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HOMEABOUT

# OSINT: A UNIQUE NATIONAL SECURITY            ASSET

Did you know that DIA uses Open Source Intelligence to inform many of its highly            regarded reports about key national security issues?

Derived exclusively from publicly or commercially available information to address specific intelligence            priorities, requirements or gaps, OSINT is vital to the agency’s mission – providing unique            value and enabling all other intelligence collection disciplines. In today’s world, information is            everywhere, all the time. By focusing our efforts on open source information of intelligence value, DIA is            able to maintain global awareness of breaking events that affect US interests at home and abroad. And, we            have the right safeguards in place to protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons while adhering            to all relevant laws and implementing guidelines.

# *OSINT is a premier source of intelligence information for                decision-makers and warfighters.*

# VISION

Make OSINT the "First Resort" source of intelligence for                    decision-makers and warfighters.

# MISSION

Our Defense Intelligence components execute open source programs and                    activities to collect, assess, and report publicly available information with intelligence value to                    satisfy national, strategic, operational, and tactical requirements.

# STRATEGIC GOALS

### 01

Enhance decision-maker and warfighter situational                        awareness through timely delivery of customized, serialized OSINT products and data.

### 02

Maximize the intelligence value of open source                        information.

### 03

Expand the open source aperture internally and                        externally.

### 04

Establish OSINT as a premier intelligence                        capability and the foundation for all other disciplines.

### 05

Synchronize OSINT with all other publicly and                        commercially available information (PAI/CAI) activities.

Dive Deeper, check out the:

IC OSINT                            Strategy

# OPEN SOURCE INTELLIGENCE

“Through timely and substantive production, OSINT provides situational awareness and supports decision            makers during crisis” said DIA OSINT leader Brad Ahlskog.            “What’s more, we are only scratching the surface of what can be achieved through the combined            efforts of our OSINT community of professionals.”

# PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION (PAI)

Information that has been published or broadcast for public consumption, is available on        request to the public, is accessible on-line or otherwise to the public, is available to the public by        subscription or purchase, could be seen or heard by any casual observer, is made available at a meeting open to        the public, or is obtained by visiting any place or attending any event that is open to the public. Publicly        available information includes information generally available to persons in a military community even though        the military community is not open to the civilian general public.

— DoD Manual            5240.01

# DEFENSE OPEN SOURCE COUNCIL                (DOSC)

The DOSC shall be the primary governance mechanism for DoD OSINT. It shall serve                as a forum for the coordination and facilitation of DoD OSINT activities and programs. DOSC shall advise                and report to the USD(I&S) on OSINT issues and recommend initiatives to improve the effectiveness                and efficiency of the DoD OSINT programs, activities, and systems.

— DoD                    Instruction 3115.12

# DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE ENTERPRISE                MANAGER (DIEM)

The Director of DIA is the DIEM for OSINT in accordance with DoD Directive                    5105.21.

Questions or Comments?

**CONTACT US**

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# What is the Defense Open Source                    Council (DOSC)?

As the world’s largest employer, the Department of Defense relies on a highly distributed                    operating model that empowers leaders and managers at what we like to call “the tip of the                    spear.” The DOSC serves this function for all of our OSINT elements, a diverse team of                    military and civilian officers deployed around the world.

The center of the DOSC symbol reflect the four cardinal directions, North, South, East, and West,                    indicative of the global nature of OSINT. The perimeter is comprised of the official seals of the                    member organizations, which includes our Armed Services, selected Defense Agencies, the Combatant                    Commands, and the Joint Staff.

The national flags of the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom form the base of                    the symbol, reflecting our international partnership and commitment to operating as one team.

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# Strategic Goal 1

In recent years, with the rise in social media, information obtained from open sources is often the                    first indicator of a developing situation, whether a natural disaster, political crisis, or breakout                    of hostilities.

Our nation’s leaders turn to OSINT to make sense of what’s occurring and to form a basis                    for understanding of how the event affects US national security interests.

This Strategic Goal reflects a commitment to ensure our customers get the right information, in the                    right context, in the most efficient and effective manner of reporting and information sharing.

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# Strategic Goal 2

Not all publicly available information has intelligence value; in fact, too much information can have                    negative consequences, creating what is normally referred to as “information overload.”                    OSINT professionals are responsible for understanding which pieces of information present the most                    comprehensive understanding of a particular situation, based on the intelligence needs of their                    customers.

This Strategic Goal recognizes need to integrate technology-based solutions into the open source                    information process to help OSINT collectors focus their efforts.

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# Strategic Goal 3

Technology advancements and social trends continue to shape the universe of publicly available                    information. To stay relevant, OSINT also needs to adapt and evolve.

This could be through development of new collection methods and advanced technical capabilities, or                    simply by enriching collaboration with other parts of the intelligence community or with our foreign                    government partners.

This Strategic Goal prioritizes the necessity of maintaining a flexible and diverse OSINT enterprise,                    never reliant on one source of information or operating procedure.

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# Strategic Goal 4

At DIA, our workforce is our most important asset, and although OSINT is a technology-based                    discipline, our success will always be proportionate to the overall professionalism of the military                    and civilian officers that put it all together.

This Strategic Goal envisions development of a military and civilian OSINT cadre that sets a                    foundation for all other intelligence disciplines, creating synergy and maximizing the effects of                    our work.

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# Strategic Goal 5

Publicly and commercially available information has widespread utility across the government –                    far beyond what is used for intelligence requirements. As open source information becomes more                    widely available, the potential for duplication of effort increases, especially in a large, globally                    dispersed organization.

This Strategic Goal challenges OSINT to take a leading role for ensuring open source information is                    managed efficiently and effectively across DIA and within the Department of Defense.

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## Contact DIA OSINT

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