The U.S. Domestic Intelligence Enterprise ─ History, Development, and Operations

Much has been written about U.S. intelligence operations. However, intelligence, as it is conducted in the U.S. domestic environment, has usually been treated in a fractured and sensationalistic manner. This book dispassionately assesses the U.S. domestically oriented intelligence enterprise by first examining its individual components and then showing how those components, both federal and non-federal, work in conjunction to form an often unacknowledged structure that is more than the sum of its parts.

The U.S. Domestic Intelligence Enterprise: History, Development, and Operations takes a unique, in-depth approach that assesses not only the current state of affairs but also the evolution of the domestic intelligence enterprise. To accomplish this, it examines the origins and progress of the major agencies to show why they operate in the way that they do. By providing this perspective, the book promotes an understanding of the factors to consider when developing effective intelligence policy.

The book is divided into several thematic sections:

• The evolution of the domestically oriented intelligence enterprise

• The collection capabilities of the enterprise

• The role that domestically-developed intelligence has in the analytical process, which informs decision making

• The use of intelligence to implement decisions via disruption of threat actors

The U.S. Domestic Intelligence Enterprise intends to prompt a rethinking of intelligence within the domestic environment. It takes into account the political realities, the organizational cultures, and the evolving missions that have shaped those agencies responsible for positive and negative intelligence and disruption of threats on American soil. This will hopefully provide a counterweight to future knee-jerk reactions and, instead, inspire a thoughtful approach to the advancement of U.S. strategic interests while protecting the rights of Americans.

Darren E. Tromblay has been an intelligence analyst with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for over a decade. He holds an MA from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, an MS in strategic intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College, and a BA in history and political science from the University of California. Mr. Tromblay can be reached at tromblay@gwu.edu.