Practicing Intelligence: Providing Support to Combat Operations

Intelligence on the Frontline: What Doctrine Doesn’t Teach You from a Veteran Intelligence Officer

Feb 20, 2025

∙ Paid

A photo of the book cover in old faded yellow hue background with a photo of a Marine on pause during a patrol kneeling in the foreground. The Marine, in muted earth tones, is in full combat attire of helmet, pack with radio antenna sticking out, wearing a ballistic vest and holding a rifle is kneeling in the foreground. The patrol is in al Anbar providence in 2006. Centered to the top of the photo in capital letter block font is the book title: PRACRICING INTELLIGENCE” and at the bottom centered in smaller font is “Providing Support to Combat Operations”. Below that, in bold capital block letters is the author’s name “TIMOTHY J. OLIVER”

We are pleased to welcome Tim Oliver, Colonel, USMC (Ret.), author of Practicing Intelligence, to the Visiting Authors Corner. In his book, Tim draws on his exceptional tactical and operational intelligence experience, honed over decades and with extensive time on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, to provide a no-frills, direct perspective on the best practices for making intelligence work on the battlefield.

Tim’s ability to translate theory into practice serves as both a guide to applying intelligence tradecraft for future battlefields—and in business—and a depiction of successful past practices in leading analysis, supporting the decision-making process, and evaluating intelligence.

We trust you’ll enjoy the valuable insights he shares in Practicing Intelligence.

How would you summarize your book Practicing Intelligence”?

The book is quite simply a guide to the practice of intelligence. It was conceived as a tool to aid intelligence professionals in the day-to-day practice of their t…

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