2025 GEOINT Symposium Sneak Peeks Offer Previews of What’s Ahead 

 

In the lead-up to the 2025 GEOINT Symposium, USGIF hosted two powerful Sneak Peek events, one in St. Louis, MO and another in Herndon, VA. Each offered unique insights into the future of geospatial intelligence and its role in national security. From ground-based logistics to space-based sensing, these events showcased the innovation, collaboration, and mission focus that define the GEOINT community. 

 

St. Louis Sneak Peek: GEOINT in Motion with TRANSCOM 

The first stop took us to St. Louis for a thought-provoking session featuring USGIF CEO Ronda Schrenk in conversation with Marc Zuccola, Deputy J2 at U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM). The discussion explored how TRANSCOM leverages GEOINT in support of global mobility operations and warfighting missions. 

 

Drawing on his extensive experience with USSOCOM, AFRICOM, and TRANSCOM, Zuccola emphasized the command’s strategic integration of commercial partnerships, the importance of unclassified collaboration with NGA, and the role of GEOINT in enabling fast, informed decision-making. 

 

Together, Schrenk and Zuccola covered a range of timely topics including: 

• The impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on mission advantage 

• The growing demand for scalable, open-source geospatial solutions 

• The need for diverse career paths across the intelligence enterprise 

• Strategies to retain cleared professionals and sustain long-term expertise 

 

Schrenk reflected on the transformation the GEOINT community has undergone since 2020, describing the current moment as a “rainstorm” that is giving way to new opportunities and innovation. 

 

Herndon Sneak Peek: The Future of Space and GEOINT 

Later in the week, Herndon hosted a packed room for the second Sneak Peek event, where the focus shifted to the future of space operations and GEOINT’s evolving role within the U.S. Space Force. 

 

The highlight of the session was a fireside chat with Col. Evan Briggs, Director of the Future Operations Division and Karl Hebert , Deputy Director of the Future Operations Division from the United States Space Force. Their discussion provided a compelling look into the Space Force’s current priorities, including the growing importance of space-based sensing and targeting, automation, and AI-driven intelligence processing. 

 

Briggs and Hebert also offered a preview of what to expect from General Saltzman’s upcoming GEOINT 2025 keynote. His remarks are expected to introduce new mission sets in surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition, signaling a new era in space-driven national defense. 

 

Special thanks to Carahsoft for sponsoring our Sneak Peek series and to Lacey Wean for offering a glimpse into what’s ahead at the Carahsoft Pavilion during GEOINT 2025 in St. Louis. 

 

The Countdown to GEOINT 2025 Begins 

Both events served as a strong reminder of why the GEOINT Symposium continues to be the leading forum for advancing mission-focused innovation in geospatial intelligence. As we count down the final weeks to GEOINT 2025, these conversations have energized our community and sharpened the focus on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 

 

We look forward to seeing you soon in St. Louis for the full GEOINT 2025 experience. 

 

Let’s keep building a secure tomorrow together.