The theme of the International Intelligence Fellows Program is "Intelligence Support to Combating Terrorism."  During the course, you will receive lectures from senior U.S. and international intelligence officials, hear lectures from leading intelligence academics, and visit intelligence facilities throughout the Washington DC area. 

While attending the IIFP, you will be referred to as a Fellow, rather than a student.  This status implies that you, as a senior level official, possess the knowledge and experience required to be an active participant in the class.  You have something to contribute to your classmates.  As a Fellow, you will be encouraged to share your thoughts about terrorism and how your country manages terrorism related issues.  You will be expected to ask questions during lectures and give presentations to your classmates and to DIA leadership.   

The IIFP is broken into three distinctive segments:

The first week of the course primarily occurs in the classroom.  You will receive academic lectures and briefings, discuss key concepts and terminology, and participate in small group exercises to learn about terrorism issues your classmates face in their region of the world.  Previous IIFP classes have received briefings from intelligence officials such as DIA Director, Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess, former CIA Director, General Michael Hayden, and former Director for Intelligence, Joint Staff, Major General Michael Flynn.  Noted author and scholar, Dr. Walid Phares, senior researchers from the RAND Corporation, and government officials from various U.S. regional centers and war colleges regularly participate as speakers from the IIFP. 

Halfway through the course, you will participate in a three night field study.  You will travel outside of Washington DC to meet with intelligence and government officials who represent the state and local governments.  You will have the opportunity to see how intelligence policy developed in Washington DC trickles down to those organizations located outside of the “Beltway.”  Previous classes of Fellows have traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Norfolk, Virginia, and New York City, New York.   

The second week of the course takes you to intelligence agencies within the Washington D.C area.  You will visit places such as the State Department, the Pentagon, the National Counter Terrorism Center, and the Central Intelligence Agency.  At each location, you will have the opportunity to meet with senior intelligence officials to discuss current terrorism topics and learn how these agencies work and collaborate to combat terrorism.

On the last day of class, you will participate in a capstone exercise which will challenge you and your classmates, to collectively forge a “Way Ahead” strategy that outlines the obstacles and opportunities to intelligence sharing.  This strategy will be presented to senior NIU and DIA officials.    

In conclusion, the IIFP recognizes that terrorism is a global issue that transcends national borders.  The IIFP focuses on the shared responsibilities of countries in building robust counterterrorism defenses. The seminar emphasizes discussion between the Fellows and encourages the Fellows to learn from and challenge one another.