By MC3 Michael Ehrlich

Members of the Fusion Center Leaders Program (FCLP) 2015 cohort, listen to a lecture at Watkins Hall, June 2. The FCLP teaches courses aimed at helping participants to tackle the challenges of leading local and national threat intelligence analysis centers.

"The instructors here are top-notch, and learning from their wealth of experience here is an unparalleled [opportunity]," said Lead Intelligence Analysis John Soscia of the Rhode Island State Fusion Center. "Learning from them about what went wrong and what went right will give me the knowledge to help move our center forward."

Director of Intelligence Research retired Navy Captain Robert L. Simeral with NPS' Department of Information Sciences has been leading the FCLP since its inception in 2008.

"The FCLP is the only program of its kind, and it ranks in the top ten of gap mitigation programs for homeland security intelligence and responder communities," said Simeral. "FCLP prepares its graduates to analyze threat intelligence, including counterterrorism, crime, and natural and man-made hazards."

Simeral also noted that FCLP-produced intelligence analysis provides state and local communities with both situational awareness and a decision-making edge when planning for prevention, response and recovery operations.