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What does an intelligence specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

An intelligence specialist is responsible for collecting and validating information for different operational functions to ensure its authenticity and accuracy before dissemination to the public and officials. Intelligence specialists analyze intelligence information and provide strategic recommendations to improve data gathering processes and distribution. They also maintain the security of reports on the database, working with technology professionals to develop security solutions to prevent unauthorized access and detail leaks until further notice of publicizing the information.

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Intelligence specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real intelligence specialist resumes:

  • Manage RFI requirements, direct production of all-source intelligence products and provide quality control.
  • Coordinate and manage Cognos customers from a select group of high revenue contribution, establishing exceptional customer relationships.
  • Create multiple SSIS packages and T-SQL store procedures to extract customer level activity data from multiple online subscription sites.
  • Create corporate innovation metrics analytics, enhancing executive decision making.
  • Build relationships with internal DoD officers, federal and local law enforcement agencies, and intelligence organizations.
  • Experience on DCGIS, ARCMap, FalconView, CPOF, M3, QueryTree, and MFWS.
  • Subject matter expert (SME) in Turkish politics.
  • Utilize advanced SSRS design as presentation layer for the reports.
  • Experience exploiting all source imagery in EO, IR, and SAR.
  • Involve in writing MDX queries and performance optimization of the SSAS cubes.
  • Create a series of plugins to improve usability and UX of Microstrategy.
  • Demonstrate the value of incorporating GMTI elements into other discipline products (e.g.
  • Provide in-house MicroStrategy training for new users, as well as first-level support.
  • Perform duties directly in support of foreign release (FORREL) requests for information (RFI).
  • Maintain security and access rights for those users for dynamic SSRS reports that contain HIPAA compliant data.

Intelligence specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Intelligence Specialists are proficient in DOD, Security Clearance, and TS/SCI. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Empathy, and Good judgment.

We break down the percentage of Intelligence Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • DOD, 10%

    Provided correspondence with DOD Central Clearing Facility resulting in the adjudication of over 120 security clearances.

  • Security Clearance, 9%

    Managed and maintained over 300 personnel security clearances using the Joint Personnel Adjudication System keeping service members 100 percent operational.

  • TS/SCI, 9%

    Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information (TS/SCI) Security Clearance/Polygraph.

  • Intelligence Analysis, 6%

    Conducted strategic investigative and complex intelligence analysis on criminal activities involving high-profile personalities of foreign intelligence services and certain terrorist organizations.

  • Law Enforcement, 6%

    Interacted and assisted law enforcement agencies in collection, and dissemination of information deemed to be of military significance.

  • Intelligence Community, 5%

    Conducted link analysis, and correlation of terrorist activities to answer intelligence gaps in intelligence reporting disseminate to the intelligence community.

Common skills that an intelligence specialist uses to do their job include "dod," "security clearance," and "ts/sci." You can find details on the most important intelligence specialist responsibilities below.

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an intelligence specialist to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "police and detectives must be able to speak with people and to express details in writing about an incident." Additionally, an intelligence specialist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "utilized radio system to communication lifesaving information to state troopers and other law enforcement agencies. "

Empathy. Many intelligence specialist duties rely on empathy. "police officers need to understand the perspectives of a variety of people in their jurisdiction and be willing to help the public.," so an intelligence specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways intelligence specialist responsibilities rely on empathy: "developed all- source intelligence awareness and critical understanding of intelligence community resources and utilization of assets. "

Good judgment. intelligence specialists are also known for good judgment, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to intelligence specialist responsibilities, because "police and detectives must be able to determine the best way to solve an array of problems." An intelligence specialist resume example shows how good judgment is used in the workplace: "coordinated 24/7 isr watch operations utilizing excellent judgment and decision making efforts to safeguard us/allied forces operating in a combat zone. "

Leadership skills. intelligence specialist responsibilities often require "leadership skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "police officers must be comfortable with being a highly visible member of their community, as the public looks to them for help in emergencies." This resume example shows what intelligence specialists do with leadership skills on a typical day: "authored and reviewed over ten comprehensive intelligence threat assessments and current intelligence maritime reports in support of senior us navy leadership. "

Physical strength. Another crucial skill for an intelligence specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "physical strength." A big part of what intelligence specialists relies on this skill, since "police officers must be strong enough to physically apprehend suspects and to assist people in precarious situations." How this skill relates to intelligence specialist duties can be seen in an example from an intelligence specialist resume snippet: "analyze specific targets to determine strengths, weaknesses and capabilities and recommend methods to combat targets for future prosecution. "

Most common intelligence specialist skills

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Compare different intelligence specialists

Intelligence specialist vs. Classification analyst

A geospatial analyst specializes in analyzing aerial imagery to develop geographic data that provides essential information about a ground or land's condition. They can find employment in different fields and industries such as agriculture, urban planning, mining, and even military intelligence. Although the extent of their duties varies upon their organization of employment, they typically involve creating maps and reports that highlight essential information, identifying geographical elements and structures, and providing recommendations to solve different issues and concerns.

We looked at the average intelligence specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a classification analyst. Generally speaking, classification analysts are paid $6,406 lower than intelligence specialists per year.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between intelligence specialists and classification analyst. For instance, intelligence specialist responsibilities require skills such as "dod," "security clearance," "ts/sci," and "intelligence analysis." Whereas a classification analyst is skilled in "us customs," "data entry," "cbp," and "hts." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Classification analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than intelligence specialists. In fact, classification analysts are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Intelligence specialist vs. Geospatial analyst

Military analysts are military professionals who work in the government or the armed forces to gather military information and make suggestions for an efficient course of action based on their findings. These analysts are required to keep detailed records while communicating information to multiple parties at once. To obtain information, military analysts must use specific technologies such as radar tracking devices or global satellite information. Military analysts must also possess a deep understanding of military history, political science, and international relations.

On average, geospatial analysts earn a $15,630 lower salary than intelligence specialists a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Intelligence specialists and geospatial analysts both require similar skills like "dod," "powerpoint," and "sme" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real intelligence specialist resumes. While intelligence specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "security clearance," "ts/sci," "intelligence analysis," and "law enforcement," geospatial analysts use skills like "geospatial data," "geospatial analysis," "python," and "extraction."

Geospatial analysts may earn a lower salary than intelligence specialists, but geospatial analysts earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $61,931. On the other hand, intelligence specialists receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $90,046.In general, geospatial analysts achieve similar levels of education than intelligence specialists. They're 1.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Intelligence specialist vs. Military analyst

On average, military analysts earn higher salaries than intelligence specialists, with a $10,300 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on intelligence specialists and military analysts resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "dod," "sme," and "national security.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an intelligence specialist is likely to be skilled in "security clearance," "ts/sci," "intelligence analysis," and "law enforcement," while a typical military analyst is skilled in "logistics," "doctrine," "technical expertise," and "training development."

When it comes to education, military analysts tend to earn higher degree levels compared to intelligence specialists. In fact, they're 11.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Intelligence specialist vs. Signals analyst

Signals analysts average a lower salary than the annual salary of intelligence specialists. The difference is about $9,630 per year.While their salaries may vary, intelligence specialists and signals analysts both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "dod," "ts/sci," and "intelligence community. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "security clearance," "intelligence analysis," "law enforcement," and "tcp ip" are skills that commonly show up on intelligence specialist resumes. On the other hand, signals analysts use skills like technical analysis, technical reports, matlab, and signals analysis on their resumes.The average resume of signals analysts showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to intelligence specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.5%.

Types of intelligence specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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