USGIF Launches Geospatial Intelligence Academy

October 14, 2004

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) announced today its plan to form a Geospatial Intelligence Academy. The Academy’s mission will be to expand the workforce of highly-qualified geospatial intelligence professionals. In consultation with the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the Academy will develop and promote university curriculum guidelines and establish a voluntary accreditation process for professionals in the geospatial intelligence tradecraft.

The Geospatial Intelligence Academy will support educational opportunities to help prepare individuals for careers in geospatial intelligence and to contribute to their continuing professional development. The Academy will also maintain a Web-based catalogue that enables prospective students to identify academic courses and programs that meet their needs.

“One of our core goals as a Foundation is the development of education programs to help advance the geospatial intelligence tradecraft,” said Stu Shea, chairman of the board, USGIF. “The establishment of the Geospatial Intelligence Academy demonstrates our commitment to this objective and we look forward to our member participation in the Academy’s development.”

In the coming months the Academy will appoint a panel to help formalize curriculum guidelines and accreditation standards. The Academy will appoint panel members who represent the broad spectrum of the geospatial intelligence community of interest and whose experience prepares them to contribute to the Academy’s success.

For more information about the Geospatial Intelligence Academy contact the Foundation by calling 1-888-MY-USGIF.

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation is a Virginia-based nonstock, not-for-profit corporation. The Foundation is dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger community of interest between government, industry, academic and professional organizations and individuals who share a mission focus around the development and application of geospatial intelligence data and geo-processing resources to address national security objectives. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.usgif.org.

Download the pdf press release.