James McCool

r. McCool serves as the Director of National GeospatialIntelligence Agency’s Data and Digital Innovation Directorate. In this role, he is responsible for leading, creating, and delivering GEOINT artificial intelligence and data capabilities to advance U.S. national security objectives. Prior to this, he served as the Senior GEOINT Liaison Officer in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was appointed to the Senior Intelligence Service in 2011. Mr. McCool has served in the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the US Air Force.

As the Director for the Tradecraft and Technology Group in NGA’s Analysis Directorate from 2016 to 2018, Mr. McCool provided leadership on advancing analytic skills and methods as well as the development of technology to support modernization goals. From 2012 to 2016, he served as NGA’s Associate Deputy Director for Analytic Integration. He provided leadership to all Analysis Directorate offices conducting GEOINT analytic activities. He was also responsible for ensuring integrated, issue-based analysis between and across all of the offices and in close coordination with the NGA Support Teams. In addition, Mr. McCool served as the Analysis Career Service Head during this period.

As the Director of NGA’s Office of Targeting and Transnational Issues from 2011 to 2012, he oversaw underground, economic and cyber security issues, as well as, precision targeting in support of military operations.

From 2009 to 2011, Mr. McCool served as Deputy Director of NGA’s Office of Counterterrorism, during which he emphasized quality intelligence tradecraft. Mr. McCool contributed to the management of NGAs counterterrorism mission, including many successful operations in South Asia and the Middle East. As a briefer for the Presidents Daily Brief (PDB) from 2008 to 2009, Mr. McCool brought his analytical abilities to bear for senior administration officials on a wide range of national security topics

Mr. McCool served as Deputy Chief of the Military Security Group in CIA, managing analytical teams focused on insurgency, counterinsurgency, and irregular warfare. He also served as branch chief in CIAs Counterterrorism Center, where he expanded a program on terrorist weapons and built a new unit focused on terrorist explosive devices.

Mr. McCool served as an analyst in the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center, the Office of Transnational Issues, and the Office of Imagery Analysis, as well as at the National Photographic Interpretation Center. He completed MITs Seminar XXI in 2009, has a degree in cartography from the University of Maryland, and served for nearly 10 years overseas and stateside in the US Air Force