Review of the National Defense Intelligence College's Master's Degree in Science and Technology Intelligence (2011)

Review of the National Defense Intelligence College’s
Master’s Degree in Science and Technology Intelligence

Committee for the Review of the Master’s Degree Program for Science and Technology
Intelligence Professionals

Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
                        OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS     500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This is a report of work supported by Contract No. HHM402-10-D-0036DO#2 between the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Academy of Sciences. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number 978-0-309-22054-5
International Standard Book Number 0-309-22054-8

Copyright 2011 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

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The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

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COMMITTEE FOR THE REVIEW OF THE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS

DIANE GRIFFIN (NAS/IOM), Chair, John Hopkins School of Public Health

JULIE J.C.H. RYAN, Vice Chair, The George Washington University

BRIAN BALLARD, Berico Tailored Systems

WESLEY L. HARRIS (NAE), Massachusetts Institute of Technology

KENNETH KRESS, KBK Consulting

GILMAN LOUIE, Alsop Louie Partners

Staff

DANIEL E.J. TALMAGE, JR., Study Director

KAMARA E. BROWN, Research Associate

MARGUERITE SCHNEIDER, Administrative Coordinator

DIONNA ALI, Senior Program Assistant

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Preface

In the spring of 2011 the National Defense Intelligence College (NDIC) asked the National Research Council (NRC) to convene a committee to review the curriculum and syllabi for its proposed master of science degree in science and technology intelligence (see Box P-1 for statement of task). The NRC was asked to review the material provided by the NDIC and offer advice and recommendations regarding the program’s suitability for achieving the desired goals of the college’s program. The Committee for the Review of the Master’s Degree Program for Science and Technology Intelligence Professionals convened in May 2011, received extensive briefings and material from the NDIC faculty and administrators, and commenced a detailed review of the material. This report contains the findings and recommendations of the committee.

We wish to express our appreciation to the members of the committee for their diligent and dedicated contributions to the study and to the preparation of this report. The review process was intense and required in-depth consideration of both content and process. The committee is also grateful to the Defense Intelligence Agency for its sponsorship and to the intelligence community for its active participation throughout the study. We would like to thank NRC staff members Mike Clarke, Daniel Talmage, Marguerite Schneider, Kamara Brown, and Dionna Ali for their dedication to the study and to the preparation of this report.

Diane Griffin, Chair

Julie J.C.H. Ryan, Vice Chair

Committee for the Review of the Master’s Degree Program for Science and Technology Intelligence Professionals

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Acknowledgment of Reviewers

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

Rita Colwell (NAS), University of Maryland

Paul Gaffney (NAE), Monmouth University

Daniel Hastings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Robert Herman (NAE)

Darrell Long, University of California, Santa Cruz

Alton Romig (NAE), Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Elsa Garmire (NAE). Appointed by the NRC, she was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

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Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1      PROGRAM, CURRICULUM, AND SYLLABI REVIEW

Background

Discussion of MS&TI Degree

Curriculum

Syllabi

Findings and Recommendations

General

Syllabi

Conclusion

References

Published

Unpublished

APPENDIX

A      Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

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