Kyle Kilian

Kyle Kilian is the Emerging Data and Modeling Lead for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) Office of Analytical Tradecraft, where he coordinates analytical modernization efforts to integrate non-traditional data sources and machine learning into agency tradecraft. Kyle and the team are responsible for interfacing between NGA analysts and technology developers to automate complex analytical workflows, integrate non-traditional data sources, and devise novel modeling strategies to optimize analysis.

During his 14-year career as an NGA analyst, Kyle has served throughout the interagency and defense intelligence communities in strategic, tactical, and joint operational environments. This breadth of experience provides a high-level perspective on analytical challenges and opportunities for the National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG). Before joining ATP, Kyle completed an MS in Science and Technology Intelligence from the National Intelligence University (NIU), with concentrations in data science and cyber intelligence. Kyle’s thesis research focused on AI, where he developed an interest in machine learning, graph neural networks, and their potential applications to intelligence problems.

From 2018-2020, Kyle served as the national agency representative to US Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT). As the senior representative, Kyle coordinated community-wide initiatives in technological integration, intelligence sharing, and training programs to support special operations forces (SOF) worldwide. Kyle routinely coordinated with international partners to facilitate information sharing and integrate NGA methodologies across our foreign partner forces. Before joining SOCCENT in 2018, Kyle served as a team lead to the NGA Support Team (NST) at US Central Command (CENTCOM), training and managing a team of military and civilian analysts. From 2013-2016, he served as the sole agency representative to Naval Special Warfare (NSW) in Virginia Beach, VA, providing direct analytical support in a joint interagency environment.

From 2011-2013, Kyle participated in planning and coordinating the annual NSW exercise Trident Spectre. The interagency exercise is an innovation battle lab designed to test new systems and analytical methodologies for the special operations community. As part of the planning committee, Kyle participated in developing the scenario, selecting technologies, and creating training material for the exercise. As a subject-matter expert in activity-based intelligence (ABI), Kyle acted as proctor and senior instructor for three iterations of the exercise.

Since joining NGA in 2009, Kyle has worked as a geospatial, imagery, and hybrid GEOINT analyst across multiple offices, specializing in ABI to support overseas operations. As an adjunct instructor for the NGA College, Kyle instructed classes in ABI methodologies to military and civilian analysts in the US and abroad. Kyle holds a Master of Science in Science and Technology Intelligence from NIU (2022), a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University’s School of International Service (2015), and a Bachelor of Arts in geographic information systems (GIS) and international studies from the University of Miami (2005).