Partnerships with i2 Analyst’s Notebook & Sovereign Intelligence expand hands-on learning to intelligence & data analysis education
HAMBURG, N.Y. — Hilbert College’s Intelligence and Data Analysis program is elevating its experiential learning approach through new partnerships that integrate professional intelligence tools directly into student coursework.
The College recently partnered with i2 Analyst’s Notebook, a global data visualization and analysis platform used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The collaboration, valued at more than $300,000 in software licensing, gives Hilbert students free access to the same professional-grade technology used in real investigations.
The initiative was led by Jon Sullivan, assistant professor of Intelligence and Data Analysis, who brings over 25 years of federal experience with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). His background includes a three-year deployment to Afghanistan, where he worked with the CIA, NSA, and elite U.S. military units such as SEAL Team Six and Delta Force.
“During my time in the government, I used i2 Analyst’s Notebook extensively,” Sullivan said. “It’s a powerful tool that allows analysts to map and understand complex criminal or terrorist networks in real time. I wanted our students to have that same capability and hands-on experience.”
The partnership connects Hilbert’s curriculum with real-world intelligence work, enhancing student readiness for careers in intelligence analysis and law enforcement. The technology is also being used in cybersecurity courses, where students analyze digital networks as part of investigative simulations.
Building on this success, Hilbert has also introduced a new collaboration with Sovereign Intelligence, developer of an advanced cellular device pattern-of-life visualization tool known as Aurora: Geo Studio. The technology, originally designed for high-stakes security operations, enables accurate identification and analysis of cell phone location patterns.
Now adapted for academic use, the Sovereign Intelligence tool allows students to explore modern intelligence techniques in controlled case studies. “This kind of applied learning bridges the gap between innovation and ethical practice,” Sullivan said. “Our students are gaining real skills using tools that reflect today’s intelligence challenges.”
In addition to these partnerships, Hilbert is pioneering first-of-its-kind courses in artificial intelligence for intelligence analysis, teaching students to use AI for real-world tasks such as sentiment analysis, open-source data collection, and scenario planning.
“Our students are building systems that collect and interpret intelligence using AI,” Sullivan explained. “From analyzing foreign media to creating chatbot systems that safely gather information, this is the future of intelligence work, and we’re preparing them for it.”
Hilbert’s Intelligence and Data Analysis program also includes courses in human intelligence, geospatial imagery analysis, and environmental change detection, giving students a comprehensive foundation in modern intelligence methods.
“I was brought into this program to make it unique,” Sullivan said. “We looked at what other schools weren’t doing and built it. If students want a distinctive, hands-on education that mirrors what professionals use in the field, Hilbert College is where they’ll find it.”
Students and community members interested in intelligence, criminal justice, or forensic science are encouraged to register for Hilbert’s CJIF Night: Criminal Justice, Intelligence, and Forensics Night at hi.hilbert.edu/cjif. The event takes place on Wednesday, November 19 at 5:30pm. This event offers an opportunity to explore the Intelligence and Data Analysis program, meet faculty (including Jon Sullivan!), and experience the hands-on technology showcased in this release.
