Counterintelligence Analyst Lead

Career Guide
Leads a team that identifies, analyzes, and reports on foreign intelligence and insider threats. Plans and oversees all-source counterintelligence assessments, coordinates with government and contractor partners, and delivers briefings that inform operations, security posture, and risk decisions.

Key Responsibilities

  • Direct all-source CI analysis and production
  • Develop threat assessments and indicators of compromise
  • Oversee quality control and analytic tradecraft standards
  • Brief senior leaders and mission partners on findings
  • Synchronize collection requirements and debrief support
  • Fuse HUMINT, SIGINT, OSINT, and reporting into assessments
  • Coordinate with DoD/IC and security teams on mitigations

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Counterintelligence Program Manager
Intelligence Branch/Division Chief
Analysis & Production Manager
Transition Opportunities
Insider Threat Program Manager
Cyber Threat Intelligence Manager
Security Intelligence Manager (Corporate/Gov)
Law Enforcement Intelligence Supervisor

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
IC analytic standards and sourcing rigor (ICD-203)Collection requirements and targeting integrationHands-on proficiency with link/graph analysis platformsCI legal/policy framework and reporting procedures
Development SuggestionsComplete accredited intel analysis coursework and tool training; produce unclassified writing samples mirroring IC standards to build a portfolio.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$85,000 - $110,000
Mid Level$110,000 - $145,000
Senior Level$145,000 - $185,000
Growth Trend
growing — Defense, insider‑threat, and great‑power competition sustain demand

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
Booz Allen HamiltonLeidosCACI
Industry Sectors
Defense & AerospaceFederal GovernmentSecurity & Investigations

Recommended Next Steps

1
Pursue an intelligence analysis certificate or master’s focused on CI/national security; include a capstone threat assessment as a writing sample.
2
Get training in link analysis (i2/Palantir-like) and OSINT tradecraft; apply these to a self-directed case study to demonstrate methodology.
3
Network at AFCEA/INSA events and apply to defense contractors for analyst roles that sponsor/transfer clearances toward TS/SCI with CI polygraph.