Author Description

"Foreign attacks against the United States occur frequently, but the American people, U.S. policymakers, and even some intelligence analysts have become inured to the rising temperature of these national security threats. Although changes have occurred in the structure and organization of intelligence agencies, the intelligence community (IC) continues to face long-standing challenges related to collaboration, the use of open sources, analytic tradecraft, and the risk of politicization. The current environment demands prompt consideration of changes to intelligence structures and authorities that would enable intelligence analysts to become aware of foreign interference and disinformation campaigns sooner; ensure the dissemination of unclassified intelligence assessments to everyone who needs access to them, including private sector organizations; and protect against politicization. This exploratory study sought to address these needs by proposing Big Ideas—game-changing ideas that, while bold and audacious, are also implementable without requiring major intelligence reform. Drawing from an extensive review of previous intelligence reforms and scholarly literature to understand earlier proposals and 17 interviews with current and former U.S. and foreign intelligence leaders, practitioners, and scholars, the authors identify evidence-based ideas to stimulate debate and meaningful changes in the IC that could meet today's challenges and strengthen U.S. national security against adversaries who are exploiting U.S. enterprises."--RAND website.