USGIF Publishes GEOINT Essential Body of Knowledge (EBK) 3.0

Herndon, VA, (May 2, 2024)—The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is thrilled to announce the publication of its Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Essential Body of Knowledge (EBK) 3.0. The purpose of the EBK is to define and describe the GEOINT discipline and to represent the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a GEOINT professional to succeed—whether in industry, government, or academia. The document also serves as the foundation of education standards for USGIF’s GEOINT Collegiate Accreditation program. 

This latest edition of the EBK makes the document more understandable for students and those outside of academia. It also represents USGIF’s commitment to ensuring the GEOINT Community has a strong, consistent talent pipeline to meet its workforce needs. The EBK 3.0 more clearly differentiates among subtopics and learning objectives and outlines how the learning objectives build upon one another based on proficiency level. Content from prior versions no longer considered universally essential for the discipline in 2024 was de-emphasized or retired.  

“USGIF is proud to offer the EBK 3.0 as a powerful tool for all members of the GEOINT Community,” said USGIF Director of Education and Professional Development Christine Devine. “While the EBK informs our Collegiate Accreditation program, all GEOINTers can find value in this excavation of our complex, rapidly evolving, and critically important discipline.” 

The EBK 3.0 builds upon USGIF’s original GEOINT EBK and EBK 2.0, published in 2014 and 2019, respectively. The EBK was designed for all members of the GEOINT Community: employers may use it to develop hiring guidelines and position descriptions; individuals seeking employment and professional development can use the EBK as a guide for what skills, knowledge, and experience are necessary to advance their careers; and academic stakeholders can leverage it as a framework for curriculum development and assessments. 

Collaborative development of the EBK 3.0 began in late 2022 with USGIF’s Education and Professional Development team interviewing faculty from USGIF-accredited academic programs. USGIF also hosted discussions with subject-matter experts (SMEs) from government and industry, particularly those with perspectives on hiring and the current workforce ecosystem. Ultimately, more than 30 external contributors helped inform its development. 

“USGIF extends our deepest thanks to the community members who generously contribute to this effort,” Devine said. “The Foundation is committed to the regular review and improvement of this document to ensure its guidance keeps pace with the continuously evolving nature of the GEOINT tradecraft and its dynamic applications.” 

Download USGIF’s GEOINT EBK 3.0.  

About USGIF: The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger GEOINT Community with government, industry, academia, professional organizations, and individuals who develop and apply geospatial intelligence to address national security challenges. USGIF achieves its mission through various programs and events and by building the community, advancing the tradecraft, and accelerating innovation. For more information, please visit www.USGIF.org and follow USGIF on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.