Electronic Warfare, SIGINT and Corporate Intelligence with Michael Blicher Soerensen

01/12/24 • 72 min

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Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week we are talking to Michael Blicher Soerensen. Michael is a veteran of the Danish army, specialising in electronic warfare and SIGINT. He is currently a global security site lead at Meta. We discussed what makes a good analyst, deploying to Iraq, corporate intelligence and much more. Enjoy!

Find Michael

We spoke about:

2:40 - Michael's background
5:15 - Opportunities after working in SIGINT and Electronic Warfare
9:17 - Killings your darlings
10:40 - Adjusting to work outside of the army
14:09 - Learning to build rapport with collegues in the workplace
16:22 - What makes a good intelligence analyst
20:21 - Discovering new career opportunities and staying open minded
24:49 - Michael’s experience on deployment
28:17 - Michael's experience working with allied intelligence counterparts
32:07 - Commentary on how training and background can heavily influence analyst’s perspectives
36:32 - Tailoring intelligence to the consumers needs and creating valuable products
38:08 - Issues in the field of OSINT
48:30 - Intelligence professionals being able to educate consumers on intelligence can and cannot do
51:30 - Competing with other internal and external intelligence professionals in the corporate world
1:01:50 - Lack of Tactical intelligence in the private sector
1:03:24 - Intelligence products currently consumed by in the corporate world
1:05:47 - Cultural Recommendations

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Find Michael

We spoke about:

2:40 - Michael's background
5:15 - Opportunities after working in SIGINT and Electronic Warfare
9:17 - Killings your darlings
10:40 - Adjusting to work outside of the army
14:09 - Learning to build rapport with collegues in the workplace
16:22 - What makes a good intelligence analyst
20:21 - Discovering new career opportunities and staying open minded
24:49 - Michael’s experience on deployment
28:17 - Michael's experience working with allied intelligence counterparts
32:07 - Commentary on how training and background can heavily influence analyst’s perspectives
36:32 - Tailoring intelligence to the consumers needs and creating valuable products
38:08 - Issues in the field of OSINT
48:30 - Intelligence professionals being able to educate consumers on intelligence can and cannot do
51:30 - Competing with other internal and external intelligence professionals in the corporate world
1:01:50 - Lack of Tactical intelligence in the private sector
1:03:24 - Intelligence products currently consumed by in the corporate world
1:05:47 - Cultural Recommendations

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!

Sign up to the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School (GDIS) for Top Instructors, Practical Skills, and Real-World Application.

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

From the Defence Human Intelligence Unit to Recruitment with Mack - Episode 43

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week, we are talking to Mack! Mack is a former British Army Infantryman and Team Leader. He then went on to be recruited as an Intelligence Officer in the tri-service Defence Human Intelligence Unit (DHU). After leaving the armed forces, Mack became a recruiter. Spending some time working in the Private Equity space, before joining cyber specialists Trident Search, where he is now. We discussed transitioning from infantry to intelligence, Mack's time in DHU combatting the Islamic State, the importance of culture in the work environment and much more.

Find Mack:

We spoke about:

0:33 - Mack’s background
6:02 - Bridging the gap between the military and the private sector
9:20 - Upskilling for veterans
10:14 - Lack of consensus on intelligence job titles
12:52 - Intelligence as a function constantly having to prove its worth
16:05 - Mack’s time in the infantry and transition to intelligence
19:14 - Mack’s first tour as DHU
21:00 - Advice to people wanting to join DHU
23:07 - Referencing for employers as intelligence professionals and veterans
24:44 - Moving directly from the military to private equity
26:14 - The importance of culture in a workplace
29:41 - Moving to different countries to offer services
31:51 - Considering culture when recruiting
34:04 - What long-term career advice would Mack give to those looking to join the armed forces
37:05 - Getting into cyber as a route into intelligence
39:18 - Salary ranges in intelligence and cyber
45:02 - Mack asks Ahmed where he sees Grey Dynamics 2-3 years
50:14 - Cultural recommendations
54:34 - Final thoughts

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!

Sign up to the Grey Dynamics Intelligence School (GDIS) for Top Instructors, Practical Skills, and Real-World Application.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

From Unconventional Warfare to Hybrid Warfare with former SF Operator Curtis Fox - Episode 45

Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today, we are talking to Curtis Fox, former Green Beret, author, graduate of Georgetown University and currently a program manager. His book 'Hybrid Warfare: The Russian Approach To Strategic Competition & Conventional Military Conflict' is out now. We discussed some of the fascinating topics covered in it. Including how Russia has applied hybrid warfare in Ukraine since 2014, the collapse of effective cooperation between the FSB and GRU, as well as the destruction of Russia's special forces capability.

Disclaimer: All of Curtis Fox's opinions are his own and do not reflect the policy of the US Department of Defense or the US Government.

Find Curtis:

We spoke about:

0:55 - Why Curtis chose to join the Green Berets
4:26 - Deployments during the war on terror as part of 10th Special Forces Group
5:15 - Experiencing other cultures
6:23 - Observations on Somalia
13:01 - The legacy of French colonialism and Wagner’s activities in the Sahel
22:00 - Historical Russian strategy and hybrid warfare
32:38 - Did Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy work in Ukraine from 2014?
41:31 - The GRU, Salisbury and being cut out of planning for the 2022 invasion
48:09 - The FSB’s botched invasion plan and feeding the Kremlin bad intelligence
56:29 - The future of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy and destruction of their special forces capability
1:00:27 - Could Serbia use Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy themselves?
1:04:26 - Does the West underestimate the Iranians?
1:10:00 - Career advice for young people, including those looking to join special forces
1:13:58 - Advice to those looking to write a book
1:15:57 - How Grey Dynamics decides what topics to cover
1:21:24 - Cultural recommendations

Advance Your Intelligence Career Today!

Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics Reports

With security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to secret & top secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.