Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

How to fix the DNI: Make it a service office, not a phony headquarters

Here’s a guest post by Guy Filippelli, a former Army intelligence officer with experience in both Afghanistan and Iraq, where he was one of  the unsung heroes of the surge era. He says the DNI really needs to be ENI — that is, the “Enabler of National Intelligence.” By Guy FilippelliBest Defense deputy chief intelligence ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
Max_Knight/flickr
Max_Knight/flickr
Max_Knight/flickr

Here's a guest post by Guy Filippelli, a former Army intelligence officer with experience in both Afghanistan and Iraq, where he was one of  the unsung heroes of the surge era. He says the DNI really needs to be ENI -- that is, the "Enabler of National Intelligence."

Here’s a guest post by Guy Filippelli, a former Army intelligence officer with experience in both Afghanistan and Iraq, where he was one of  the unsung heroes of the surge era. He says the DNI really needs to be ENI — that is, the “Enabler of National Intelligence.”

By Guy Filippelli
Best Defense deputy chief intelligence bureau

First, the DNI needs to excel as a “service” organization. I know at the senior levels we like to speak about a “J2” or “principal advisor.” I believe a more fitting comparison in certain areas might be to a HQ or Special Troops BN Commander.

Second, the DNI needs to “manage the commons” — data, clearances, enterprise software licenses, general training, program management, etc. Major improvements in these areas would win major fans among the agencies.

Third, the DNI needs to be a “collaborative enabler” — hosting physical and virtual engagements to bring together the individual agencies and the outside world of business, academia, etc.

What I’m trying to get at here is a mindset shift. It’s not about taking control of the agencies, it’s about discovering where the opportunities exist to add value to the existing processes. The DNI needs to simply start with “what’s broken?” or “what’s under-performing?” and start to reinforce.

By the way, I think this is fundamentally inconsistent with putting a 4 star admiral accustomed to running a massive, hierarchical organization in charge. This was doomed from the outset. We need somebody used to putting “the client” first — in this case, the client need equally be the subordinate agency as well as the White House. I’d rather see the CEO of a major services company step in. I rarely advocate for the McKinsey types, but this might indeed be a good fit for one of that culture.

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

More from Foreign Policy

The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.
The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose

Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy

The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.
Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now

In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet

As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.