UT Austin Students Complete the 6th Texas Intelligence Academy
News | August 14, 2025
The Strauss-Clements Intelligence Studies Project hosted the sixth Texas Intelligence Academy (TIA) from May 11 to 20, 2025 in the National Capital Area. The TIA 2025 cohort comprised 15 UT-Austin undergraduate students. Students participated in lectures, exercises, and discussions with current and former professionals on intelligence collection, analysis, espionage, geospatial intelligence, measurement and signature intelligence, signals intelligence, covert action, counterterrorism, intelligence reform, and intel-policymaker relations.
The TIA program included multiple site visits starting with a visit to the U.S. Pentagon. The students met with Lt. General Dimitri Henry, the J-2 Director for Intelligence, and a panel of J-2 staff to discuss intelligence support to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The students visited the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to learn about the agency’s intelligence mission and met with UT alumni employed at DIA. They also participated in a guided DIA museum tour.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) hosted the TIA for a visit at Main State where they met with Leila Gardner, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intelligence Policy and Coordination, and INR professionals for a discussion on the INR intelligence mission.
At the Hart Senate Office Building, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with staff members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, engaged the students in a discussion of oversight by the U.S. Congress and democratic accountability for the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).
The TIA cohort was escorted on a day-long “staff ride” to the Gettysburg National Military Park where they learned how intelligence, leadership, and character contributed to battlefield success for the Union in the American Civil War.
At the farewell dinner, the TIA students met with TIA alumni located in the DC area to connect on their shared interest for public service. The students’ growing network of peers provide them a community to support their future professional endeavors.
“TIA was an incredibly eye-opening experience. From seminars to site visits with extremely distinguished professionals, each day challenged me to think critically about how the Intelligence Community operates and how I might contribute to it one day. I left Washington with a formative understanding of the field, a strong network of peers, and a deepened commitment to a future in public service. I feel sincerely grateful to have participated in such a one-of-a-kind program.“
– Natalie B. (TIA 2025)
*The TIA 2025 program was made possible through the generous support of Admiral (Ret.) Bobby Inman, the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, and the Clements Center for National Security.
Learn more about TIA by viewing the TIA 2025 schedule and course syllabus. For more photographs, click HERE.