National Counterintelligence: How It Protects the Homeland (2024)

By Dr. Jarrod Sadulski|08/02/2024

National counterintelligence is essential because it protects the United States from a wide range of security threats. Typically, national counterintelligence professionals collect and analyze information and activities to protect U.S. interests from espionage, sabotage, terrorism, and other threats from foreign governments and foreign organizations.

Who Is Responsible for National Counterintelligence?

Several government agencies are responsible for national intelligence. They include:

• The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
• The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC)
• The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence

For instance, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is our nation's premier source to protect the assets critical to our national security. This federal agency serves as the leader of the U.S. Intelligence Community and oversees national counterintelligence and security activities, including:

• Developing strategiesfor the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence to promote national security
• Promoting access to information within the Intelligence Community
• Managing relationships with intelligence agencies of foreign governments and international intelligence organizations
• Conducting analyses of intelligence collected from all sources to promote national security
• Fostering joint operations among the Intelligence Community
• Working closely with a president-appointed, Senate-confirmed Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence to integrate all national and homeland security intelligence in support of U.S. national security interests

National Counterintelligence and Security Center

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center is an essential part of the ODNI and participates in security activities that are critical to national security. The NCSC manages the most closely guarded secrets of the United States.

Defense Intelligence Agency

The DIA plays an active role in security activities focused on national counterintelligence. This agency has counterintelligence agents who:

• Collect and report data associated with foreign entities to prevent foreign intelligence penetration
• Conduct interviews and briefings on foreign threats
• Coordinate communication with civilian law enforcement, Intelligence Community personnel, and other security center personnel

Who Is in the US Intelligence Community?

The Intelligence Community consists of 18 organizations. These organizations include:

• The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Various Department of Defense (DoD) agencies
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
• The Department of State

National Counterintelligence and Private-Sector Organizations

National security issues and intelligence management continue to evolve, and our nation's security should remain at the forefront of our government's responsibilities, especially at the executive branch level. It is crucial for government agencies and private-sector entities to share information about security activities critical for combating intelligence threats and protecting sensitive information.

A private-sector, trusted mission partner in national counterintelligence and security can support the government's counterintelligence efforts. This work may include using non-government subject matter experts with the right kind of expertise.

Counterintelligence (CI) organizations may provide CI outreach to these external stakeholders. For example, CI organizations may provide information about current threats to private-sector companies so that they can mitigate these threats.

The work of non-military entities in counterintelligence activities can mitigate risks and improve personnel security for individuals on the front lines of conflict – such as military forces and intelligence officers. Those individuals are often the target of foreign enemies.

Global Turmoil and Its Impact on US Intelligence and Security Threats

Intelligence activities and security threats have increased since the attack of Hamas on Israel. This attack, coupled with the Ukraine war and tension with China, has significantly increased global insecurity.

While managing classified information is crucial, the government must also keep the public aware of current threats. At times, it may be necessary to issue public warnings about specific, credible threats to U.S. citizens at home or abroad.

Intelligence Studies Degrees at American Military University

For adult learners interested in protecting America from insider threats and external adversarial threats, American Military University (AMU) offers two degrees:

• An online bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies
• An online master’s degree in intelligence studies

Courses in these programs include topics such as analysis, counterintelligence, national and international intelligence operations, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and geospatial intelligence. These courses are taught by experienced faculty members with a knowledge of the military or the intelligence industry.

AMU also offers an undergraduate counterintelligence certificate that provides in-depth knowledge of research, analysis, and operations in national counterintelligence. Students have the option of selecting courses in espionage, deception, human intelligence, interrogation, and covert and overt operations.

For more information about AMU’s intelligence studies programs, visit our program page.