Artificial Intelligence and autonomous systems are poised to transform the practice of espionage. This “revolution in intelligence affairs” will lead to machines serving as more than just tools for collection and analysis, but as intelligence consumers, decision-makers, and targets of intelligence operations. Former National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Chief Technology Officer Anthony Vinci joined CSET Distinguished Fellow and Former NGA Director Robert Cardillo for an illuminating discussion on the coming intelligence revolution and how the U.S. government should adapt for this new reality.

Recording and Discussion

Participants

Anthony Vinci, PhD, is a managing director at a private equity and venture capital investment fund, an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a member of the Board of Trustees Technology Committee of MITRE, and a Board Member or Advisor to multiple technology companies. He was a senior intelligence official and served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Associate Director for Capabilities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Earlier in his career, Anthony founded and was CEO of two technology companies and served with the Department of Defense in Iraq, Africa and Asia. Anthony has published and spoken extensively on the subject of innovation, technology and modernization in the national security and intelligence community in Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic and other publications. He received his Ph.D. in International Relations from The London School of Economics and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Business Executives for National Security (BENS).

Robert Cardillo is a Distinguished Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). Until February 2019, Robert was the sixth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, responsible for embracing and leveraging the growing commercial capabilities in the geospatial industry. Prior to that assignment, he served as the first Deputy Director for Intelligence Integration, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, from 2010 to 2014. Robert also served as the Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Deputy Director for Analysis, DIA, from 2006 to 2010. In the summer of 2009, he served as the Acting Intelligence Directorate of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, a first for a civilian. Before he moved back to DIA, Robert led Analysis and Production as well as Source Operations & Management at NGA from 2002 to 2006.

Robert has been awarded the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive (twice), the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive, the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal (twice), the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Medal (twice) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award. In 2019, he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Saint Louis University. Robert earned an M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Government from Cornell University. He is the founder and President of The Cardillo Group.