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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