IC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM
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The IC Associates Program is designed to expand the global coverage of the Intelligence Community by tapping the expertise of scholars outside the Government. Significant information bearing upon many national security concerns is openly available and experts outside the Intelligence Community can make critical contributions.

Associates are chosen from the ranks of academia, the corporate world, or think tanks and are experts on a particular region or transnational topic. The program provides an additional resource for analysts and decision makers to draw upon, both in times of crisis and during more routine periods.

Associates ordinarily are asked to prepare periodic background reports within their area of specialization and meet with analysts at informal seminars as well as participate in formal conferences with other experts. Consultation between Associates and analysts to compare and contrast views is encouraged. In some cases, they may be asked to contribute their unique perspective to such products as National Intelligence Estimates prepared for the President and other senior policymakers.

Participants are considered national consulting resources-they are not asked to collect information, nor do they take any action (official or unofficial) on behalf of the US Government. IC Associates make their expertise and knowledge available strictly to help US leaders better understand the context and complexities of foreign trends and events.

The program is administered jointly under the auspices of the National Intelligence Council and the Department of State.