Intelligence Interviews

IAFIE Intelligence Education Interview Series

Interview Introduction:

Table of Contents -

Intelligence Interviews - Advancing Intelligence Analysis Education Following the success of the Intelligence & Interview series—featuring 42 distinguished authors from around the world, thousands of visualizations, and a book in partnership with the Italian Society of Military History and Italian Society of Intelligence—we are excited to launch a new initiative under the International Intelligence Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE). This new series aims to further expand the conversation on intelligence, analysis, education, and training by engaging a diverse range of voices, including students, practitioners, professionals, and scholars.

The evolving landscape of intelligence analysis requires innovative approaches to education and training. This series seeks to explore these themes in depth, providing a dedicated platform for meaningful discussions that reflect the rapidly changing demands of intelligence work in the 21st century. This new series of interviews places a stronger emphasis on education and training methodologies. The series brings a wide variety of voices and experiences from the professional and academic world. By engaging experts from both academia and the intelligence community, we generated thought-provoking discussions that bridge theoretical insights with real-world applications.

By fostering conversations between institutions, educators, and professionals, this initiative aims to strengthen the foundation of intelligence education and promote an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas that will help prepare analysts for the complex security challenges of the future.

The project was led by Dr. Giangiuseppe Pili (James Madison University and US Northeast Regional Director for IAFIE) and Andrea Bardazzi (University of Florence, Italy) and supervised by Robin Lobb (IAFIE Vice President, Membership). They are all thankful to all the people who so positively engaged with a project that aims to shape the debate on intelligence analysis education.

Disclaimer: These written interviews are intended to promote intelligence education. Both the interviewee and appropriate IAFIE leadership have approved all materials before publication, and the information shared or indicated in these interviews does not represent the views of any government, agency or Intelligence Community. We thank our Interviewees for their service and for their participation in IAFIE’s Intelligence Education Interview Series.

Andrea Bardazzi: “Conducting interviews on behalf of IAFIE has been an extraordinary experience, both professionally and personally. Each interview allowed me to discover unique perspectives on the world of intelligence and demonstrated the importance of listening to voices from different backgrounds in order to build a robust and comprehensive educational pathway. The stories, advice, and experiences shared by the interviewees made me realize that at the heart of any analysis, there is always a personal, precious, and irreplaceable voice. The interviews offered a mosaic of reflections on operational, moral and strategic issues, enabling an exploration of the past, an understanding of the present and an anticipation of future challenges in the field. Equally fundamental was the contribution of IAFIE members: their support and expertise enriched the research process and taught me the value of academic rigor and the value of honest dialogue with intelligence experts and professionals from other disciplines. This journey has not only strengthened my professional growth, but also provided future readers with a unique opportunity to explore the extraordinary complexity of the intelligence world from multiple perspectives."

IAFIE Student Volunteer: "To preface our collective and personal experiences in conducting IAFIE’s Intelligence Education Series, we extend our appreciation to our various members, educators, and practitioners for sharing their stories with us. Your unique insights, interests and expertise demonstrate the diverse academic and professional excellence of our IAFIE community. In the interviews found within, we honor and commemorate your contributions and efforts, highlighting the voice and rigor of the intelligence studies community. Thus, it is collectively that we dedicate the Intelligence Education Series to you, our members, mentors, and colleagues, we thank you for your patriotism, sacrifice and service, may your stories inspire and educate the next generation of IC careerists".