GEOINT’s Expanding Applications

Rapidly advancing technologies demand GEOINT professionals continuously seek to enhance existing skill sets and add new ones

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As we embark upon 2018, despite utterly frigid cold here in the northeast United States, the GEOINT field remains hot. The GEOINT Revolution continues to churn at what seems to be an exponential pace. Rapidly advancing technologies and ever-evolving applications across increasingly diverse sectors demand that GEOINT professionals continuously seek to enhance existing skill sets and add new ones.

For 14 years, USGIF has led the charge for the creation of GEOINT opportunities in higher education, and for creating myriad avenues for professional development. Though we have a strong record of accomplishment in these areas, in some ways I feel the Foundation is just beginning to hit its stride, and our capacity continues to grow.

The beginning of 2018 brings another GEOINT Community Job Fair, the newest installment of the State and Future of GEOINT Report, another fantastic small satellite event, informative and engaging GEOINTeraction Tuesday gatherings, and rich discussions fostered among USGIF committees and working groups.

All of this is made possible thanks to our organizational and individual membership programs, advertising via our multimedia platforms, and revenue from events—including sponsorships, advertising, exhibits, and attendee registrations. Additionally, USGIF’s EdGEOcation Giving Campaign has opened up an important opportunity for philanthropic support.

If you and your organization have benefitted from USGIF over the years, then please consider the many ways in which you can give back so we may continue our work as the convening authority for GEOINT Community discussions as well as our enduring support toward thought leadership. We value your participation in our events, your time devoted to our working groups, your investment in membership and sponsorship, and your charitable donations. We remain thoughtful stewards of the resources you entrust to us. The Foundation’s work is more important than ever as the concept of GEOINT rapidly expands.

This issue of trajectory speaks quite clearly to that expansion. The commercial GEOINT cover story provides four case studies that illustrate the application of GEOINT to challenges and opportunities outside the traditional national security arena. A second feature documents the transition of machine learning from the theoretical to the applied within the defense and intelligence communities. And exclusive on this website, you will find an article on the critical but little-known Safety of Navigation mission at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Best wishes to all for a healthy, happy, and rewarding 2018. As always, I eagerly look forward to seeing you in our conference rooms and hallways, in and around your workplaces, and at our events—to include our return to Tampa in April for the GEOINT 2018 Symposium.

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