Dietzman, Brian S.

Dietzman, Brian S. “Intelligence Analysis at State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers: An Evaluation of the Education and Training Requirements.” Master’s Thesis, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 2011. http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll2/id/2769/rec/14 (accessed 10 August 2011).

This thesis examines fusion centers and their roles. The author originally sought to determine the optimal education and training necessary for intelligence analysts at the fusion centers, however no programmed curriculum could be established due to the discovery of more fundamental questions involving the role analysts play within fusion centers. Specifically, several unanticipated questions arose during the research: how can a fusion center or its intelligence analysts be assessed without clearly established performance standards, should fusion centers even produce finished intelligence products, and do fusion centers have the capability to produce finished intelligence? The author asserts that these questions must all be answered prior to developing and implementing a structured education and training program for fusion center intelligence analysts.