How to Become a DEA Intelligence Research Specialist

Intelligence is a vital and effective weapon in drug law enforcement. Intelligence Research Specialists are an integral part in fulfilling the DEA's role as the lead federal agency for drug investigations, as well as its responsibility to collect, analyze, and disseminate drug intelligence. Notable consumers of DEA intelligence include the judicial system; federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; the media; the U.S. Congress; and the White House.

Intelligence Research Specialists are assigned to diverse intelligence functions throughout the DEA, including domestic field divisions, foreign offices, the El Paso Intelligence Center, and the Intelligence Division at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.

Duties

• Research complex projects in such areas as drug cultivation and production, methods of transportation, trafficking routes, and analysis of trafficking organizations;



• Develop and present information to case agents, supervisory personnel, U.S. Attorneys, grand juries, and high-level decision makers for use in seizure and forfeiture of assets, prosection purposes, and to assist in policy; and



• Present research results in written and oral formats.

Training

Newly hired analysts undergo a formal six-week training program designed to provide the knowledge base and skills necessary to fulfill their DEA intelligence role. Subjects include agency rules, regulations and procedures, drug identification, legal procedures, intelligence sources, information storage and retrieval, correlation of data, logic in intelligence analysis, and link analysis and flow charting techniques. Upon graduation, new analysts are assigned to work with experienced personnel until they can function independently.

Qualifications

• DEA Intelligence Research Specialists must be willing to accept assignments anywhere in the world upon appointment. Applicants will be required to sign a statement to this effect prior to an offer of employment.



• New DEA Intelligence Research Specialists will be screened by urinalysis testing for the presence of marijuana and other controlled substances, and will be subject to random testing throughout their career.

For more information, contact the DEA Recruiter at the nearest DEA Field Office or send your resume to:

DEA Headquarters
Attn: NPMS
2401 Jefferson Davis Highway
Alexandria, VA 22301