Every year, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security publish their Threat Assessments, reports that outline some of the most pressing threats to national security. The 2024 edition includes “cyber and technological threats, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, crime, environmental and natural resources issues, and economic issues.”
No matter the threat, government agencies and private corporations alike rely on defense analysts to help them prepare. These highly specialized intelligence professionals do everything from researching emerging threats to creating defense tools and strategies. Entering the field of defense analysis often involves earning a
degree in security studies
, understanding various types of threats, and gaining relevant experience.
What Do Defense Analysts Do?
Defense analysts help their organizations predict and prepare for attacks and other potential catastrophes that could affect public safety. They often draft security protocols, proactive defense strategies, and attack response plans. Some may also help their colleagues design defense tools (weapons systems, cybersecurity software, etc.) and train frontline defense personnel.
To carry out those duties, defense professionals:
Assess our current defense capabilities and those of our adversaries
Test new defense systems
Research the capabilities of adversaries
Analyze data collected by field officers, reconnaissance operations, and other sources
Prioritize threats and help leaders prepare for possible emergency scenarios
Monitor potential threats and ongoing issues
Write reports for operational leaders, legislators, engineers, and others
Travel to areas of interest to assess security conditions and potential threats
The specific duties often depend on the analyst’s specialty. For example, those who specialize in cyber defense are often responsible for staying current with new intrusion technologies. Those who specialize in military defense may focus more on monitoring what weapons potential adversaries are developing. Intelligence analysts collect, analyze, and assess threats to our country from various intelligence sources.
Where Do Defense Analysts Work?
Like other national security professionals, defense analysts typically work for organizations within the U.S. Intelligence Community. These government and military agencies typically focus on different aspects of global and national security, though they often work together and share information.
Members of the U.S. Intelligence Community include:
CIA
FBI
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
National Security Agency (NSA)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Defense Intelligence Agency
Department of State
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Analysts can also find career opportunities with the private companies these agencies work with. These companies typically provide logistical support, perform data analysis, and design defense systems.
How To Become a Defense Analyst
Defense analysts are expected to collect and interpret large amounts of quantitative and qualitative data, communicate their findings clearly, and make decisions based on national and international security policies. Depending on their specialties, defense analysts may also need a firm grasp of related fields like network security, geography, physics, or political theory.
Becoming a defense analyst typically involves earning a degree, gaining experience, and going through agency-specific training, because defense analysts often need a varied and dynamic set of skills.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Future analysts can start their careers by earning a degree in international relations, political science, or any number of defense-related STEM fields such as computer science. However, to get a more comprehensive education in national security policy, some students may prefer to pursue
bachelor’s degrees in security studies
.
Security studies programs are designed specifically for students who want to enter intelligence-related roles in the public or private sector. While each security studies program has its own curriculum, they typically offer classes on:
Foreign and domestic policy
Disaster planning
Terrorism, natural disasters, crime, and other security threats
Modern geopolitical issues, such as the use of weapons of mass destruction
Politics, religion, sociology, and other topics that influence global conflicts
Step 2 (Optional): Look For Jobs In Related Fields
Not all defense professionals earn a degree and go right into the field. Many gain experience in related fields first. For example, an analyst interested in cybersecurity might work for a private corporation and learn about common threats and countermeasures before pivoting to national security. Defense analysts may also work for local health departments, law enforcement agencies, or geographic surveying teams in the early stages of their careers.
Because the defense analysis sector relies on the talents of professionals with multifaceted skill sets, there are many ways to gain relevant experience. It might be helpful to consult with academic advisors, current professionals, and government intelligence agencies to determine what type of experience is necessary for the desired role.
Step 3: Apply For Defense Analyst Positions
With a degree, and perhaps some initial experience in related industries, analysts are typically qualified for defense strategy positions. These jobs go by many names. Some roles may be labeled as defense analyst or defense analyst trainee, while others have more specific titles such as all-sources analyst or cybersecurity analyst. Defense professionals may also work under the broader title of intelligence analyst.
It’s important to remember, though, that the application process for intelligence positions can be rigorous. Applicants must often:
Pass a written and/or oral exam
Go through multiple rounds of interviews
Provide references who agree to in-depth interviews
Pass a thorough background check
Qualify for a government security clearance
Once applicants go through the application process and gain security clearance, they aren’t always hired right away. Instead, they’re put into a hiring pool and hired based on their skills and the agency’s needs. These policies vary between agencies.
Step 4: Go Through Agency-Specific Training
Once analysts are hired, they often go through training programs hosted by their new employers. This is common with government agencies such as the FBI and CIA.
While each agency has its own training procedures, new analysts often learn how to:
Work with other team members, such as field agents and engineers
Use data collection and processing software and other important tools
Conduct field assessments
Carry out their duties and adhere to all agency and government regulations
Navigate current threats and defense issues
Cooperate with other local, federal, foreign, and private agencies
Training may involve taking classes and completing simulations. The length of training varies, but some agencies spend weeks or months preparing new hires for their first assignments.
Become a Part of the American Defense Network
The skill set required to become a defense analyst may seem intimidating. But if you feel called to enter this life-saving sector, the
online BS in Security Studies
program at East Carolina University®️ can help you on your path.
ECU’s curriculum borrows from multiple disciplines. Through classes on religion, terrorism, and the history of modern conflicts, students learn what goes into domestic and foreign defense policy. Additionally, through classes on cybersecurity, geographic information systems, criminal justice, and more, students learn the skills they need to create and enact defense strategies in multiple sectors.
