“First of Many…America’s First Female Intelligence Agency Chief” – with former NGA Director Letitia “Tish” Long

Summary

Letitia “Tish” Long (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her time as the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Tish was the first woman to be appointed director of an American intelligence agency. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• GEOINT & its importance
• Tish’s recollection of the Bin Laden raid
• The differences between NGO and NGA
• Information sharing between spy chiefs

Reflections

• The value of mentorship 
• Being the first, but certainly not the last

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week

“Make sure that you are taking care of yourself, that you're getting that balance, you know, work life balance. And when I say that, I mean many different things because everybody is different. Whether it's family, friends, spiritual, physical, or working out, you’ve got to take care of all aspects of yourself so you're ready to give 110%. Because that's what the intelligence community takes.” – Tish Long.

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCasts*

• Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)
• Leader, Lecturer, Analyzer, Nerd with Jorhena Thomas (2023)
• SPY CHIEFS: “From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief” with Ellen McCarthy (Part 1 of 2)
• SPY CHIEFS: “From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief” with Ellen McCarthy (Part 2 of 2)

*Beginner Resources*

• What is Geospatial Intelligence or GEOINT?, Geospatial World, YouTube (2023) [2 min. video]
• Spy Satellite Expert Explains How to Analyze Satellite Imagery, Wired, YouTube (2021) [5 min. video]
• NGA History, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (n.d) [Short article]

DEEPER DIVE

Books

• Geospatial Intelligence: Origins and Evolution, R. M. Clark (Georgetown University Press, 2020)
• Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence, J. Clapper (Penguin Books, 2018)
• Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad, P. L. Bergen (Crown, 2012)

Primary Sources 

• The Advent of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Office of the NGA Historian (2011)
• Geospatial Intelligence Basic Doctrine, NGA (2006) 
• Memorandum to the Director of NIMA on Expanded Use of US Commercial Space Imagery, CIA (2002)
• A Century of CORONA, CIA (1968)
• NGA Reference Chronology, Office of the NGA Historian (n.d.)

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