FSU Selected for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Training Initiative

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded a USGIF-led Academic Consortium (UAC) the GLAP (GEOINT Learning through Academic Programs) contract to train the NGA's workforce. The UAC is comprised of 11 USGIF accredited universities: Fayetteville State University (FSU), along with Pennsylvania State University, George Mason University, University of Maryland, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Dallas, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Delta State University, North Carolina Central University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

USGIF has assembled an Academic Consortium (UAC) to respond to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)'s GEOINT Learning through Academic Programs (GLAP) initiative. The GLAP initiative is a $5 million contract with a period of performance from August 17, 2020 to August 17, 2025.

Under the prime leadership of the USGIF, the UAC delivers condensed format GEOINT training courses to students working within the National System for Geospatial Intelligence (NSG), ASG and other US and foreign government entities.  Courses will be available as instructor-led, in-person, online, and self-paced. Topics include Artificial Intelligence; Bathymetry; Computer Vision; Data Analytics and Visualization; Data Modeling; Geomatics/Geodesy/Geodetic Engineering and Surveying; Geospatial Data Management; GIS and Analysis Tools; Machine Learning, Remote Sensing and Imagery Analysis; Spatial Statistics; and Structured Analytic Techniques.

The vision of this program as it pertains to FSU and the other participants is to provide innovative and impactful instruction in undergraduate and graduate level GEOINT training to the Enterprise workforce specifically related to geospatial intelligence.  Representing FSU on the project are: Dr. Trung Tran of Geospatial Science and Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Dr. Sambit Bhattacharya of Math and Computer Science, and Dr. Burcu Adivar of the College of Business and Economics, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics.

NGA provides geospatial-intelligence, imagery intelligence, and geospatial data and information for planning, decision-making, and action in support of national security. It represents a unified community of geospatial-intelligence producers and users, leveraging expert tradecraft, regional expertise, and strength in numbers, in the delivery of multi-source, multi- intelligence, and services to policy makers, military decision makers, and war fighters, and tailored support to civilian federal agencies and international organizations.

Dr. Camelia Kantor, USGIF Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professional Development, is the USGIF Program Manager managing this contract. The official USGIF announcement from USGIF is located at https://usgif.org/usgif-assembles-academic-consortium/