Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) – Maturing the Discipline

Join host Michael Ard for a curated conversation with Barbara Alexander, president, OSINT Foundation as they discuss the current and future role of OSINT in the Intelligence Community.

Join host Michael Ard for a curated conversation with Barbara Alexander, president, OSINT Foundation as they discuss the current and future role of OSINT in the Intelligence Community.

Mrs. Alexander is the president of the OSINT Foundation, a professional association for Open Source Intelligence practitioners. A career intelligence officer in the Federal Government and retired member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), Alexander has a broad background in analysis, collection, strategic planning, information technology, and Intelligence Community issues.

Alexander began her career as a European military-political analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and later spent a decade working in the areas of strategic planning and budgeting for the global defense intelligence analysis community. She served in interagency assignments at the predecessor to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and held senior managerial positions at DIA, including the deputy for counterproliferation, staff director for Russia, Eurasia, and Africa, and chief of the Relationship and Performance Management Group in the office of the chief information officer, supporting the mission needs of over 20,000 DoD Intelligence Information Service customers worldwide.

Alexander joined the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis(I&A) in 2008 as the Director of I&A’s Collection and Requirements Division, where she oversaw the Department’s OSINT exploitation activities. She also ensured the IC’s technical capabilities and human assets provided the information DHS and its components needed to prepare, prevent, respond, and recover from any hazard or threat to the security of the Nation. In 2010, she became the director of I&A’s Cyber, Infrastructure, and Science Division, and directed intelligence analysis on threats to the Nation’s cyber networks; threats from adversary use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials; and threats to the17 critical infrastructure sectors. Upon her retirement from federal service, she has worked in industry as an expert in Intelligence and Homeland Security, most recently for General Dynamics Information Technology.

Alexander holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Wheaton College (IL); a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, the Johns Hopkins University; and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College. She is a project management professional (PMP®), a certified Intelligence Community Officer, a FEMA certified Level I Professional Continuity Practitioner, and completed the Chief Information Officer Certification program at the National Defense University’s Information Resources Management College.

We hope to see you there!