蘑菇视频

In the field of intelligence, one of the most powerful resources for understanding adversaries exists in plain view: the websites, news sources, videos, social platforms, and more that make up open-source intelligence (OSINT).

蘑菇视频 Allen Lead Associate Nick Co calls OSINT 鈥渢he 鈥榠nt鈥� of first resort鈥濃�攖he rapidly shared information that decision makers, warfighters, and policymakers use in tandem with classified intelligence to address emerging threats.

Today OSINT is both a rising priority for the federal government and a growing professional discipline. Here Nick talks about his career path, 蘑菇视频 Allen鈥檚 work supporting the intelligence community鈥檚 just-released , and鈥攊n honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month鈥攚hat this work means to him as a Filipino-American.

Nick started his career studying cyber operations at the U.S. Naval Academy and spent his active-duty career supporting the Navy information warfare community.

鈥淚 supported a wide spectrum of Navy operations from being on ships to technical targeting,鈥� he reflects. 鈥淔rom there, I felt a calling to work on technology and build cool things.鈥�

This passion led him to 蘑菇视频 Allen鈥檚 OSINT program, where a uniquely multifaceted team of linguists, cultural specialists, and technologists helps the U.S. government collect, understand, and apply OSINT in today鈥檚 geopolitical environment. They collaborate in a complex and exponentially growing digital landscape where words can have vastly different meanings depending on the region, culture, and context.

鈥淟anguage specialists and in-country experts try to get into the frame of mind of the target that we're trying to understand. Then technologists help overcome the technical hurdles as much as we can,鈥� Nick explains. 鈥淲e鈥檙e pioneering the tradecraft and developing new technologies to tackle the hardest OSINT challenges we see in the community.鈥澨�听

OSINT is a team sport, especially as the national workforce and profession grow. One of the things Nick says he values most about working at 蘑菇视频 Allen is the community he joined.

鈥淚鈥檓 working with phenomenal people鈥攑eople who are autonomous, forward-leaning, with a very full perspective on things. They鈥檙e willing to embrace change and challenge our own preconceived notions,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd they're just so friendly, super kind, and welcoming.鈥�

Being on the 蘑菇视频 Allen OSINT team gives Nick a chance to learn and grow daily. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on the cutting edge, growing and developing every day. I鈥檓 navigating the unknown, refining processes, and building new technologies for challenges never seen before鈥� says Nick.

Working with the OSINT program is just one way Nick is growing during his time at the firm. He also joined the firm鈥檚 Cyber Technical Experience Group and taken coursework in business management.

鈥溎⒐绞悠� Allen is an environment that encourages learning,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 the tech lead on this project, and as a lead, you need business management fundamentals. So, I鈥檓 using my FlexEd benefits to pay for additional certifications鈥攕horing up those gaps. My management is very supportive.鈥�

This May, 蘑菇视频 Allen and its Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) employee community celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with an art workshop led by a local Korean artist, a virtual night of "Jeopardy" on the AAPI regions, and a panel/concert about leveraging creativity in the workplace featuring Osama Malik, a 蘑菇视频 Allen leader actively involved in the APIDA employee community. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to be part of a community that cherishes and appreciates the heritage and has a holistic perspective and cultural understanding of the Southeast Asia region,鈥� Nick says.

He lived in the Philippines until age 11 when his family moved to Seattle. There, he remembers having a paper route and being a Boy Scout鈥斺�渢wo quintessential American activities.鈥�

鈥淚 feel like the product of two worlds,鈥� he says. 鈥淢y mother has deep American roots, all the way back to the Revolutionary War, and my father immigrated to the United States because of the opportunity he saw.鈥�

With 蘑菇视频 Allen OSINT, Nick is finding his own opportunities. 鈥淚t's really cool to be on the cutting edge, answering our clients鈥� toughest challenges with the latest and greatest technologies,鈥� Nick says.