Vision 

NGA will lead the GEOINT Enterprise in applying AI to the GEOINT mission, enabling decision 

advantage for the warfighter, policymakers and mission partners. 

Primary Goal 

To produce increasingly accurate GEOINT data and AI models that will generate high-quality and 

useful detections for applications in defense and intelligence missions. 

Mission Outcomes

► Defending the homeland, paced to the growing multidomain threat posed by foreign

adversaries.

► Deterring aggression, while being prepared to prevail in conflicts when and where 

necessary.

► Deterring strategic attacks against the United States, allies, and partners

► Building a resilient Joint Force and defense ecosystem

► US Warfighters and policymakers face two conditions to maintain decision advantage:

1.Addressing the growing threats from a range of adversaries in multiple domains, requiring

increased intelligence collection.

2.Harnessing growing opportunities associated with the rise of AI capabilities enabled by highperformance computing and massive amounts of data.

Challenge Area 

Developing and Adopting AI Solutions

The past decade of AI and ML research development has kicked off an unprecedented new era 

of AI. Developing and applying AI to defense intelligence applications is nascent and requires new 

data, models and techniques to achieve accurate, high-quality detections. Platforms and use 

cases are needed that enable solutions from industry, academia and government to thrive in an 

interoperable environment to create the best AI-derived GEOINT solutions for mission.

Approved for public release, NGA-U-2023-02684 

What is 

Artificial 

Intelligence?

Artificial 

Intelligence 

(AI) is a multidisciplinary 

field capable of 

enhancing the 

GEOINT mission. 

NGA is committed 

to leading 

the GEOINT 

Enterprise in 

exploring and 

applying all forms 

of AI, with an 

emphasis on the 

fields of Machine 

Learning (ML) 

and Computer 

Vision (CV).

Way of Artifical Intelligence (AI)

NGA’s AI Approach 

1
Challenge Area

GEOINT AI Governance

Applying the right resources to achieve the best GEOINT AI development and operations requires the GEOINT Enterprise to 

prioritize investments in labeling, algorithm development, inference computing, and label and data management. 

Challenge Area

Responsible and Assured GEOINT AI 

AI data must maintain and build upon the rigor and confidence required by our warfighters and policymakers so they 

understand how AI will function when applied to mission (for example, shared Independent Verification and Validation 

processes involving both formal and functional verification and risk methodologies that inform proper use and application).

Path Forward

► NGA has the experts, the tradecraft and the data:

• To take advantage of NGA collection operations and expertise to feed GEOINT ML/CV systems and leverage ML/CV

detection in automating the Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination cycle.

• To leverage current and historical records within NGA, ensuring accuracy, speed and precision of quality-labeled data

for GEOINT ML/CV in providing strategic deterrence.

• To apply keen understanding of intelligence issues and key indicators held by NGA analysts, positioning them to be first 

in the GEOINT Enterprise to know when CV models require adjustment or replacement.

• To regularly assure the pedigree, provenance, integrity and quality of data in the workflow, including models and

simulations.

► NGA leads the GEOINT Enterprise by:

• Applying a deep understanding of GEOINT AI technology and methods that enable improvement of GEOINT AI operations

in support of mission.

• Approaching GEOINT ML/CV capabilities in a collaborative, responsive and agile manner that minimizes cost and 

maximizes performance for GEOINT consumers.

• Leveraging a close connection with national security, warfighters and mission partners, enabling it to anticipate GEOINT

ML/CV requests and to swiftly adjust or establish such projects.

► An emphasis on ML/CV enables NGA to move forward with speed and agility as it works through the three AI

challenge areas to quickly create and deliver AI-derived GEOINT.

How do I get more information?

Contact Us: DDI_QA_SPE@nga.mil

3

2

Approved for public release, NGA-U-2023-02684