WASHINGTON -- Facing criticism for key intelligence failures leading up to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the FBI is launching an unprecedented national advertising campaign to hire about 900 additional analysts.
The bureau placed newspaper and magazine ads the past two weekends urging readers to "take a job with global implications," and also has plastered ads on billboards across the country. It's the first time, officials say, the bureau has advertised for such a large number of new analyst jobs.
"We want the best athlete possible," said Maureen A. Baginski, executive assistant director for intelligence. She has been assigned by FBI Director Robert Mueller to overhaul the bureau's analytical staff with new hires, training and development.
The FBI's analytical staff came under criticism last year from the joint House and Senate inquiry into U.S. intelligence agencies' failure to detect al-Qaida's plans to attack the United States. A national commission currently investigating those attacks has also singled out the FBI for having poor analytical skills.
For example, the bureau came under attack during the congressional investigation for failing to connect the ample evidence showing that radical Islamic fundamentalists were seeking pilot training in the United States and that al-Qaida intended to use airplanes as bombs.
In an interview with reporters Tuesday, Baginski portrayed a vastly different analytical staff than the one taken to task on Capitol Hill.
Not only are analysts receiving training at the bureau's analytical college, but the FBI is expanding its ranks in the hopes of strengthening its analytical capabilities.
In essence, the bureau is trying to change its analysts' image from one of support staff to equal partners with the agents.
"Analysts are a precious, precious commodity," Baginski said. "We are not only increasing the quality and opportunity for our analysts, but also the quantity."
Today, the bureau has 1,183 analysts spread out over 56 field offices and 400 satellite and overseas offices.
The new hires would increase the number of bureau analysts by 76 percent to 2,083 analysts. The pay for the new hires would range from $33,431 to $108,335.
More than half of those analysts will be assigned to combating terrorists, while the remainder will focus on criminal and counterintelligence investigations.
Some of the new analysts assigned to anti-terror tasks will be studying data and making connections for the intelligence communities. Others will produce reports summarizing raw intelligence for the CIA, Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies.
"It's a very exciting thing that we are doing here," Baginski said.
Eleanor Hill, the chief investigator of the congressional Sept. 11 investigation, said the FBI is taking the right step by hiring and training more analysts. But she said the bureau must make sure the analysts have adequate access to intelligence and case files.
Email This Page!