“Leader, Lecturer, Analyzer, Nerd” – with Jorhena Thomas

Summary

Jorhena Thomas (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her career as an analyst and passion for intelligence education. Jorhena spent 8 years in the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• What makes a great analyst
• Her thoughts on the “Intelligence Cycle”
• The Robert Levinson case 
• How the FBI adapted after 9/11

Reflections

• Teamwork and collaboration 
• The importance of education

Episode Notes

Andrew is joined by Jorhena Thomas: educator, mentor, and analysis extraordinaire. It was a pleasure to have Jorhena in the studio to discuss to her career, which began at the Federal Bureau of Investigation where she served as an intelligence analyst for 8 years. She moved on to work at the Washington D.C. Fusion Center, the District of Columbia Deputy Mayor’s Office, and in private consulting. She currently lectures at both American University and Georgetown University, and serves as the Director of Mentorship and Professional Advancement at Girl Security.

And… 

Women make up 59% (more than half!) of the FBI’s Intelligence Analysis workforce. This has come along way since the first female FBI special agents, Joanna Pierce Misko and Susan Roley Malone, were hired in 1972. However, the work is not done. SpyCast is proud to highlight Jorhena’s work with Girl Security, supporting, mentoring, and training the next generations of women in intelligence. 

Quotes of the Week

“All my time with the FBI really gave me an appreciation for partnerships, and understanding everyone has a role to play. And if you respect what they do and they respect what you do, then you can really get some good work done. And I think sometimes people look down on others who don't do what they do. And my attitude is, if they did what you do, then you don't need to be here” – Jorhena Thomas

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCasts*

• The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023)
• SPY CHIEFS: From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief – Ellen McCarthy’s Journey (Part 1 of 2) (2022) 
• SPY CHIEFS: From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief – Ellen McCarthy’s Journey (Part 2 of 2) (2022)
• My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent with Kathy Stearman (2021)
• Special Operations, FBI, NSC, et al – Serial Collaborator Karen Schaefer (2021)

*Beginner Resources*

• What is Intelligence Analysis and Why is It So Important?, National American University (2020) [Short article]
• FBI Field Intelligence Groups and Fusion Centers, Department of Homeland Security (n.d.) [Fact sheet] 
• What is The Intelligence Cycle?, SOCRadar (2022) [Short article]

DEEPER DIVE

Books

• How Spies Think: Ten Lessons in Intelligence, D. Omand (Penguin, 2020) 
• Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, R. J. Heuer (Echo Point, 2017) 
• Reducing Uncertainty: Intelligence Analysis & National Security, T. Fingar (SUP, 2011)
• The FBI: A History, R. Jefferys-Jones (Yale, 2007)

Articles

• How to Think Like an Intelligence Analyst, Z. T. Brown, Medium (2021)
• 9/11 and the Reinvention of the Us Intelligence Community, E. Kamarck, The Brooking Institution (2021) 
• No body, no burial, no peace for Iran hostage Bob Levinson's family, J. G. Meek & C. Finnegan, ABC News (2021)
• Getting from Awareness to Action on Disinformation, J. Thomas, The Cipher Brief (2020)
• Tabletop Exercises to Combat Disinformation, J. Thomas, Medium (2020)
• How the FBI Reinvented Itself After 9/11, C. Nobel, Harvard Business School (2016) 

Video

• Adding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to National and Homeland Security, Education, Intelligence, and Fusion Centers (2023) 
• Women FBI Agents: In Their Own Words, FBI (2012)

Primary Sources 

• FBI Washington Field Office Statement on the 16th Anniversary of the Abduction of Robert A. Levinson, FBI Washington (2023)
• The Internal Effects of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Reprioritization, Office of the Inspector General (2004)
• United States Patriot Act (2001)

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