ISR Forensics in the Lab and in the Field
Lee Dang
January 2010
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Lee Dang |
Whether he's in his office at MITRE's Bedford, Mass., campus or deployed to Afghanistan as an Air Force reservist, Lee Dang researches, develops, and uses a variety of forensic analysis techniques and tools that provide accurate and timely intelligence data to the warfighter.
Forensic analysts need easy-to-use tools that allow them to access, navigate, process, exploit, and combine data from multiple sources. Military analysts in particular must be able to identify significant patterns and movement in intelligence surveillance data. MITRE's goal in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) forensics is to help develop the analysis and information technology for future persistent surveillance architectures (these architectures include technology from a variety of sources for continual surveillance) while at the same time contributing crucial technology to support our sponsors today.
Dang, who came to MITRE in 2006, has spent the last three years working on ISR forensics. "My primary emphasis is on exploring the historical use of various intelligence data sources to provide analytical and technical approaches and capabilities to the warfighter," he explains. "This is work I do for both the Department of Defense and U.S. intelligence community customers."
ISR forensics use historical wide area persistent surveillance and other relevant ISR data to understand and characterize activity patterns. "MITRE's approach of integrating forensics analysis methods, services, and tools has enabled analysts to see interactions between and determine relationships among relevant data sources together in a single analytic environment," says Dang. "These analysis results can then be used in a variety of ways. They can support battlefield planning, develop target information, maintain situational awareness, or tip off additional ISR assets."
Knowing his efforts often have an immediate impact is something Dang really appreciates. "One of the things I enjoy most about my job is that I get to talk directly to airmen, marines, soldiers, and sailors on a daily basis and provide them the best support MITRE has to offer," he says. "In my opinion, this commitment to serving in the public interest is what sets MITRE apart from other contracting corporations. You just feel a sense of pride in the work you do."
Putting Research into Action
Last year Dang, who is also an Air Force reservist, served a six-month deployment in Afghanistan. He was able to use some of the latest analytical and technical approaches he had been working on at MITRE. "Some of these newer analytical techniques proved to be invaluable during my deployment," he says. "In particular, I found that the ability to understand and characterize 'patterns of life' through various sources directly contributed to usable intelligence."
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Major Select Lee Dang receives the Bronze Star from Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds, Commander of the Electronic Systems Center, at Hanscom Air Force Base on May 14, 2009. |
These benefits worked both ways because his Afghanistan experience also clearly demonstrated areas where further research and development are needed. "During my deployment, I identified several critical intelligence gaps where MITRE can provide assistance to improve and streamline analytical processes," he says.
Phil Cunningham, department head for ISR for Military Operations, agrees. "Lee's current MITRE experimentation is showing significant promise in filling tactical needs he experienced firsthand while deployed as an Air Force Intelligence Officer," he says. "His colleagues have been enriched through his personal experiences and relevant domain expertise, and this experimentation could lead to improved warfighter capabilities."
In May 2009, after he returned from his reservist deployment in Afghanistan, Dang was awarded a Bronze Star for "exceptionally meritorious achievement" in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Softball Anyone?
While his career and reservist commitments have kept him busy the last couple of years, this summer Dang found time for a new hobby—playing and managing one of the intramural softball teams at MITRE. He managed one of the eight teams in the corporation's Bedford-based intramural softball league; each team has 10 to 20 people and is made up of mostly MITRE staff but also includes some non-MITRE people.
"This was my first year participating in the league. Unfortunately, we went 1 and 13—but I didn't think that was too bad for a first-year startup team," he says with a laugh. "I really did enjoy playing softball because it was a chance to meet new people, establish good working relationships, and best of all, get some exercise.
"The teams were made up of people from all areas of the company, including staff from Hanscom AFB and summer MITRE interns, as well as a few hotel employees from across the street. For me, getting to know people outside of the work environment was a great experience."
—by Kay M. Upham
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