Who We Are
The Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team (JCAT) at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is where public safety professionals – in law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire service, intelligence, homeland security, emergency management, and public health – are making a difference in the counterterrorism (CT) community by improving information sharing among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies and the private sector. JCAT fellows work side-by-side with intelligence analysts from NCTC, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to develop products, conduct outreach and education, and support CT exercises and training.
How Does JCAT Carry Out Its Mission?
JCAT’s mission1 is to improve information sharing and enhance public safety for federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector (FSLTTP) partners. This is accomplished through three lines of effort:
• Intelligence Production – JCAT reviews CT intelligence and information to facilitate collaborative PRODUCTION on topics intended to address FSLTTP partners’ intelligence needs and requirements; incorporating FSLTTP experience and expertise, to the greatest extent possible, to ensure JCAT products are relevant and useful to counterterrorism partners.
• Outreach and Education – JCAT performs OUTREACH and EDUCATION to build and strengthen FSLTTP partnerships; promote awareness and understanding of partner capabilities and resources; improve information sharing; and recruit JCAT fellows.
• Support – JCAT provides SUPPORT to counterterrorism partners in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of exercises; and the facilitation of training.
1 JCAT’s mission relates to threats from international terrorists and U.S.-based violent extremists directed, enabled, or inspired by, or otherwise affiliating or collaborating with international terrorists, or that concern terrorist tactics, techniques, and procedures that could be employed by such actors. JCAT does not engage in activities addressing threats without an identified foreign nexus.