In-Q-Tel provides view of future security operations

If you want insight into the federal government’s vision of safeguarding America in the future, take a look at the investment portfolio of In-Q-Tel, the venture arm of the CIA.

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In-Q-Tel was formed in 1999 to provide capital to startup companies developing technologies that could be used for national security. It operates not as a division of the CIA, but as an independent nonprofit.

High on its list of priorities is finding new ways to analyze massive amounts of information. Many of In-Q-Tel’s portfolio companies provide technologies that gather and make sense of data. For example, Language Weaver provides automated language translation. NovoDynamics reads and translates text in Mideastern languages.

piXlogic searches images and videos. Inxight Software and Stratify analyze and graphically display relationships (much as Muckety does with our maps. We have no relationship that we know of to the CIA or to In-Q-Tel.)

Other focuses include mapping, wireless communications, portable energy sources and biodefense.

In-Q-Tel’s leadership is a who’s who of government intelligence and high tech. NASA administrator Michael D. Griffin is a former president. Amit Yoran, former director of national cyber security for Homeland Security, served as CEO.

Early board members included former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, former Goldman Sachs co-chair Steve Friedman, and John Seely Brown, former Xerox chief scientist and head of Xerox PARC.

Current directors include Norman Augustine, former chairman of Lockheed Martin; Jim Barksdale, former Netscape chief; and Charles Vest, former president of MIT.

Those who fear the ever-growing might of Google won’t be reassured by In-Q-Tel’s record. Two In-Q-Tel companies - @Last Software and Keyhole - have been acquired by Google. Keyhole technologies power Google Earth.

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