Joseph Lamar Simmons Explains How Intelligence Officers Collect and Analyze Information

When Joseph Lamar Simmons talks about his work in intelligence, he doesn’t make it sound like a movie. He laughs at most of what Hollywood gets wrong.

“People think we’re jumping out of helicopters or decoding secret messages all day,” he says. “Honestly? It’s a lot more sitting in front of screens than people think.”

Joseph Lamar Simmons spent more than 20 years as an intelligence officer. He’s worked in the field, in the office, and sometimes in places he still can’t talk about. Now retired, he shares some insights into what intelligence officers do, especially when it comes to collecting and analyzing information.

It Starts with Gathering Pieces of the Puzzle

“The first part of the job is all about gathering,” Joseph Lamar Simmons explains. “You’re pulling in information from everywhere—news reports, satellite photos, intercepted signals, even just what people are saying online.”

This part of the job is called collection, and it can involve everything from drones and satellites to simply reading public posts on social media. Some info is open and easy to get. Other parts come from people on the ground—sources who know what’s going on, sometimes at great personal risk.

“We don’t always have all the facts, but you learn to spot patterns. Even small things—like the movement of trucks at night—can tell you a lot if you’re paying attention.”

Not Everything You Hear Is True

Once the data is collected, the next step is to figure out what’s real and what’s not.

“There’s a ton of noise,” Joseph Lamar Simmons says. “Some info is planted to throw us off. Some people lie. Some just don’t know what they’re talking about. So we verify everything.”

Officers compare sources, look for inconsistencies, and use tools that help cross-check facts. “You can’t afford to guess in this job,” he adds. “Bad info can lead to bad decisions.”

Making Sense of the Chaos

After they sort through what’s true, it’s time to put the pieces together.

“That’s where analysis comes in. This is where you ask the big questions: What’s happening? Why? What might happen next?”

This part is less about gadgets and more about thinking clearly under pressure. Officers look for trends, try to understand motives, and write up reports that decision-makers, like military leaders or politicians, can use.

“The challenge is you rarely have the full picture. So you have to make sense of what you’ve got, fast, and get it to the right people before it’s too late.”

Not All Heroes Wear Capes (or Get Noticed)

Joseph Lamar Simmons is the first to admit that the work isn’t always glamorous. But it matters.

“We’re not looking for credit,” he says. “If we do our job right, nothing happens. That’s the goal—stop the bad thing before it starts.”

Most of the time, the public never knows what was prevented. That’s okay with Joseph Lamar Simmons.

“You learn to be okay with silence. You did your part. That’s enough.”

Final Thoughts

What intelligence officers do isn’t about flashy gear or dramatic chase scenes. It’s careful, thoughtful work done behind the scenes. And while we may never know all their stories, people like Joseph Lamar Simmons remind us that real intelligence work is less about secrets—and more about sense-making in a chaotic world.