USC’s Dr. Darren Ruddell Helps Lead USGIF’s New Education Working Group
Dr. Darren Ruddell, Professor of Spatial Sciences at the USC Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute, has been appointed as one of three professionals to chair the newly established Education Working Group (EWG) within the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).
“I’m excited to serve in this capacity to help expand the geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) community by working with educators across the country to provide meaningful opportunities for students, faculty, and professionals to contribute to this dynamic and growing field,” said Ruddell.
Founded in 2004, USGIF is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting GEOINT and fostering collaboration among government, industrial, academic, and professional sectors. GEOINT combines imagery, mapping, and geospatial data to inform national security, defense, disaster response, and other critical efforts that strengthen human safety and resilience. By combining geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, satellite and aerial imagery, and advanced data analytics, GEOINT offers a comprehensive understanding of physical and social environments across space and time, providing decision-makers with actionable insights.. USGIF strengthens the nation’s GEOINT community by bridging gaps between government and private sectors, advancing education and innovation, and ensuring a skilled, future-ready workforce.
According to Christine Devine, USGIF’s Director of Education and Professional Development, “The Education Working Group (EWG) emerged from conversations with leaders in the community who saw the need for a space where educators from higher education, nonprofits, K–12 classrooms, and beyond could connect and align on GEOINT thinking, skills, and methodologies. The EWG serves to unify and enhance GEOINT education across all levels of academia.”
Education and outreach have long been central to USGIF’s mission. The foundation partners with K–12 schools, community colleges, and universities to strengthen GEOINT learning pathways. The USC Spatial Sciences Institute is one of more than thirty institutions offering USGIF-accredited academic programs, which foster student engagement in GEOINT and uphold standards of academic excellence. At USC, six GEOINT-related programs are offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
To strengthen connections across educational sectors and promote collaboration among academia, industry, and government, the EWG officially launched in January 2025. The group is co-chaired by CPT Victoria Gramlich (government), Dr. Trey Hull (industry), and Dr. Darren Ruddell (academia).
Following its launch, the EWG established three subgroups to advance GEOINT education and practice:
- Educational Standards and Resources
- GEOINT Publication Outlet
- GEOINT Education and Industry Communities
The EWG meets bi-monthly and welcomes participation from interested individuals. To learn more, visit: https://usgif.org/education-working-group/