When students in the NDU iCollege’s Cyber Intelligence course checked in on Monday, September 22, 2014 for their “on campus” phase of this eResident course, their timing could not have been better. Only days earlier, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper unveiled the 2014 National Intelligence Strategy (NIS), which, for the first time, carved out a specific niche for cyber intelligence for the entire U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). Cyber Intelligence (CI) provides intelligence on cyber threats to the nation, taking its place alongside Counterterrorism, Counterproliferation, and Counterintelligence as cross-cutting missions the entire IC must accomplish.
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iCollege's Cyber Intelligence Class in Session
The course delves into the new NIS, exploring cyber intelligence as a stand-alone discipline and the critical role it plays informing decision making at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of warfare, national security, and private business. Under the guidance of Professors David Di Tallo (Commander, U.S. Navy, Military Faculty) and Mark McGibbon (Visiting Faculty from Lockheed Martin), these students were the first to explore cyber intelligence in this manner, covering an exciting depth and breadth of CI material.
Follow-on lessons during the resident week focused on the nexus of cyber intelligence and insider threats, law enforcement, and counter-espionage, as well as a discussion of the crucial enablers, such IC Information Technology Enterprise (IC ITE). Students also covered more basic aspects of the IC by exploring the evolution of U.S. Intelligence, the role of the DNI today, oversight and accountability, and the intelligence budget. A host of guest speakers provided expertise in more basic aspects of the IC by exploring the intelligence oversight and accountability, the intelligence budget, and intelligence sharing and collaboration.
Cyber Intelligence (CYI, Course number 6232) is one of iCollege’s newest courses and a core course in the Cyber Leader curriculum. The final offering for AY 2014-2015 (in eResident format) is scheduled for February 13 - March 22, 2015 (with the resident portion being the second week; other weeks are for online prep and writing/submission of a final paper). Students interested in taking the CYI course are encouraged to consult the iCollege Schedule of Course Offerings, Academic Year 2014-2015 and/or contact the iCollege Office of Student Services (OSS) at iCollegeOSS@ndu.edu or 202-685-6300.
More detailed questions on the course may be directed to the Cyber Intelligence Course Manager, Prof. (CDR, USN) David J. Di Tallo at david.ditallo@ndu.edu or (202) 685-3894.
Link to U.S. National Intelligence Strategy