Insights into the Integration of AI in Military Workflows: A Visit to NGA Headquarters
Almost a year later, amid the swelter of midsummer 2025, I found myself at the NGA headquarters based at Fort Belvoir Army Base, nestled in northern Virginia. This marked my second visit to the intelligence hub, fuelled by a curiosity to understand the transformative influence of Project Maven, an artificial intelligence (AI) initiative, on the agency’s operations. I was particularly interested in the reasons that prompted the agency’s director, Whitworth, to transition from a sceptic to an advocate. I also aimed to explore the extent of Maven’s integration and the perspectives of its proponents on the risks and benefits of incorporating AI into military workflows. You can read more about my journey Here.
AI: A Game-Changer in Intelligence Reporting
Whitworth’s transformation into an enthusiast of AI was evident in the agency’s operations. The NGA began to issue intelligence reports, generated solely by machines, to U.S. policymakers. These reports were untouched by human intervention. The agency’s commitment to AI was further highlighted by its $708 million data labelling contract, the largest in U.S. history, to support Maven’s computer vision models. Interestingly, the contract was awarded not to Alexandr Wang’s Scale AI, but to Enabled Intelligence, a startup known for hiring individuals on the autism spectrum due to their proficiency in pattern recognition and comfort with repetitive tasks.
A Visit to the NGA: The Intricacies of Security
The anticipation of my visit was heightened by the requisite security checks and clearances. The strict regulations prohibited the use of phones, laptops, or smartwatches. Intriguingly, I was required to note down not only the make and model of my tape recorder but also its serial number, despite having no intention of using it for interviews after the visit.
Inside the Temple of Geospatial Intelligence
The NGA headquarters was a testament to geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), a discipline that seeks to glean insightful analysis from geographic locations. The blast-proof façade was encased in nearly 2,000 concrete triangles, each reflecting a different location. The building was buzzing with activity, housing over 8,500 employees. However, my interaction was with four key NGA officials who played pivotal roles in the evolution, standards, and distribution of Maven.
The Maven Project: A Matter of Reputation
“Our reputation is at stake here,” confessed Whitworth during our interview. His initial scepticism towards Maven quickly evaporated upon witnessing the ease with which it integrated into combat scenarios. Whitworth and his team were eager to be associated with this groundbreaking AI initiative, despite it signifying a new age of AI warfare. Their desire for recognition was seemingly unshakeable, even amidst potential plans by advisers from the second Trump administration to wrest control of Maven and AI from the NGA and revert it to the Pentagon.
Maven’s Evolution and NGA’s Ambitious Vision
NGA officials walked me through the developments of Maven since the agency assumed primary control two years ago. Five out of eight Maven initiatives, including the analysis of drone feeds and satellite imagery, were under NGA’s purview. Whitworth harboured ambitions of expanding the agency’s scope and capabilities, commensurate with the proliferation of global sensors. His vision was to monitor the entire globe in minute detail, at all times. His ambitious plans even included the installation of a navigation system on the moon. Furthermore, to counter potential GPS disruption, he proposed alternative mapping solutions relying on magnetics, gravity, remote sensing, celestial navigation, and altitude. This ambitious strategy, unveiled in 2023, encapsulated Whitworth’s quest for omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence in the realm of global surveillance.
