NTELLIGENCE REFORM 2.0: HERE ARE SIX WAYS TO MAKE SURE AMERICA’S LEADERS AND TROOPS GET THE INTELLIGENCE THEY NEEDI

by RC Porter

April 22, 2015 

Intelligence Reform 2.0: Here Are Six Ways To Make Sure America’s Leaders And Troops Get The Intelligence They Need

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David Shedd and Matthew Ferraro have an article on the DefenseOne.com website this morning discussing their thoughts and ideas for Intelligence Community (IC) reform; which if implemented they argue, would improve the content and quality of intelligence our leaders and soldiers need. The authors note that “ten years ago this month, American intelligence agencies were reorganized [in an attempt to] to prevent another 9/11,” from occurring. The two argue that “now the IC needs even more radical transformation — as national security challenges grow, budgets decrease, and questions arise about the intelligence’s [surveillance, reconnaissance, and production] place within an open society. The key to addressing these challenges,” the two authors argue, “will be building a more integrated intelligence enterprise…that demonstrates its value to the American people.” With that conclusion as the backdrop, the two authors suggest the following six major initiatives — if adopted — would put the IC on a path to adapt to the ‘new’ national security landscape.

1) The CIA Must Fully Implement Its Reorganization Plan: Mr. Shedd and Mr. Ferraro note that CIA Director John Brennan has already begun the broadest reorganization and focus of the agency since the 1970’s — “integrating its capabilities around specific subjects, and geographic regions. The agency has successfully, beta-tested this kind of collaboration for years,” the two men acknowledge; “but, if the past is prologue, this reform will be arduous, in an organization that is averse to major reforms. For this transformation to succeed,” they argue, “CIA will need to foster the highest level of skills necessary for successful clandestine operations and analysis, establish clear career development paths for its personnel, and ensure ongoing support from the President — well past 2016.”