LBJ Resident Intelligence Officer Dr. Alan Kessler visits UTEP

On November 6, 2018, Dr. Alan Kessler, the resident intelligence officer (RIO) assigned to the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, traveled to UT-El Paso to present an Agency information session to UTEP students and to guest lecture in Dr. Stephen Coulthart’s social media intelligence course.

Thirty-six students, primarily social science majors concentrating in national security studies, attended the information session to learn about career opportunities in the intelligence community. Students expressed interest in a range of positions in the Directorate of Analysis and Directorate of Operations. Several also asked questions about opportunities in STEM-related fields and about careers in cyber and information security. 

Following the information session, Dr. Kessler briefed 23 graduate and undergraduate national security studies students in Dr. Coulthart’s social media course. Students worked through examples of unclassified reports on ISIS use of social media and Russian media influence campaigns to gain insight into social media analysis of defense and intelligence-related topics.