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The opportunity to work on a wide variety of assignments has been a very appealing aspect of being a DI analyst. Since arriving here, I’ve followed economic, political, and leadership issues, and, since 11 September, have been assigned to the DCI’s Counterterrorist Center. I’ve taken several short trips overseas and worked as a counterterrorism analyst for a law enforcement agency in addition to writing for and briefing my analysis to senior officials and policymakers. One of the most satisfying elements of working in all of these jobs has been the strong sense of mission that my colleagues and I have shared. Knowing that we provide policymakers with the best possible information and analysis to help them make decisions about our country’s security and well-being is something no private-sector job could offer. Lori, counterterrorism analyst, 8 years

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For me, the best part of working at CIA has been the extraordinary variety of experiences it offers. I've worked on high-stakes policy issues, including the downfall of the Soviet Union, the war in Kosovo, and the demise of one-party rule in Mexico. In addition, I've had the chance to serve in an Intelligence Community position, attend a military staff school, lead an Agency recruiting team, and do a year of independent academic study at a major university. I now am leading a unit looking at a variety of intelligence problems from a global perspective. Two recent assignments were among the most interesting and challenging of my career: helping produce the DI's daily intelligence briefing for the President and serving as the briefer for a senior policy official. This has given me an unparalleled look at foreign policy decisionmaking and at the extraordinary efforts the DI makes to get a high-quality intelligence product to senior policymakers every day. For me, a career at the Agency has been a chance to work on important international issues in an intellectually challenging environment and to serve the public by equipping policymakers with the most timely and accurate intelligence analysis possible. —Edward, political analyst and manager, 18 years

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The DI has provided me a wealth of different experiences that no other career could match. I have served as a political analyst on Southeast Asia, traveled to many foreign countries, participated in US military exercises overseas, worked as a staffer in the White House Situation Room, spent a year working in Congress as an American Political Science Association Fellow, provided intelligence briefings to the President and other senior policymakers, and managed a human resources-related staff. I sometimes participate in campus recruiting and other public outreach activities. Moreover, as an African-American, I particularly enjoy speaking about the contributions that African-Americans can make in the intelligence and foreign affairs fields. Dennis, political analyst, 10 years

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As a DI officer, what I have valued most has been the daily opportunity to strengthen my skills and realize my personal goals as I work toward our shared CIA mission of giving timely and accurate intelligence to US policymakers. The Agency is a microcosm of various professions and people and has offered me unique challenges, enriching experiences, in-depth training, lifelong relationships, and memorable rewards. In the DI, I have been encouraged to exercise initiative, tap my expertise, develop my flexibility, and take risks. As both a new manager and a publications and graphics expert, my work involves finding creative solutions in helping my staff to present our Center’s analytic products in the most effective way possible for our policy readers. Hope, 15 years, graphics design and publications specialist

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I started work at the Agency several years ago as a student
co-op, which gave me an early introduction to the diverse career opportunities available at CIA. After graduating with a degree in economics and international relations, I began work tracking money laundering. Since that time, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America to develop expertise in my field and enhance my skills. Although I’ve been at the Agency for a short time, I’ve been able to brief and write for top officials, giving them information that they have used in making US policy. I enjoy working with a diverse group of analysts with extraordinary expertise on complex areas. I cannot imagine a more rewarding or more challenging career than the one I have at CIA. –Ana, economic analyst, 3 years

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