The
GeoINT conference is where you get to not only see the latest
technology, but also hear and meet those who affect national policy,
and drive the technology to the next level.
It is a paradox, because generally intelligence types are usually very
low profile.Yet, at this conference the major government and industry
leaders are giving speeches, hanging out on the trade show floor and
are at all the receptions.I haven't sat down and talked technology
with one of these people, but I believe it is within the realm of
possibility.
Last year, there was a feeling in the air that was a combination of
excitement, determination and like the smell of a new car, a sense of
pending adventure.I commented
last year that at one of the clubs on Bourbon
Street in New Orleans, this group both looked like and had the
feel of what must have been 1939 Paris.Something was happening and we
were all on the path to meet whatever it was whether we wanted to or
not.Events were in motion and beyond control.
This year was different.The presentations were just as good if not
better, and there was new and different technology.While the
theme was transformation, the discussions of knowledge sharing, mission
blending, GeoCells (combinations of personnel from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency,
the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency) and
shared footprints were subtle but tangible
indications of what had happened in the past year.From how people
talked at the conference, it seems that there has been
transformation, but it's certainly not complete.While cooperation was
still
not as tight as it might be, both transformation and cooperation were
considered givens.
Last year we heard about plans for open systems and platform
independence, while
this year it was more of a fact.Everybody has expressed that
interoperability is the quest.
But the major change to the look and feel of this conference was that
it had become more mature.There was more production and process and
less figuring it out.I think there was also a new pride with the
NGA
in being able to support natural disasters like Katrina and show what
could be done (without compromising national security) and actually
provide something of direct benefit to those folks who actually pay for
it all.
Quite possibly, transformation had included a new understanding that
the mission was much broader.It has more facets than had been imagined
and now they are a year down the road, and have the benefit of a year's
worth
of perspective.
But while this year had a different kind of excitement than last year
and even if perhaps it was a more subdued, it is still strong enough
you can't wait until GeoINT2006.