To help prospective applicants, we are doing a series of virtual information sessions every Thursday evening, 6PM EST, at bit.ly/dia-info. In each session, we will provide an overview of the agency, different opportunities, and how to apply—as well as answering any question that applicants might have! Students can attend any information session that meets their schedule and get that same critical information. However, we will also spotlight a different office/location/mission each week, so if there are areas they are more interested in, then I encourage them to try and attend that specific session.
April 13th: Will spotlight some of the many diverse opportunities in the National Capital Region
April 20th: Will spotlight our offices conducting scientific and technical analysis
April 27th: Will discuss the unique opportunities at our combatant commands in the Mid-West: Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois
May 4th: We will feature positions at US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii
May 11th: We will conclude our series by discussing the multiple offices in and Tampa & Miami, Florida
While international relations, area studies, and political science typically are our most common applicants, we accept all degrees/majors. Since DIA has a truly global mission, we probably have analytic positions for just about anyone. For example:
We need all manner of STEM degrees, with scientists and engineers working on understanding infectious diseases, medical capabilities, adversary weapons systems, critical infrastructure, and other advanced technologies that may not even be developed yet!
Data scientists, mathematicians, computer scientists are helping us tackle the large amounts of data that we collect daily, and developing new tools such as AI or advanced statistical models to help us process and analyze large datasets.
Cyber, space, and other similar backgrounds are critical as we look to counter these rapidly evolving 21st century threats, with cyber and space likely to be key battlefields of future conflicts.
Economics, finance, logistics, supply chain backgrounds are incredibly sought after for our offices that look at foreign economies, industries, infrastructure, and/or arms procurement, but also in our offices that look at adversary investment in US industries or adversary efforts to disrupt our own supply chain and logistics.
Psychology backgrounds make excellent analysts for understanding adversary intentions, be that world leaders, terrorists, or foreign intelligence entities.
Criminology and law backgrounds are common among counter-terrorism analysts, counterintelligence analysts, and analyst looking at organized crime or counter-narcotics.
