How Spies Think: Ten Lessons in Intelligence

Abstract

On November 23, 2021, Sir David Omand, visiting Professor in War Studies at King’s College London and Former Director General of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), presented on How Spies Think: Ten Lessons in Intelligence at the 2021 CASIS West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period session with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were the role of intelligence in decision making, and the SEES model—Situational Awareness, Explanation, Estimation and modelling, and Strategic notice—as a valuable tool for analysts.