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CONFERENCE
PREVIEW
Looking Ahead to
GEOINT 2004
The United States Geospatial Intelligence
Foundation (USGIF) is on the fast track to get its
educational and business plans moving, even as it prepares
for its GEOINT Symposium October 12-14, 2004 in New
Orleans, Louisiana. In July, the organization announced a
host of scholarships for graduating seniors and members of
the intelligence community. The University Scholarship
Program will award three $5,000 scholarships to recognize
promising achievers in graduate studies in a field related
to the geospatial intelligence tradecraft, while the
Academic Research Award acknowledges achievement in
research. The Geospatial Intelligence Achievement Award
will be presented to an individual or team from each of
three sectors: government, industry, and military.
Finally, the USGIF Lifetime Achievement Award, selected by
the USGIF board, recognizes an influential member of the
geospatial intelligence community. Awards will be
presented at the GEOINT Symposium.
Steven Jacques, the USGIF Vice President of
Operations, described the organization’s current work.
One of the big things on the Foundation’s plate is
certification. The Foundation is working to establish a
Geospatial Intelligence Certification Program in
coordination with the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency (NGA) and universities and colleges throughout the
country.
The speed with which USGIF and the scholarship and
awards programs appeared, and the momentum of the
certification work is exceptional. Jacques explained that
it’s the members, volunteering their time, who are
making it happen. He cites scores of members and their
companies, donating time, resources, and best practices.
Last year’s GeoIntel was a first attempt to pull
together the energies of the people involved in geospatial
intelligence and by all accounts, it succeeded beyond
everyone’s expectations. The expected crowd of 600
turned into 1,400. There’s “too much commitment and
acknowledgment of purpose” to slow USGIF or the event
down” said Jacques. This year, 1,500-2,000 attendees are
expected.
And USGIF is being very clear on the event and the
organization’s focus: addressing its prime customer, NGA.
With Lieutenant General USAF (Ret.) James Clapper,
Director of NGA, and Deputy Director Joanne Isham on board
as supporters, NGA will be well-represented. Jacques
notes, the Department of Homeland Security may well be a
“customer” too, but at this point, the event is not
trying to be all things to all people. Jacques explained
that in time some of the existing borders between agencies
may disappear, and this may be something the foundation
may encourage. “Information is information,” he
suggests, making it clear that boundaries are artificial
and may well hamper its best use.
Jacques identified several things attendees
might take away from GEOINT 2004: the opportunity to rub
shoulders with 2,000 attendees in this space, insight of
executives, a sense of how the latest technology can
support intelligence, a sense of “macro policy” on
intelligence, as well as an international perspective on
geointelligence. The event will also be where NGA
announces the recipients of a round of Broad Agency
Announcement (BAA) contracts.
The BAA awards, typically a few hundred thousand
dollars each, will hopefully help introduce smaller
players to large ones to find new synergies. NGA is using
the event to show its commitment to both the process and
to USGIF. Moreover, says Jacques, it helps break the award
“away from the norm,” enhancing NGA’s outreach.
As for next year? The 40,000 square feet of
exhibits are effectively sold out for this year and
Jacques is looking for 80,000 square feet for next year.
In the meantime, USGIF boasts more than 40 members.
Details on this year’s event are online at http://www.geoint2004.com.
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