The CIA, NSA, and other intelligence agencies face a crisis of human capital as they struggle to close the chasm between recently recruited agents and supervisors quickly approaching retirement, Government Executive magazine reports. The spy world is scrambling to keep up with the 21st century's touchy-feely corporate culture, creating more opportunities for collaboration and mentoring.
The intelligence establishment shrank dramatically after the Cold War, and the post-9/11 applicant deluge exposed management weaknesses. Some young agents follow the so-called five-year plan, taking the money—and the training and the coveted security clearance—and running for the private sector. For those who stick it out, the rules are changing. (More CIA stories.)