CIA Director John Brennan on Friday announced a long awaited re-organization of the spy agency to make it more nimble, technologically adept and able to attract better talent. The project, which began in September and included input from thousands of CIA workers, marks the most significant changes since 9/11 and the rise of global terrorism, when the agency began to break down divisions between spies and analysts. The new model appears to do more of that.
The plan, Brennan said in a statement, was "driven by two fundamental shifts in the national security landscape. The first is the marked increase in the range, diversity, complexity, and immediacy of issues confronting policymakers; and the second is the unprecedented pace and impact of technological advancements."
Brennan described the new look as reflecting three themes: recruitment and training, keeping pace with digital innovations, and a more centralized, streamlined administration. To that end, the CIA will create a Talent Development Center of Excellence, create a senior leadership post to manage digital operations, and redraw the organizational chart so that it may act more quickly to threats and crises.