant Andrew Hasser, U.S. Air Force

THE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION MILITARY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Graduate Award: Senior Master Sergeant Jeffery Larson, U.S. Air Force

Baccalaureate Award: Senior Master Sergeant Jason Raether, U.S. Air Force

THE RESERVE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING 

SCHOLARSHIP AND MILITARY LEADERSHIP

Lieutenant Commander Scott Ostrowski, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
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THE ROBERT D. BELAND MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

College of Strategic Intelligence: Mr. Gerald Sherrill 

School of Science and Technology Intelligence: Dr. Samiah Baroni

THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AWARD

Ms. Kimberly Reubush, Federal Bureau of Investigation

TOP INSTRUCTOR AWARD IN THE RESERVE AND MONTHLY GRADUATE PROGRAM

Lieutenant Colonel Susan DeYoung, U.S. Air Force Reserve
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MISSION SOURCE DOCUMENT

(DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 3305.01)

Prepare intelligence professionals, both military and civilian, through education and research, to work with skill and dedication in 

identifying and effectively integrating foreign, military, and domestic intelligence in defense of the homeland and of U.S. interests 

abroad.

Place [a] high priority on education and research to meet the combat and peacetime intelligence needs of the Department of Defense.

Enhance the competence of intelligence professionals attending NIU through a variety of academic and educational programs, which 

include granting intelligence undergraduate and graduate degrees [and] undertaking and disseminating intelligence research in the 

furtherance of those programs, and establishing and enforcing appropriate learning standards.

Act as the DoD primary point of contact for academic outreach regarding intelligence matters.

Contribute to the educational and professional career development of military and Federal civilian personnel who are pursuing careers 

in intelligence, defense policy and programs, homeland defense, or homeland security.

Continue the expansion of degree-program offerings, international programs, research, and academic outreach to Federal, public, and 

private colleges and universities, as part of a continuing advancement toward university status.