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Articles by Steve Slick
Public Attitudes on U.S. Intelligence (2023-2024)
In December 2025, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs published the results of two annual polls sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin. The university’s 2023 and 2024 national surveys of public attitudes confirm that most Americans believe the U.S. intelligence agencies are vital to protecting the nation and effective in carrying out their specialized tasks.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2022 'Bobby R. Inman Award' for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 8th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
UT-Austin Announces 2024 “Inman Award” Recipients
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Strauss-Clements Intelligence Studies Project at The University of Texas at Austin is pleased to announce the winner and two semifinalists in the tenth-annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2024 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Strauss-Clements Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 10th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
Public Attitudes on US Intelligence (2021-2022)
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published the results of two annual polls sponsored by UT-Austin’s Clements-Strauss Intelligence Studies Project. The surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022 confirm that most Americans believe U.S. intelligence agencies are vital to protecting the nation and effective in achieving their assigned tasks. However, they also found that partisan preference plays a significant—and growing—role in shaping public views of the Intelligence Community’s performance.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2023 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With Austin, Texas – The Strauss-Clements Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 9th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2023 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Austin, Texas – The Strauss-Clements Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 9th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2022 'Bobby R. Inman Award' for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 8th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
2021 Inman Award Winners Announced
The Intelligence Studies Project of the University of Texas at Austin is pleased to announce the winner and two semifinalists in its seventh-annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The recipient of the 2021 “Inman Award” for student scholarship on intelligence is Dr. Alexandra Sukalo, a recent PhD recipient from Stanford University who focuses on Russian and Eastern European History.
2021 Inman Award Winners Announced
The Intelligence Studies Project of the University of Texas at Austin is pleased to announce the winner and two semifinalists in its seventh-annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The recipient of the 2021 “Inman Award” for student scholarship on intelligence is Dr. Alexandra Sukalo, a recent PhD recipient from Stanford University who focuses on Russian and Eastern European History.
Public Attitudes on U.S. Intelligence in 2020
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published the results from the fourth round of an annual poll sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin’s Intelligence Studies Project that seeks to shed light on Americans’ perceptions of U.S. intelligence agencies. The data from summer 2020—along with selected graphics, a summary of the survey history and methodology, and related policy analysis—is available here.
Public Attitudes on U.S. Intelligence in 2020
Transparency, Public Trust, and Democratic Legitimacy … Trump-era intelligence officials deliberately lowered their public profiles to avoid triggering an irascible and vindictive boss. IC leaders avoided providing open testimony at Congress’s worldwide threat hearings—the single opportunity in most years for the American people to see and hear from senior intelligence officials.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2021 'Bobby R. Inman Award' for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 7th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2021 'Bobby R. Inman Award' for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 7th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
Support for U.S. Intelligence Continues, Despite Presidential Attacks and Concerns Over Transparency
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published the results from the third round of an annual poll, sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin’s Intelligence Studies Project, which aims to shed light on Americans’ perceptions of the intelligence community. The data collected in 2019—including survey methodology and limited policy analysis—is available here. We discussed the survey’s baseline data from 2017 here, and the 2018 survey results here.
Support for U.S. Intelligence Continues, Despite Presidential Attacks and Concerns Over Transparency
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published the results from the third round of an annual poll, sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin’s Intelligence Studies Project, which aims to shed light on Americans’ perceptions of the intelligence community. The data collected in 2019—including survey methodology and limited policy analysis—is available here.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2020 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Steve Slick is a clinical professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and directs the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas at Austin. He was a member of CIA’s clandestine service, and served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and the NSC’s Senior Director for Intelligence Programs and Reform.
Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2020 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the sixth annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.
Revisiting Legacy Restrictions on the Intelligence Community’s Handling of SIGINT Data on Non-Americans
Why are U.S. intelligence agencies still applying extraordinary safeguards to the incidentally collected communications of Chinese, Russian and Iranian citizens as well as the nationals of EU allies that refuse to offer similar privacy protections to Americans?
Revisiting Legacy Restrictions on the Intelligence Community’s Handling of SIGINT Data on Non-Americans
Why are U.S. intelligence agencies still applying extraordinary safeguards to the incidentally collected communications of Chinese, Russian and Iranian citizens as well as the nationals of EU allies that refuse to offer similar privacy protections to Americans?
An Unseen but Outsized Influence: A History of the National Security Council with John Gans
October 11, 2019 In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, John Gans, director of communications and research at Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, sits down with several members of the University of Texas faculty to discuss his new book, White House Warriors: How the National Security Council Transformed the American Way of War.
A Conversation on Middle East Security with Gen. Amos Yadlin
In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, retired General Amos Yadlin sits down with Steve Slick, director of the Intelligence Studies Project, to discuss Middle East security and Israeli security concerns. Slick and General Yadlin also engage in a conversation about the role of Israel in the middle east, the future of Israel, and questions regarding security in the region.
2019 Inman Award Winners Announced
The University of Texas’s Intelligence Studies Project recently announced the winners of the fifth-annual “Bobby R. Inman Award” competition that recognizes exceptional student research and writing on intelligence. Links to the winning paper and the undergraduate semifinalist paper are available here and below. The recipient of the 2019 Inman Award for student scholarship is Jeff Rogg, a PhD candidate in history at the Ohio State University concentrating on conflict, peace, and diplomacy.
2019 Inman Award Winners Announced
Robert (Bobby) Chesney is the Dean of the University of Texas School of Law, where he also holds the James A. Baker III Chair in the Rule of Law and World Affairs at UT. He is known internationally for his scholarship relating both to cybersecurity and national security. He is a co-founder of Lawfare, the nation’s leading online source for analysis of national security legal issues, and he co-hosts the popular show The National Security Law Podcast.
Annual Polling Confirms Sustained Public Confidence in U.S. Intelligence
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published results from the second round of an annual poll, sponsored by the Texas National Security Network at the University of Texas at Austin, which aims to shed light on Americans’ perceptions of the intelligence community. The data collected in 2018—including survey methodology and limited policy analysis—are available here.
Annual Polling Confirms Sustained Public Confidence in U.S. Intelligence
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published results from the second round of an annual poll, sponsored by the Texas National Security Network at the University of Texas at Austin, which aims to shed light on Americans’ perceptions of the intelligence community. The data collected in 2018—including survey methodology and limited policy analysis—are available here.
Call for Papers: The "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the fifth annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2500.
Call for Papers: The "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the fifth annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2500.
Restoring U.S. Intelligence After the Trump Presidency
The recent midterm elections served as a reminder—comforting to many—that the Trump presidency will end. The next president will be challenged to heal a fractured society, return integrity to public service and restore essential government institutions. We will not have a full accounting of how U.S. intelligence fared during the Trump years until a credible investigation is undertaken or survivors emerge to document their experiences.
Restoring U.S. Intelligence After the Trump Presidency
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The recent midterm elections served as a reminder—comforting to many—that the Trump presidency will end. The next president will be challenged to heal a fractured society, return integrity to public service and restore essential government institutions. We will not have a full accounting of how U.S. intelligence fared during the Trump years until a credible investigation is undertaken or survivors emerge to document their experiences.
Call for Papers: The "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
The Intelligence Studies Project of the University of Texas at Austin announces the third annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2500.
The Intelligence Studies Essay: "After you, Alphonse," or Why Two Different Intelligence Agencies Now Attend National Security Council Meetings, Whether It Matters, and How to Mitigate the Potential Hazards
Steve Slick is a clinical professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and directs the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas-Austin. He was a member of CIA’s clandestine service, and served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and the NSC’s Senior Director for Intelligence Programs and Reform. This essay was reviewed and approved by the CIA’s Publications Review Board.
Strategy by Solarium: From Eisenhower to Cyber
When it comes to cyber-security, the United States seems to be perpetually behind the 8-ball. A provision in the new defense bill seeks to solve this. Down in Austin, the dream team of experts explains the Cyber Solarium: an exercise in strategic planning inspired by an early Cold War planning cell. Starting with the Eisenhower-era roots of this concept, Will Inboden, Celeste Ward Gventer, Bobby Chesney, and Stephen Slick explain how the Cyber Solarium, an initiative of Sen.
U.S. Intelligence Should Embrace Sasse’s Cyber Solarium Commission
Busy officials in the Defense Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence could be forgiven for reacting to provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act that create a panel to review cybersecurity policies as yet another congressionally directed imposition on the energies of experts already straining daily to deal with the threat. That would be a mistake. We sorely need new thinking, broader consensus, and greater urgency on cyber policy.
Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes
Review of Loch Johnson’s “Spy Watching: Intelligence Accountability in the United States” (Oxford University Press, 2018). There are abundant recent examples of Congress exercising its constitutional prerogative to oversee the work of America’s vast intelligence enterprise. Some of them are good; many others, bad; and several, truly ugly.
Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With PDF Version Review of Loch Johnson’s “Spy Watching: Intelligence Accountability in the United States” (Oxford University Press, 2018). *** There are abundant recent examples of Congress exercising its constitutional prerogative to oversee the work of America’s vast intelligence enterprise. Some of them are good; many others, bad; and several, truly ugly.
Glasnost for US Intelligence: Will Transparency Lead to Increased Public Trust?
Earlier this month, the Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs published our report on the first round of a polling project sponsored by the Texas National Security Network aimed at shedding light on Americans’ perceptions of our intelligence agencies and testing the claim that efforts by these agencies to be more open will enhance their democratic legitimacy.
Glasnost for US Intelligence: Will Transparency Lead to Increased Public Trust?
Earlier this month, the Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs published our report on the first round of a polling project sponsored by the Texas National Security Network aimed at shedding light on Americans’ perceptions of our intelligence agencies and testing the claim that efforts by these agencies to be more open will enhance their democratic legitimacy.
A Lost Opportunity to Learn Lessons from the Cultural Cold War
PDF VERSION A review of Joel Whitney's book, Finks: How the CIA Tricked the World's Best Writers (OR Books, 2017).
The Intelligence Studies Essay: "After you, Alphonse," or Why Two Different Intelligence Agencies Now Attend National Security Council Meetings, Whether It Matters, and How to Mitigate the Potential Hazards | Lawfare
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With Steve Slick is a clinical professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and directs the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas-Austin. He was a member of CIA’s clandestine service, and served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and the NSC’s Senior Director for Intelligence Programs and Reform. This essay was reviewed and approved by the CIA’s Publications Review Board.
UT-Austin Postdoctoral Fellowship in Intelligence Studies
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas-Austin will award a postdoctoral fellowship in intelligence studies to a promising young scholar for the 2017-2018 academic year. This unique fellowship is intended to support the next generation of scholars and educators in the field of intelligence. Applicants from all academic disciplines whose research bears on national security intelligence are welcome to apply.
A Costly Pause in a Troubled Relationship
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With A review of Jay Solomon's The Iran Wars: Spy Games, Bank Battles, and the Secret Deals That Reshaped the Middle East (Random House 2016). *** President Obama’s legacy in foreign affairs will certainly be both mixed and vigorously contested, through at least the term of his successor.
A Costly Pause in a Troubled Relationship
A review of Jay Solomon's The Iran Wars: Spy Games, Bank Battles, and the Secret Deals That Reshaped the Middle East (Random House 2016). President Obama’s legacy in foreign affairs will certainly be both mixed and vigorously contested, through at least the term of his successor.
UT-Austin Postdoctoral Fellowship in Intelligence Studies
The Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas-Austin will award a postdoctoral fellowship in intelligence studies to a promising young scholar for the 2017-2018 academic year. This unique fellowship is intended to support the next generation of scholars and educators in the field of intelligence. Applicants from all academic disciplines whose research bears on national security intelligence are welcome to apply. International candidates are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Announcing the Results of the 2016 Bobby R. Inman Award Competition (for student research and writing on intelligence)
UT-Austin’s Intelligence Studies Project has announced the winners of the 2016 “Bobby R. Inman Award” competition for student research and writing on intelligence. Links to the three papers are available on ISP's site here. The recipient of this year’s award is Quentin Buckholz, a Masters of International Affairs candidate at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
Intelligence Planks for a Sturdy National Security Platform
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With No U.S. presidential race has ever turned on the appeal of the candidate’s promises on intelligence policy. Indeed, many recent party platforms have either ignored altogether or addressed with vague generalities how an aspiring commander in chief would manage the world’s most sophisticated information gathering enterprise. Such inattention was not always the norm.
Call for Papers: The "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With The Intelligence Studies Project of the University of Texas at Austin announces the second round of an annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2500.
Conference on "Intelligence in American Society" with Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco
Last Wednesday, the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas-Austin hosted a conference on “Intelligence in American Society”. The conference focused on the supervision and oversight of U.S. intelligence activities. The luncheon keynote speaker was Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.
Chalked Spikes and Bush-Era Intelligence
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With A Review of Michael V. Hayden, Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror (Penguin 2016). The first decade of this century—particularly the months and years immediately following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks—was the most eventful and controversial for the U.S. intelligence community since its creation after World War II.
The Intelligence Studies Essay: Nichols on Leadership Decapitation vs Mid-Tier Degradation
This Intelligence Studies Essay assesses open source research to determine the relative effectiveness of two alternative strategies for directing lethal attacks against terrorist groups: leadership decapitation, or degradation of mid-level management.
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