Tampa Woman Wins National Military Intelligence Award

Posted May 8, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated May 8, 2012 at 07:11 PM

A Tampa defense intelligence worker has won the 2012 National Military Intelligence Association’s John T. Hughes award.

Diana Hocutt, a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst on duty with U.S. Central Command, won the award, created in 1986 to “recognize professional excellence, leadership and exemplary dedication to the mission of the Defense Intelligence Agency,” according to a DIA media release.

To be considered of the award,” the individual must have demonstrated professional excellence, leadership, and exemplary dedication to
DIA’s mission,” according to Lt. Col. Thomas Veale.

Nominees for this award “must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role of intelligence in support of national-level decisionmakers
and operational forces. They are innovative, demonstrate an in-depth analytic knowledge, are able to work under pressure, and are an acknowledged
community team player,” according to Veale.

“Hocutt exemplified these characteristics while serving in Balkh and Kabul Provinces supporting the International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan from February to October 2011. Although we cannot provide specifics, Ms. Hocutt employed innovative collection and analysis strategies that synchronized the efforts of multiple intelligence agencies, directly and positively influencing
senior decision-makers,” Veale wrote in an email to Command Post Tampa. “DIA is pleased to have the opportunity to recognize Hocutt’s excellent work.”

According to the release:

Hocutt was nominated for her contributions to intelligence in support of national-level decision-makers and operational forces while serving and Balkh and Kabul provinces in Afghanistan from February to October 2011.

The National Military Intelligence Association is “a national association of intelligence professionals. NMIA was founded in 1973 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona,” according to the organization’s website.

According to the site:

Members include military and civil service professionals actively engaged in military intelligence careers as well as reserve, former and retired intelligence personnel and U.S. citizens who have an interest in intelligence and support the vital role of military intelligence in safeguarding our nation’s security.

NMIA is dedicated to the support of U.S. security. NMIA seeks to stimulate awareness of the need for effective military intelligence as a critical component of national security. The Association also fosters activities and programs designed to enhance the theoretical and practical foundations of the intelligence “discipline,” and to contribute to the effectiveness of the intelligence professionals who are vital to the successful pursuit of the military intelligence mission of the Services and Agencies as well as thoseworking in military intelligence, other national security activities, homeland defense, law enforcement, and other fields