By Dr. Jarrod Sadulski | 05/01/2025
Protecting our critical infrastructure from internal or external threats is essential to maintaining our nation's security. Whether the threats consist of cyberattacks or physical attacks, intelligence professionals work tirelessly to collect the information needed to identify and mitigate these threats.
The Different Types of Intelligence
Gathering intelligence and analyzing information are essential in detecting threats and bad actors so that we can keep our homeland safe. There are several forms of intelligence, including:
- Human intelligence (HUMINT) – This type of intelligence relies on human sources for collecting information. It includes human behaviors and developing intelligence sources such as refugees, diplomats, and intelligence agents.
- Signals intelligence (SIGINT) – Signals intelligence involves delivering intelligence and analysis through monitoring the communications of potential threats. These communications include telephone calls, radio transmissions, or other forms of communication.
- Open-source intelligence (OSINT) – OSINT enables the Intelligence Community and private-sector partners to monitor potential threats through the internet (such as social media posts) or other areas in the public domain.
- Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) – GEOINT involves intelligence gathering through satellite imagery and geographic data. Information from these sources can be used to identify threats to U.S. interests around the world.
The Partnerships Between Homeland Security and Intelligence Organizations
Timely intelligence through the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis and private-sector partners can help DHS to detect and mitigate threats before an attack occurs. Counterterrorism is a responsibility of both the homeland security enterprise and private-sector intelligence enterprise.
Keeping the U.S. safe from transnational organized crime organizations results from collaboration between intelligence agencies and private-sector companies. For improved homeland security, a homeland security office may work with other stakeholders at a fusion center.
Intelligence and analysis at a fusion center produce timely intelligence by utilizing different sources in the Intelligence Community and key stakeholders to recognize bad actors and conduct risk analysis.
The Department of Homeland Security is commonly a leader in homeland security. However, the DHS leadership depends on its partnerships with other stakeholders who provide intelligence and analysis services.
For example, other federal and local law enforcement agencies may have an intelligence office that can provide unique intelligence. The leadership at the Department of Homeland Security often depends on sharing unique intelligence and analysis with other agencies such as the FBI, local law enforcement, and other similar agencies.
The Joint Terrorism Task Forces, led by the FBI, are a good example of how decision makers from different agencies can work together to secure critical infrastructures. The Department of Justice also has an Office of Intelligence and Analysis that can participate in data collection activities and share information shared among different organizations.
Homeland Security Degrees at American Military University
For adult learners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of critical infrastructure protection, intelligence and homeland security, and other topics related to keeping our homeland safe and secure, American Military University (AMU) offers a set of degree programs:
Taught by experienced instructors with a deep understanding of the homeland security field, courses in these degree programs include border and coastal security, domestic terrorism and extremist groups, and resilience and homeland security. Other courses include research methods in homeland security and homeland security and defense.
For more details, visit AMU’s homeland security degree program page.
Dr. Jarrod Sadulski is an associate professor in the School of Security and Global Studies and has over two decades in the field of criminal justice. He holds a bachelor’s degree Criminal Justice from Thomas Edison State College, a master’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University, and a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Northcentral University.
His expertise includes training on countering human trafficking, maritime security, mitigating organized crime, and narcotics trafficking trends in Latin America. Jarrod has also testified to both the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate on human trafficking and child exploitation. He has been recognized by the U.S. Senate as an expert in human trafficking.
Jarrod frequently conducts in-country research and consultant work in Central and South America on human trafficking and current trends in narcotics trafficking. Also, he has a background in business development. For more information on Jarrod and links to his social media and website, check out https://linktr.ee/jarrodsadulski.