In one of the biggest overhauls attempted since its founding in 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is gearing up for a major restructuring of operations with a heavy focus on digital espionage to equip itself for newer global challenges and threats. The powerful American intelligence network, which is the envy of peers worldwide and an object of fear for many nations, is to set up 10 “mission centres” that will help in more effective handling of specific challenges such as terrorism and weapons proliferation.
As CIA Director John Brennan put it, the new misson centres “will bring the full range of operational, analytic, support, technical and digital personnel and capabilities to bear on the nation’s most pressing security issues and interests”. Under the revamp, the CIA workforce, which is estimated at about 22,000-strong, will see a large-scale reassigning to the new mission centres.
An unclassified version of Brennan’s message to the CIA workforce says the new set of measures will build upon the agency’s Strategic Direction and strengthen the CIA in the coming years. Two fundamental shifts in the national security landscape are said to have dictated the proposed changes: the marked increase in the range, diversity, complexity and immediacy of issues confronting policymakers and, second, the unprecedented pace and impact of technological advancements.
“Digital technology holds great promise for mission excellence, while posing serious threats to the security of our operations and information, as well as to US interests more broadly,” Brennan said as he outlined his plan to create a new Directorate of Digital Innovation that will accelerate the integration of CIA’s digital and cyber capabilities across all its mission areas.
The CIA has adapted to past challenges, such as its response to the emergence of global terrorism, Brennan said, adding: “The time has come for us to do so again, which will require bold action in four interrelated areas.” These measures will include attracting the best of American talent, developing officers with the best skills and knowledge, and positioning the agency to embrace and leverage the digital revolution to aid all mission areas.
All training is proposed to be placed under the CIA University, an institution set up in 2002 to hold courses on various intelligence-related activities both for new hires and experienced officers and support staff. The CIA University, which does not issue degrees as such, will now be tasked to “create more opportunities for learning across disciplines to help us grow well-rounded intelligence officers”, Brennan said.