U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency visited the Air Force Academy Feb. 10.
Robert Cardillo said the future is bright for geospatial science majors and computer programmers here who hope to join the U.S. Intel community.
“The future of the agency lies in computer coding and computational thinking,” Cardillo said. “Sensors are everywhere and the Earth is becoming more transparent.”
The NGA uses sensors, satellites and other technology to interpret geospatial intelligence, aerial imagery and mapping Intel, to keep the U.S. ahead of its enemies.
“Geospatial intelligence is a highly-evolved discipline telling you where exactly someone or something is,” Cardillo said. “It’s a lens we look forward into for the future.”
This Intel helped the U.S. Intel community locate al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The NGA analyzed information to create a model of the compound, helping U.S. leaders approve the May 2, 2011 raid by Navy Seals.
“We played a critical role in locating Osama Bin Laden and the resulting compound raid,” Cardillo said. “We’re quite proud of that.”
The NGA shares data with other U.S. intelligence agencies, the military, contractors and academia.
“Geospatial intelligence is a team sport,” he said.
The NGA’s data helped curtail the West African Ebola virus epidemic in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
“The question was, ‘How do we show the time between the sickness, the diagnosis and treatment. How do you do that in a country that doesn’t have paved roads?”’ he said. “The NGA provided data-sets for the recovery.”
The NGA’s mapping information, including movements of populations, helped recovery efforts after Hurricane Matthew tore through Haiti and a major earthquake shook Nepal. Aerial imagery pinpointed hot spots in forest fires that swept through Washington and tracked changes to the polar ice cap.
“We’re also responsible for the safe navigation of all the military’s aircraft,” Cardillo said.
When it comes to national security, Cardillo said the NGA has a “warning job.”
“We will warn you about the threats but that’s never enough for me,” he said. “We have to be in the business of opportunity. We have to give [senior Pentagon officials] space to make better situational decisions.”
Cadet 3rd Class Stan Ocheskey, a geospatial science major, appreciated Cardillo’s emphasis on the importance young computer coders have in the Intel world.
“The concept was exciting and sparked my interest to develop these skills for future application,” he said.
Steve Gordon is the director of the Academy’s geosciences program.
“Geospatial intelligence will increase in importance to national security,” he said. “The ability to synthesize human geography, physical geography and geo-techniques remains critical to the Defense Department’s war fighting efforts.”
Cardillo has high hopes for the geospatial science majors.
“We will retire one day and get out of your way,” he said. “I know you’re going to make it right.”
Still, collecting Intel is a far cry from cadet life, Cardillo said.
“We don’t get too many parades,” he said.