Joseph Boutte

"My beginnings in the IC were with the Army Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare operations in the early 80s. I served in Guardrail units in Europe and Central America. Other assignments included the 101st Airborne Division, Echelons Above Corps units, and INSCOM where I led Voice Intercept and Mission Operations. These tactical assignments equipped me for operational and strategic assignments in national security billets after my military career."

"One of my favorite experiences was serving at the ODNI as part of the Collection Integration Group. The government, military, and contractor teams integrated various collection activities and emerging technologies to support National Intelligence Managers, policymakers, and deployed forces. A silhouette of a soldier on the wall reminded us each day of the importance of our work and that someone in a far away place needed our intelligence to perform their mission."

"Yogi Berra said, 'the future ain't what it used to be.' I agree. Predictions are dangerous in a hyper-disruptive world. The issue that may lead the IC's focus over the next few months is multi-dimensional threats from known adversaries, extremism, and growing polarization fueled by a toxic mix of disinformation, politics, nationalism, and great power competition."

"[Advice for a student considering a career in the IC] Read and think about history, technology, science fiction, and leadership to fuel your imagination. Voracious reading of a variety of topics helps to widen our perspectives and critical thinking. Creativity and critical thinking enable multiple and broader world views. This creates the space to unpack, digest, and synthesize data for insight, action, opposing views, and new ideas to inform analysis and better intelligence products."

Favorite TV show: News from the World, starring Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel. The story highlights the common issues between a post-Civil War environment and current events. Through time and space, our similarities help us better understand trends, patterns, and behaviors. The unpredictable journey of a war veteran and an orphaned girl evokes dystopian reminders of the costs of war, racial conflict, and a variety of serendipitous interactions with devastating results. The title is not the movie's focus, but it is the golden thread that ties the theme of connection and the need for information that makes the film relevant. In a word, the movie is about the resilience of our species through major disruptions like wars and pandemics to achieve the allusive normal.