The collection of geospatial intelligence could become a persistent and global practice in the next two decades, says Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
In a speech at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s GEOINT 2023 Symposium, Whitworth provided updates on NGA’s accomplishments in the past year, as well as changes in the geospatial community and GEOINT tradecraft moving forward.
He emphasized the agency’s new mission and end state, which is to achieve “GEOINT Supremacy.” Part of their initiatives to accomplish such a goal is the realignment of the GEOINT Functional Management Directorate to streamline and integrate operations. The vice admiral is a two-time Wash100 Award winner.
NGA is also helping the country gain strategic advantage over China and Russia, Whitworth said. He highlighted the agency’s analyses of the Taiwan Strait, a key territory in the tension between China and Taiwan. In the Ukraine war, NGA is providing information on the movements, capabilities and infrastructure of Russian forces.
The agency’s technologies are not only used for national security, but has been benefitting countries needing humanitarian aid, Whitworth explained. It provided satellite imagery of medical facilities and rescue helicopter landing zones following the 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador, as well as the wildfires in Chile.
Whitworth mentioned the significant technological progress made in Project Maven, which was transferred by the Department of Defense to NGA’s jurisdiction. Maven models have begun operating in multiple machine learning platforms, and enhancements have been made in target fidelity and geolocation accuracy, he elaborated.
“The way ahead for the next 20 years has everything to do with our ability to manage the coming onslaught of data,” said Whitworth. “We need to be able to quickly and accurately create order from chaos. So, we greatly welcome collaboration with those who can contribute in that arena. Our past and present have been remarkable; our future requires us to be bold and ambitious — and always, always — out front.”