US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is a non-profit organization in Virginia dedicated to supporting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft. The organization's mission is to provide a forum to exchange ideas, share best practices, and promote the education and importance of a national intelligence agenda. USGIF provides a number of programs and events such as its GEOINT Symposium, USGIF Academy that accredits colleges and university geospatial program, the annual GEOINT Community Week events, and other programs to provide the community with the opportunity to collaborate with senior-level officials across the multiple communities and support the future of the tradecraft.

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation was created in January 2004 by a group of tradecraft professionals recognizing the need for a forum where they could work together——outside their own organizational and corporate interests——toward a mutual goal of improving national and homeland security. The idea for the Foundation started with an event, Geo-Intel 2003, which drew enough interest to solidify the group’s notion that the tradecraft community needed a forum. This event drew more than 1,000 intelligence professionals. Just months later, USGIF was created, publicly announcing its launch on May 12, 2004.

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is a Virginia-based nonstock, nonlobbyist, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, giving direction to not only the Foundation itself, but also the Committees consisting of USGIF members. In turn, the Committees give direction for programs including the GEOINT Symposium, Awards Programs, Scholarships, GEOINT Community Week, Tech Days, the Thinkers' Dinner Series, and Chairman’s Events.

The USGIF contains five committees. The Strategic Advisory Committee, which oversees four subcommittees, advises the Foundation on strategic direction. The Planning Committee takes charge of Foundation events and programs. The Technical Committee, which oversees three subcommittees, keeps an eye on emerging technical trends to help keep USGIF advised and educated in new technical developments within the trade. The Academic Committee provides academic outreach to universities and colleges as well as promoting the aims of USGIF in government and industry. The Outreach Committee communicates with the public as well as policymakers about the trade and oversees USGIF Awards.