Robert J. Heibel
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Heibel, is a retired FBI Agent that served as the deputy chief of the FBI Counter-Terrorism division and founder of the Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies
(MCIIS). He received his masters degree from Georgetown University
in 1987.
graduating with an undergraduate degree in Finance in 1959. In 1988 he completed his masters degree from Georgetown University and has taken advanced history studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
and South Carolina
prior to his entry into the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)in 1963. An Airborne-Ranger qualified Infantry company officer he also functioned as a trainer using his Spanish language skills.
, Dr. William P. Garvey, who saw potential in the program. Following that meeting, Heibel met with members of the Intelligence Community
who responded with great enthusiasm. Heibel received permission from Mercyhurst College and started the Research/Intelligence Analysis Program (RIAP) program in the fall of 1992, contained within the History department. Later following a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2004 the college created its own department called MCIIS. He started the Center for Information Research Analysis And Training in 1995 as part of RIAP then later MCIIS. CIRAT has earned numerous awards and contracts for Open Source Intelligence
analysis. He appeared at the inaugural Global Intelligence Forum
in 2010. Heibel is the original and current director of both MCIIS and CIRAT.
, the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts
, the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals
(SCIP), the Generic Intelligence Training Initiative, and the International Association for Intelligence Education. He has won awards from the SCIP, Golden Candle Awards from OSS.NET, multiple Exceptional Managerial Performance ratings from the FBI, and numerous letters of commendation from Directors of the FBI and other organizations.
.
Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies
The Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies , located on the campus of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, offers undergraduate and graduate studies programs in intelligence analysis. The program also offers graduate certificates in Applied Intelligence, Counterintelligence and...
(MCIIS). He received his masters degree from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1987.
Education
Heibel graduated from Erie Cathedral Preparatory High School in 1955. Following graduation he attended Gannon UniversityGannon University
Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
graduating with an undergraduate degree in Finance in 1959. In 1988 he completed his masters degree from Georgetown University and has taken advanced history studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Early career
Heibel served as a U.S. Army officer in PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
prior to his entry into the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)in 1963. An Airborne-Ranger qualified Infantry company officer he also functioned as a trainer using his Spanish language skills.
FBI
Heibel retired from the FBI in 1987 with over 20 years of service and was assigned as the deputy chief of counter-terrorism in 1984. He served in over twelve locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and as the Assistant Special Agent-in-charge of North Carolina. Heibel is a member of the Society of Agents of the FBI.Mercyhurst College
Heibel initially approached three other colleges before meeting the President of Mercyhurst CollegeMercyhurst College
Mercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
, Dr. William P. Garvey, who saw potential in the program. Following that meeting, Heibel met with members of the Intelligence Community
Intelligence community
Intelligence community may refer to* Bangladeshi intelligence community* Croatian intelligence community * Israeli intelligence community* Italian intelligence community, see SISMI...
who responded with great enthusiasm. Heibel received permission from Mercyhurst College and started the Research/Intelligence Analysis Program (RIAP) program in the fall of 1992, contained within the History department. Later following a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2004 the college created its own department called MCIIS. He started the Center for Information Research Analysis And Training in 1995 as part of RIAP then later MCIIS. CIRAT has earned numerous awards and contracts for Open Source Intelligence
Open source intelligence
Open-source intelligence is a form of intelligence collection management that involves finding, selecting, and acquiring information from publicly available sources and analyzing it to produce actionable intelligence...
analysis. He appeared at the inaugural Global Intelligence Forum
Global Intelligence Forum
The Global Intelligence Forum is an annual conference dedicated to exploring best practices in intelligence analysis. The conference takes place in Dungarvan, Ireland, the sister city of Erie, Pennsylvania, home of Mercyhurst College, the Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies, and...
in 2010. Heibel is the original and current director of both MCIIS and CIRAT.
Activities, Awards and Organizational Memberships
Heibel is a member of various intelligence related organizations including: the Association of Former Intelligence OfficersAssociation of Former Intelligence Officers
The Association of Former Intelligence Officers , formerly known as the Association of Retired Intelligence Officers is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization founded in 1975 by David Atlee Phillips to counter widespread criticism of the United States intelligence community coming from...
, the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts
International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts
The International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts is an organization incorporated in the United States in 1981. The function of IALEIA is to advance standards of professionalism in law enforcement intelligence analysis at the local, state, national and international levels...
, the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals
Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals
The Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals - is a global nonprofit membership organization designed to enhance the skills of knowledge professionals in order to help their companies...
(SCIP), the Generic Intelligence Training Initiative, and the International Association for Intelligence Education. He has won awards from the SCIP, Golden Candle Awards from OSS.NET, multiple Exceptional Managerial Performance ratings from the FBI, and numerous letters of commendation from Directors of the FBI and other organizations.
Panels and Publications
Heibel has contributed to numerous law enforcement and intelligence panels since 1995. He has published articles in Cross Border Control, Transnational Organized Crime Journal. He also contributed content in "Criminal Intelligence Analysis" for the Defense Intelligence AgencyDefense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
.
External links
- MCIIS academic programs home page
- MCIIS home page
- Mercyhurst College home page
- Center for Intelligence Research, Analysis, and Training (CIRAT)
- Interview about MCIIS on "We Question and Learn", a public interest radio show on FM 91.3 WQLN in Erie, Pennsylvania on 2 July 2006
- Catalyst and Enabler, "Liberal Studies At Georgetown", Vol. 3 No. 2 pp 13-15