SAIC hosted the USGIF Young Professionals Group June 22 in its McLean, Va., offices, with Mark Broshkevitch, vice president, division manager of the spatial technologies and concepts division, as the guest speaker.

“When you get asked to speak to the young professionals group, then you’re probably not a young professional anymore,” Broshkevitch joked with the crowd.

Broshkevitch, a former Navy officer on board fast-attack nuclear submarines, has been an SAIC employee since 1995, when GEOINT technology was just beginning to emerge.

“It’s amazing how much the power of place has permeated pretty much everything we do.”

Broshkevitch said while geospatial products aren’t immune to budget cuts, it does have some advantages. For example, its significance when it comes to asymmetric warfare.

“GEOINT is the equalizer in being able to find and counter that,” he said.

Additionally, he said, “GEOINT is what makes other technologies faster, cheaper, and better.” −Three qualities that are being sought after in this austere budget climate.

Broshkevitch said one of the most significant challenges currently facing the GEOINT community is how to get accurate data quickly to the person in the field with a handheld device. To allow this smooth transmission, proper data, infrastructure, and standards need to be put in place.

“There’s still a long way to go,” he said.

While Broshkevitch said he was confident that the demand for GEOINT will remain strong, he said changing technologies will also require agility, resourcefulness, and flexibility on behalf of both users and developers.

He also offered some advice for young professionals about staying ahead of the curve.

“Technology is changing very fast,” Broshkevitch said. “Just because you’re the proponent of a technology that’s hot today, it very well may not be tomorrow.”