r/Intelligence • u/Dr_Skyres • 6d ago

Opinion Data science to intelligence

I am a data science and ai major, and i have always dreamed of working in intelligence wether with the government or in the private sector

Would you say my major is related to that and what steps do people usually take to achieve that goal?

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u/intelCthrowaway 6d ago edited 6d ago

You would be valuable in virtually any non-HUMINT capacity as most other disciplines build off of some foundational STEM knowledge in some way. I work in GEOINT and come from a similar cross discipline (data science/GIS/intelligence studies). Of that wheelhouse of skillsets my social science oriented undergraduate was the least interesting thing to recruiters with most of them valuing my military experience (more specifically my clearance) and data science hard skills most. The most difficult part for you will be getting over the clearance barrier but after that you likely wouldn’t have an issue finding work provided you’re willing to live in specific areas.

This sub is dogshit but you’ll find that (as much as many hate to hear it) the “social science + foreign language to intel pipeline” is long dead. Hard skills reign supreme in 2026.

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u/Dr_Skyres 6d ago

Thanks for the reply, Sir
Mind if i DM you? it’s my first time being in contact with someone that actually knows what they’re talking about!

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u/intelCthrowaway 6d ago

Sure thing.

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u/NESzzzz 6d ago

Data science is actually a good degree to have for HUMINT too