U

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

OSINT
STRATEGY
2024–2028
OSINT is the premier source of
intelligence information for
decisionmakers and warfighters.

T OF
EN D
M E
T
F
R

EN
D E PA

SE
U

A
N

IC

T
I

E R
D E
ST M
AT E S O F A

October 23, 2023

 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

OSINT
STRATEGY
2024–2028
This page intentionally left blank.

OSINT is the premier source of

intelligence information for
decisionmakers and warfighters.
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

Table of Contents
Foreword ........................................................................................................................5

Administration ............................................................................................................. 7
Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 11

Strategic Goals and Objectives Overview .......................................................... 13

Open Source Challenges and Opportunities ..................................................... 15

Strategic Goals and Enabling Objectives........................................................... 21

Strategic Goal 1: Enhance decisionmaker and warfighter situational
awareness through timely delivery of customized, serialized OSINT
products and data ......................................................................................................................21

Strategic Goal 2: Maximize the intelligence value of open

This page intentionally left blank. source information ................................................................................................................... 21

Strategic Goal 3: Expand the open source aperture internally

and externally ............................................................................................................................. 22

Strategic Goal 4: Establish OSINT as a premier intelligence capability

and the foundation for all other disciplines....................................................................24

Strategic Goal 5: Synchronize OSINT with all other Publicly and

Commercially Available Information (PAI/CAI) activities .............................................25

References................................................................................................................... 2 6

3
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

Foreword
In 3 decades since the creation of the first website, the Internet has grown to well over one billion sites.
Four and a half billion users access 200 million active websites every day. The global digital data
environment doubles in size every 2 years. Technology-enabled devices track and monetize all aspects of
the human experience. Within the U.S. Government, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) has evolved
substantially since the establishment of the Open Source Center (OSC) in 2005. The fast pace of the
ongoing technology revolution poses significant challenges for a growing community of collection activities
across the Defense Intelligence Enterprise (DIE).

In 2012, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published the first U.S. DoD OSINT strategy. Since then,
DoD OSINT has proven its unique value as a primary source of intelligence during multiple crisis
situations.

This strategy will strengthen the DoD OSINT community and enable a true enterprise approach oriented
squarely on the intelligence challenges posed by strategic competition. The central idea is to drive up the
LTG Scott D. Berrier intelligence value of OSINT by unifying collection and reporting, integrating advanced technologies, and
22nd Director professionalizing the workforce.
Defense Intelligence Agency
Operating on behalf of the Director, DIA, as the Defense Intelligence Enterprise Manager (DIEM) for
OSINT, the Defense Open Source Council (DOSC) will collaborate to set standards, track progress, and
synchronize activities. We call on all Defense Intelligence Enterprise components to rise to the challenges
ahead to fulfill our vision of OSINT as the “first resort” source of intelligence for decision makers and
warfighters.

Alan S. MacDougall, PhD Brad H. Ahlskog

Director, Science & Technology, DIA/ST Chief, OSINT Integration Center, DIA/ST
DIEM for OSINT (delegated) Chair, Defense Open Source Council

4 5
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

Graphic is UNCLASSIFIED

A dministrAtion
This strategy updates and replaces the 2012–2017
DoD OSINT Strategy. It applies to Department of The Defense Open Source
Defense components at all echelons or
organizational levels that have OSINT programs Council (DOSC)
and activities. Is the primary governance body for
Defense OSINT and serves as a forum
The goals, objectives, and underlying for the coordination and facilitation of
methodologies for strengthening OSINT are widely Defense OSINT activities and programs.
applicable to all foreign partner engagements. Advises and reports to the DIEM for
OSINT and the DIE OSINT Board of
The requirement for a DoD OSINT strategy is Governors on Defense issues and recom-
established in Department of Defense Instruction mends initiatives to improve the effec-
3115.12, Open Source Intelligence, which also tiveness and efficiency of Defense OSINT
establishes the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) programs, activities, and systems.
as the lead component for OSINT. In December
2021, the Under Secretary of Defense for Coordinates activities and resolves
Intelligence & Security further designated the Defense OSINT issues programs and
Director, DIA as the Defense Intelligence activities including Tradecraft, Training,
Enterprise Manager (DIEM) for OSINT. The Policy, Tools, and Data.
DIEM-OSINT designation was codified as Coordinates Defense OSINT
department policy in DoD Directive 5105.21 by recom-mendations and activities with the
the Deputy Secretary of Defense on January 25, National Open Source Committee
2023. (NOSC).

DIA is also tasked to lead the Defense Open Source Establishes and maintains a Defense
OSINT strategy to guide the full range of
Council (DOSC), defined in policy as the primary
Defense OSINT efforts.
governance mechanism for DoD OSINT. Among
the list of DOSC responsibilities is the task to Reports to the DIEM for OSINT and the
establish an OSINT strategy. DIE OSINT BoG on issues, performance
metrics, and resource recommendations,
The Director, DIA, tasked the Open Source and identifies matters for BoG decision
Intelligence Integration Center (OSIC) to lead and direction.
execution of the Agency’s DOSC and DIEM
—DIA Charter 22-004
responsibilities. The Chief, OSIC also serves Chair
of the DOSC, and provides primary staff secretariat
support that drives the DOSC agenda.
.

6 7
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

The DOSC advises and reports to the DIEM-

All DoD components with OSINT programs OSINT and the DIE OSINT Board of Governors
provide representation to the DOSC. DOSC (BoG) on issues, performance metrics, and
members represent their components and serve resource recommendations; and identifies matters
as a two-way conduit of information for for BoG decision and direction.
developing and disseminating OSINT guidelines,
standards, and procedures. The OSINT BoG assesses and prioritizes Defense
OSINT activities and capabilities, integrates OSINT
The DOSC is the primary governance body for Community perspectives, and promotes a unified
Defense OSINT, and serves as a forum for approach to Defense OSINT. The DIEM for
coordination and facilitation of Defense OSINT OSINT may convene a Defense OSINT Executive
activities and programs at the working and action Committee (EXCOM) to address specific issues
officer levels. that do not require the attention of the BoG.

OSINT Governance Overview

 USSOUTHCOM leverages OSINT to expand multilateral partner nation collaboration. Captain Nickalious Beaumont (Jamaica Defence Force,
left) and members of the Caribbean Task Force simulate the employment of military resources for military operations during Exercise
TRADEWINDS 2022 in Belize City, Belize, on May 11, 2022. Photo by Corporal Mitchell Paquette, 12 Wing Imaging Services.

8 9
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

e XecUtive s UmmArY
Against this backdrop, the challenges ahead for
Much has changed since publication of the last
Defense OSINT are daunting. The good news is
OSINT strategy in 2012, which coincided with a
the Defense Intelligence Enterprise has spent the
surge in mobile device sales and social media plat-
past 10 years ramping up Open Source
form users that reshaped the open source landscape.
fo
capabilities. The Defense Intelligence Agency,
The conditions were set for the digital revolution
designated in 2021 as the Defense Intelligence
that continues today. In 2012, the newest smart
Enterprise Manager for OSINT, through the Open
phone could store 64GB of data — it would take
Source Intelligence Integration Center (OSIC),
234 of these to store the data produced by a single
leads a robust Defense Open Source Council
person each day in 2023, and this number will
(DOSC) to coordinate and synchronize OSINT
double in 2 years.
across the Department.

Vision
OSINT is the premier source of intelligence information for decisionmakers and warfighters.

This page intentionally left blank. Data-Centric | Diversified | Dispersed | Distributed

DOSC Lines of Effort

Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028.

11
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

strAtegic g oAls And o bjectives o verview

Goal 1 Goal 2 Goal 3 Goal 4 Goal 5
Enhance deci- Maximize the in- Expand the Open Establish OSINT Synchronize
sionmaker/warf- telligence value Source aperture as the premier OSINT with all
ighter situation- of open source internally and intelligence ca- other PAI/CAI
al awareness. information. externally. pability and the activities.
foundation for all
other disciplines.
 Matthew D. Skilling (center), poses with his Army Europe Open Source Center team members. The OSINT Foundation announced Skilling as the Obj 1.1. Integrate Obj 2.1. Attain Obj 3.1. Improve Obj 4.1. Create Obj 5.1. Integrate
inaugural winner of the OSINT Practitioner of the Year award, Nov. 10, 2022. Also pictured are team members, from left to right: Sgt. Taras AI/ML capabili- and maintain collaboration with and institutionalize Multi-Int Collec-
Demyanyk, Brian Couzelis, David Papava, Eugene Shilman, 1st Lt. Chelsea Michta, Michael Camprise, Matthew Skilling, Samuel Bankester, Spc. ties for collecting, OSINT technology other Intelligence OSINT Training, tion Management.
Marvin Lopez, Sgt. Skyler Barsten, Mirjana Bourke, Spc. Curtis Maxwell, and Capt. Kristy Bland. Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael A Parker.
processing, and advantage; expand disciplines. tradecraft, and
This strategy establishes a vision, goals, and Artificial intelligence will provide unprecedented reporting OSINT. engagements Civilian/Military
capability to sift through vast quantities of data across research career tracks.
objectives to elevate OSINT as a core intelligence and development
discipline that provides high-value unclassified extract concepts in their entirety. It will
organizations.
reporting, while simultaneously serving as a simultaneously enable rapid creation of false
catalyst for enriched all source analysis and a information that will call into question the validity Obj 1.2. Expand Obj 2.2. Optimize Obj 3.2. Open Obj 4.2. Strength- Obj 5.2. Develop
of all data collected from open sources. Social and enrich OSINT sharing of OSINT new pathways en OSINT policy an Industry-fo-
valuable cueing mechanism for the other reporting, adopt technologies, and develop novel and governance. cused commercial
intelligence arts. To do this, the DOSC will lead media platforms will continue to serve as hubs for new product lines, support joint tool procedures for data & tool as-
enterprise-level initiatives designed to increase the people with shared interests, but the proliferation and implement development, and acquiring Open sessment, acquisi-
intelligence value of OSINT reporting, integrate of spam accounts could push many web platforms feedback loop for establish collabo- Source data and tion, and discovery
new technologies, improve data management, and towards invitation-only policies. Changes in assessing effec- ration venues. information. framework.
maximize sharing of collected data and privacy laws and digital security procedures will tiveness
information. Through a fully-federated, system for also limit access to information that is readily Obj 1.3. Devel- Obj 2.3. Develop Obj 3.3. Optimize Obj 4.3. Expand
synchronizing tasking, collection, processing, available today. op and Deploy hybrid, cross-dis- OSINT collabo- and enrich OSINT
exploitation, and dissemination, DOSC member an Open Source, cipline, OSINT ration with FVEY engagement with-
organizations will collaborate to optimize their Although technology advancements are a key Cross-Domain TC- collection and partners. in national-level
OSINT activities from end to end, eliminating feature of this strategy, people will continue to be PED system; inte- processing teams intelligence Com-
our greatest asset. Investing in a highly trained grate OSINT with armed with latest munities.
redundancy and duplication of effort. Adherence all source analyst tools/capabilities.
to four Guiding Principles — Data Centricity, workforce is the key to long-term success and workflows.
Diversified Collection, Dispersed Operations, securing the future of Defense OSINT. External
engagements are an equally important force Obj 2.4. Establish Obj 3.4. Establish Obj 4.4. Improve
Distributed Enterprise — will serve as anchor assessment and bilateral OSINT awareness and
points as the enterprise drives towards this vision. multiplier. The DOSC will expand collaboration
evaluation criteria partnerships in understanding
with the commercial sector, government think and standards to priority geograph- of OSINT across
The operating environment will continue to evolve tanks, and academic experts to anticipate open measure perfor- ic regions; ex- all government,
into a common competitive space for discovery, source challenges and opportunities. mance and effec- pand intelligence private sector, and
posing new challenges and opportunities for Internationally, the DOSC will forge new tiveness of OSINT collaboration with public audiences.
Defense OSINT. collaboration pathways with foreign allies and collection. foreign partners.
partners to establish a globally-postured OSINT
collection and reporting platform.

12 13
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

o pen s oUrce c HAllenges adapt to gain and maintain information dominance.

And o pportUnities The Internet of Things will track every aspect of
personal information including health, fitness,
In an era of Strategic Competition, Open Source entertainment, temperature control, lighting, and
Intelligence (OSINT) derives insights, produces home security systems. Smart cities will integrate

pen Source actionable intelligence, enables timely and effective traffic management, intelligent connected vehicles,
public safety, intelligent shopping, and energy
e O Co
public messaging and international engagements, and
provides leaders with timely options for developing efficiency technologies.
ns strategic communications.
Social media messaging platforms, online

un
fe

In the open source operating environment, change is collaboration sites, and mobile applications will
De

cil
the only constant. A prime example is the continue to serve as hubs for people with shared
emergence of large quantities of data as an open- interests. The proliferation of spam accounts,
market commodity, which has created new offensive content, and false information could push
opportunities for OSINT collection and exploitation. many web platforms towards invitation-only,
Since 2018, the total value of data bought and sold rendering these services inaccessible under current
on the global economy surpassed that of crude oil. OSINT policies and authorities. Changes in
international privacy laws, expanded government
Technological advances, changing societal norms, regulation of digital platforms, data governance,
and revised data privacy regulations will continue to and digital security will limit access to and use of
create challenges, and the OSINT community must information that is readily available today.

Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices worldwide from 2019 to 2021 with forecasts from 2022 to
2030 (in billions).

14 15
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

Novel sources of information stemming from the Third-party data brokers, industry partners, and
It requires heavy investment in data science, academia with persistent global reach can provide
commercial data marketplace will present new
Artificial Intelligence (AI) stewardship and continued human-machine integration
opportunities for the OSINT community to expertise, access, and agility far outpacing what the
throughout the intelligence cycle. Adopting an
Leveraging the power of AI to sharp-en diversify collection and acquisition and hedge government can create, scale, and sustain. OSINT
enterprise-wide, data-centric approach to OSINT
our intelligence insights and illumi-nate against over-dependency on a limited number of will provide secure and efficient pathways for
places increased emphasis on the importance of life-
opportunities is critical to our future social media and data providers. locating, assessing, collecting, and accessing these
success. Our adversaries understand the cycle management principles. Discovery of existing data sources, while adhering to the highest
significance of mastering advanced tech- data collections at the front end avoids duplication of standards for protecting sensitive and personal
Competition for relevance in the crowded digital
nologies to undercut our strategic and collection efforts or repeat acquisitions of costly information that is increasingly available on the
data ecosystem — the pursuit of being the “next-
tactical dominance. commercially available information, too ools, and services. commercial data market.
big thing” — necessitates an agile OSINT
Through a modernized OSINT requirements
—DIA AI Strategy collection posture that is not overly-dependent
management system, DOSC members will have Effective ties and unity of effort between OSINT
on a specific social media outlet or data provider.
automated access to centralized data storage and the other intelligence disciplines will increase
re
repositories with secure, cross domain accessibility. in importance as the scale and scope of open source
Artificial intelligence tools and capabilities
represent a double-edged sword for the OSINT The OSINT center of gravity resides in human
community. They provide unprecedented operators, and not in any machine or tool. Machine-
capability to sift through vast quantities of data, based collection and processing will augment highly
while simultaneously enabling rapid creation of skilled human operators orchestrating compilation of
false information. However, artificial intelligence multiple streams of open source information to create
(AI) fundamentally changes the impact of OSINT.
(A high-value intelligence reports, cross-cue other
Building algorithms to associate disparate data collection platforms, and feed the all source analysis
points will enable the extraction of entire concepts process. Simple, single-source OSINT reporting will
from the open source environment. Generative increasingly be addressed by machines at scale freeing
AI, in the hands of nefarious actors, has potential to open source teams to focus on more complex collection
create digital media content that will call into methods. Likewise, the teaming of machine translation
question the validity of all data collected in in the and native-speaker human collectors will remain an
global open source environment, requiring trained essential ingredient of OSINT success, especially
OSINT professionals and robust analysis to validate pertaining to real-time understanding of social media
collected information. content and sentiment heavily laced with local dialect,
cultural nuances, and idiomatic expressions unique to
OSINT must evolve to establish and maintain a online digital life. Trained and empowered open source
competitive advantage in the volatile open source officers will lead integration of requirements managers,
operating environment of the future. OSINT is an online collectors, data scientists, librarians, acquisition
intelligence collection discipline infused with and contracts specialists, and privacy/civil liberties
technical skills, enhanced digital literacy, and officers operating as a multi-discipline team. Together
advanced tradecraft. they will unlock global information and harvest the
intelligence value of open source data.
 The U.S. Air Force Intermediate OSINT course empowers Intel analysts. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Erin K. Stephens, geospatial imagery
analyst with the 123rd Intelligence Squadron, works in the 188th Wing Innovation Lab in Fort Smith, Arkansas, December 21, 2022. Photo by
Maj Jennifer Gerhardt, U.S. Air Force.

16 17
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

increases. OSINT informs a wide range of The demands on OSINT will inevitably continue to
classified intelligence and intelligence-related outpace the growth of capabilities within the
planning and operational activities. Focused individual DIE components. The path to success is a
collection of open source data and information will fully integrated enterprise approach to all open
facilitate operations security (OPSEC) and protect source activities and programs across the DIE,
sensitive intelligence operations. Technical whether conducted for OSINT, or to support a wide
exploitation of the expanding universe of Internet- range of intelligence requirements.
connected devices will require greater
collaboration between the technical collection The DOSC, under direction of the DIEM-OSINT,
disciplines. Persistent global positioning will adapt and evolve to lead these efforts and serve
technologies will provide endless possibilities for as the central point of collaboration in the highly
expanded collaboration between OSINT and other complex and always-evolving open source operating
intelligence disciplines. environment of the future.

Commercial data market sources and applications.

U.S. Army LTG James B. Jarrard, U.S. Army Pacific deputy commanding general, provides opening remarks to commence USARPAC’s third 
annual Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Summit in Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Oct. 25, 2023. USARPAC aims to unify the AI/ML
Community of Interest under a shared purpose to address USARPAC challenges where AI/ML capabilities can be integrated.
U.S. Army photo by SPC Taylor Gray.

18
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

Enabling Objective 1.3 — Develop and Deploy an

strAtegic g oAls And Open Source, Cross-Domain, Tasking, Collection,
e nAbling o bjectives Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TC-
PED) system accessible to the Defense
Strategic Goal 1: Enhance decision- Intelligence Enterprise, FVEYs and IC partners.
maker and warfighter situational OSINT is unique as an intelligence discipline in that it
awareness through timely delivery of supports all other forms of intelligence. OSINT
provides broad insights for shaping collection plans,
customized, serialized OSINT products
tips, and cues other collection capabilities, and fills
and data.
gaps to round out all source analysis. To fulfill the
Enabling Objective 1.1— Integrate advanced role as the DIE’s first stop on any new intelligence
technologies for collecting, processing, and endeavor, the DOSC must work together to develop
reporting OSINT. Maintaining an accurate and adopt a fully functioning TC-PED architecture
understanding of global events, especially in the for OSINT, accessible to authorized US and Coalition
early stages of emerging crisis situations, is users at all classification levels across multiple
increasingly difficult for warfighters and decision- networks, that orchestrates collection, ensures full
makers. Rapid assimilation of open source access to all open source data and reporting, provides
information across multiple data streams requires data enrichment microservices, integrates seamlessly
effective use of artificial intelligence and machine with all source analysis, and populates catalogs and
learning (AI/ML) capabilities to enhance, expand, repositories.
and accelerate OSINT collection activities across
the DIE. Prioritization of associative sensemaking
will enable the extraction of concepts from the Strategic Goal 2: Maximize the intel-
open source environment. ligence value of open source information.
Enabling Objective 2.1 — Attain and maintain
Enabling Objective 1.2 — Expand and enrich an OSINT technology advantage. The open
OSINT reporting and adopt new product lines source information space is a highly dynamic
tailored to unique requirements for unclassified operating environment fueled by novel, technology-
decision aids and strategic messaging. based approaches to support a wide range of
Communicating to global audiences in the government and private-sector business
information environment is an essential element of requirements. Beyond their commercial value,
integrated deterrence, which is a centerpiece of these capabilities have game-changing potential for
our National Defense Strategies. Timely, precise, transforming vast quantities of open source
VISION and in-depth OSINT reporting enables leaders to information into valuable Defense intelligence, at
outpace adversarial narratives, and is essential to the speed and scale required to keep pace with
Make OSINT the
the formulation of strategic messaging and pro- warfighter and decision-maker demands for OSINT.
“first resort” source
active engagement with partners, allies, and the
of intelligence for
public at large.
decisionmakers and
warfighters.

20 21
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

billion users every day is a complex set of activities. Strategic Goal 4: Establish OSINT as a
Enabling Objective 2.2 — Optimize sharing of Strategic Goal 3: Expand the open
Machine association of disparate data points will enable
OSINT-related technologies across the DIE. source aperture internally and externally. premier intelligence capability and the
analysts and leaders to identify the ontology of threats,
Developing, acquiring, and gaining approval to deploy foundation for all other disciplines.
new technologies on DoD networks is a complex, Enabling Objective 3.1 — Improve make sense of the information environment, and
time consuming process. Sharing technology collaboration with other Intelligence extract whole concepts from the open source domain.
To succeed, the DOSC must identify and execute a Enabling Objective 4.1 — Create and
solutions across the enterprise mitigates opportunity disciplines. OSINT provides situational awareness institutionalize OSINT Training, Tradecraft,
costs and promotes increased collaboration; all and foundational collection that enables other diversified collection posture that mitigates
dependency on single sources of data or information. and Civilian/Military career pathways. The
resulting in greater efficiency, preservation or intelligence disciplines to focus their capabilities on complex open source environment requires unique
resources, and enhanced mission focus. the hardest targets and requirements that can be Across the DIE, open source data governance will
apply the core principles for ensuring data is visible, skills and abilities that are not resident in existing
answered by no other means. A sudden increase in civilian and military career tracks. To
Enabling Objective 2.3 — Develop hybrid, multi- social media postings can be the first indicator of an accessible, understandable, linked, trustworthy,
interoperable, and secure (VAULTIS) in accordance professionalize the OSINT workforce, the DOSC
discipline solutions for scalable OSINT collection emerging crisis, and a starting point for other will identify training and certification standards,
and processing teams. The open source data focused collection. Publicly shared images can with the DoD Data Strategy.
determine core and essential tasks, and facilitate
environment will become increasingly challenging for provide location data or other relevant information development, implementation, and sustainment of
OSINT collectors, necessitating novel approaches for that can be used to inform other collection efforts. Enabling Objective 3.3 — Close the gaps that
impede full OSINT collaboration. Global strategic common training courses. Where possible, these
collection of open source information, and processing will include options for in-person or online
it into high value intelligence products. Enabling Objective 3.2 — Open new pathways competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region,
requires the utmost degree of collaboration. To attendance through DIE training portals, not only
and develop novel procedures for acquiring for OSINT practitioners but also leaders and
Enabling Objective 2.4 — Establish assessment Open Source data and information. The online accelerate expanded OSINT collaboration, DOSC
components will develop options to improve managers across the DIE.
and evaluation criteria and standards to measure open source environment is constantly evolving.
op
performance and effectiveness of OSINT collection Sustaining access, locating unique data sources, and partnership and interoperability, such as forward-based
OSINT platforms, and leverage these opportunities to Enabling Objective 4.2 — Strengthen OSINT
and reporting. It is critical for the DIE to measure extracting information with intelligence value from governance. The decentralized nature of OSINT
the performance and effectiveness of OSINT a network of more than 200 million nodes hosting 4 promote more effective international partnerships
among all DOSC members. collection activity across the DIE has enabled highly
collection and reporting. impressive development of capabilities, programs,
Enabling Objective 3.4 — Establish bilateral and tools, and procedures at the component level.
multilateral OSINT partnerships in priority
geographic regions to open new collection Enabling Objective 4.3 — Expand and enrich
pathways and expand intelligence collaboration engagement within respective US and FVEY
with foreign partners. OSINT is less encumbered policy and oversight regimes. Ongoing and recent
than other intelligence disciplines by limitations in deliberations on the ideal OSINT governance model
sharing classified information. For these and other highlight the fact that no single department or
reasons, OSINT provides unique opportunities to agency is ideally positioned to lead OSINT at the
engage more freely and openly with our foreign national level. New organizational constructs,
security partners. Many of these partners have unique international agreements, and changing public
insights, access, and understanding of regional issues, sensitivities regarding data privacy will have
and in some cases a high density of native language profound effects on Defense OSINT organizations.
 Sailors from 30th Naval Construction Regiment conduct training in the Expeditionary Maritime Operations Center during a Command Post expertise.
Exercise (CPX) onboard Naval Base Guam. 30th NCR is assigned to Commander, Task Force 75, which executes command and control of
assigned Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces in the 7th Fleet area of operations. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Chad Butler.

22 23
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

Enabling Objective 4.4 — Improve awareness

and understanding of OSINT across all
Defense, federal government, private sector,
and public audiences. OSINT needs to take a
more deliberate approach to educating and
informing all audiences on its capabilities and
limitations, and be forthright regarding successes
and failures.

Strategic Goal 5: Synchronize OSINT

with all other Publicly and Commercially
Available Information (PAI/CAI) activities.

Enabling Objective 5.1 — Integrate Multi-Int

Collection Management. In the open source
domain, data-centricity encompasses all collection
of PAI/CAI, not just for OSINT purposes,
regardless of its end use by other intelligence
disciplines.

Enabling Objective 5.2 — Develop an

Enterprise Data and Tool Assessment,
Acquisition, and Discovery Framework. Diverse
procedures for acquiring commercial data and tools
increases the risks of poor data quality, malicious
code, and low return on investment across the DIE.

24 25
 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028 Defense OSINT Strategy 2024–2028

r eFerences n otes
Department of Manual 5240.01, Procedures Governing the
Department of Defense Directive 5143.01, Under
Conduct of DoD Intelligence Activities, August 8, 2016.
Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, October
24, 2014, as amended. (U) Department of Defense Instruction 3115.12, Open Source
Intelligence (OSINT), August 24, 2010, as amended.
Department of Defense Directive 5105.21, Defense
Intelligence Agency, January 25, 2023.
Department of Defense Directive 3115.18, DoD Access to
and Use of Publicly Available Information (PAI), June 11,
2019, as amended.

26 27