Increasing Diversity in the Intelligence Community

In the fall, more than 600 participants from across Harvard and the national security community convened for a two-day conference focused on building a more diverse and capable United States Intelligence Community (IC). Co-hosted by the Center’s Intelligence and Cyber Projects, the conference took place over two consecutive mornings and served as a kick-off to a year-long initiative focused on highlighting workforce diversity in the IC as a mission critical element to US national security.  

Working from the premise that a diverse intelligence community is essential to national security, conference organizers Caitlin Chase, Jeff Fields, Paul Kolbe, Wayne Stone, and Lauren Zaberiek brought senior IC leadership and current and former intelligence practitioners together with experts and leaders from across private sector and academia to facilitate honest, open, and productive conversations and create greater understanding and awareness of opportunities and challenges that exist in the intelligence field for members of historically underrepresented groups.

The first day of the conference focused on identifying and understanding the current state of, opportunities, and issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DIB) in the IC, while the second day focused on developing and discussing innovative solutions to these issues.

During the conference, panelists and attendees shared their experiences and ideas on concrete policy and cultural changes to improve DIB in the IC for the benefit of national security. Speakers examined the historical record and experiences of underrepresented groups in the IC and compared strategies for recruiting, retaining, and developing a diverse workforce. The participants identified pathways for improving the diversity of thought in the IC, including how academia and the private sector could play a facilitating role. Panelists also reexamined the role of networking, mentorship, and leadership within national security organizations. The purpose of these conversations was to stimulate dialogue, spark creative new solutions, and inspire a diverse new generation to consider service in the intelligence community.

The ethos of the conference was captured by panelist Karen deLacy, former CIA officer and co-founder of deLacy Associates, who asserted that “Diversity isn’t a nice to have, it’s a need to have.” In the IC, where diverse opinions and skill sets are necessary to combat groupthink and generate alternative analyses, lack of diversity is a matter of national security. Building an intelligence community that is reflective of the myriad of backgrounds, experiences, and capabilities that make up the American public is mission critical to effective national security, akin to marksmanship and physical fitness in the military.

Despite rhetoric and an executive order to the contrary, the overarching consensus from conference participants was captured by Jeff Fields, who stressed that “this is not a political issue -- it is a capability issue."

Overall, the experiences shared by the panelists and attendees demonstrated great pride for the IC and dedication to the national security mission, but also frustration at lack of progress and continued barriers to recruitment and advancement. Most importantly, the participants came out of the conference with a shared passion, vision, and commitment, recognizing that in order to cultivate the organizational and cultural change necessary to ensure a competent, capable, and diverse IC, the community must first embrace that diversity is a mission essential component of national security, and that the IC benefits from varied voices and experiences at all levels and in all roles.