Professional Summary
Possess an education, training, and professional development background that integrates geography and human resource management for a unique perspective in the education and training of the future professional workforce in meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow. Accomplished online geospatial intelligence assistant teaching professor focused on introductory, intermediate and advanced geospatial critical thinking and analysis methods, comparative education in the US and UK, and nautical cartography. Seasoned program manager with over 30 years experience in the design, development, and implementation of large, complex training and professional development programs for the Department of Defense (DoD), and the US and international intelligence communities. Areas of concentration include production and information systems for geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and mapping, charting and geodesy (MC&G).
Educational Background
M.A., Administrative Sciences, Human Resources Management, 1989, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
B.S., Geography, 1974, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Professional Membership
- American Legion
- International Association For Intelligence Education (IAFIE)
- National Military Intelligence Association (NMIA)
- Penn State Alumni Association (Lifetime Member)
- US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)
- US Naval Institute (USNI)
Professional Honors
- Superior Civilian Service Medal, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, MD, 2010
- Meritorious Civilian Service Award, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Bethesda, MD, 1999
- Distinguished Service Award, Washington Training Officers Conference, Washington, DC, Management of the Training Program, 1994
- Navy ROTC Scholarship Penn State, 1971 to 1974
Community Service
- Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scout Pack Committee Chair (2014-present).
- Penn State Military Appreciation Program, Secretary for University-wide Committee chaired by the Vice President for Governmental Affairs. The major activity of the Committee is the planning and conduct of “Operation Game Day,” which includes 7,500 donated “Seats for Servicemembers” football tickets and a free tailgate for 10,000 veterans (2013-present).
- Herndon, VA, United Methodist, Building Committee Chair (2001-2004).
Professional Background
Assistant Teaching Professor 2012 to Present
Pennsylvania State University, John A. Dutton e-Education Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Department of Geography
Develop and teach online courses and methods for learning geospatial intelligence that break from the traditional approach to geospatial analysis in terms of intuitive techniques. The courses teach the theory and practice behind structured analytic techniques and cognitive biases, with particular emphasis given to selecting and applying appropriate analysis techniques to create and test hypotheses. Students assess the various cognitive biases and spatial fallacies that interfere with sound spatial thinking. Students learn structured analysis methods, which can be applied to a broad range of problems, provide a scientific-like and demonstrable approach to analysis that can enhance the intelligence analyst objectivity.
Upgraded the GEOINT introductory and intermediate geospatial critical thinking and analysis courses designed for the commercial and government sectors. Co-planned, co-designed and co-delivered a comparative education seminar for its first look at the geospatial intelligence domain in the US and UK.
Lead the outreach effort for the geospatial intelligence program through relationship management, targeted marketing efforts, and student career counseling. Proudly manage the selection and presentation of the Penn State Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence that honors his life and service in Afghanistan.
Physical Scientist Administrator 2011 to 2012
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Springfield, VA
Reemployed Annuitant served as a part-time special projects officer for NGA College leadership. Involved in the design and implementation of geospatial-intelligence (GEOINT) systems architectures for training purposes. Served as the Principal Investigator for NGA’s cooperative research agreement (CRADA) with the Pennsylvania State University’s Dutton e-Education Institute.
Deputy Business Executive (BX) 2008 to 2010
NGA National Geospatial-Intelligence College (NGC), Fort Belvoir, VA
Served as the deputy for NGC’s BX, an organization charged with programming, budget, contract administration, information technology, accreditation, and requirements analysis. Developed, designed, justified, and initially implemented four remote GEOINT training facilities to conduct training for the DoD commands, services, reserves, and other government agencies requiring GEOINT training. Retired June 2010.
Systems Training Program Manager 1996 to 2008
National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) College, Reston, VA
Served as the Dean of the Systems Training School, and later as the Chief of the Systems Training Program Office. Led a team in the design, development, and implementation of an integrated end-user training program for the National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG), the first all digital, end-to-end, geospatial intelligence analysis production system. Training was provided to over 1,200 analysts at approximately 65 US Government locations, as well as, three foreign governments. Managed the development and implementation of the user training program for the NIMA wide PeopleSoft human resource management information system (Workforce 21).
Deputy Training Manager 1985 to 1996
Defense Mapping Agency (DMA), Washington, DC and Merrifield, VA
Served as the Deputy Manager of the DMA Training Program. Concentrated on upgrading and developing Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy (MC&G) technical training programs. Led the development and implementation of the end user, database, and systems administration training program for DMA’s Digital Production System (DPS), the first all digital, end-to-end, mapping and charting production system. Training was provided to over 1,000 cartographers at three DMA locations and one foreign government mapping organization. Acted as the DMA representative to the General Intelligence Training Council.
Cartographer 1979 to 1985
Defense Mapping Agency (DMA), Bethesda, MD
Initially served as a nautical cartographer, performing new compilations of standard nautical charts used by the US Navy and commercial shipping interests. Designed, developed, and conducted a 2.5 day course on nautical cartography delivered to new cartographers. Managed an 8 week New Cartographer Orientation Course (NEOC). Over a three-year period, 280 new cartographers graduated from this course on precision cartographic production methods and career development topics. Managed the DMA long-term full-time training program where selected employees attended a year of graduate education in MC&G topics. Served on the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) Education Committee. Served as a DMA cartographer recruiter.
US Navy Surface Warfare Officer (O-3) 1974 to 1979
US Navy, Norfolk, VA
Served as a shipboard Division Officer for divisions averaging 30 enlisted personnel. Subject areas of responsibility included legal, deck, aviation, and weapons in USS ALBANY (CG-10), USS LITTLE ROCK (CG-4), and USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20). Conducted Judge Advocate General (JAG) investigations.
Publications
- Stephen P. Handwerk contributing author to the USGIF 2015 & 2016 State of GEOINT Reports
Books, Pamphlets, and Book Chapters
- Hoffman, Robert, Todd S. Bacastow, Laura D. Strater, Susan P. Coster, Dennis Bellafiore, Stephen. P. Handwerk, Gregory Thomas (2017). “The Human Factors of Geospatial Intelligence: The Deep Theory,” Chapter in preparation.
Other Publications
- Bacastow, Todd, Ann H. Taylor, Dennis Bellafiore, Stephen Handwerk, and Erin Long (2016). “Comparative Geospatial Intelligence Professional Communities,” Accepted for publication by conference proceedings by the International Association for Intelligence Education.
- Bacastow, Todd, Dennis Bellafiore, Susan Coster, Stephen Handwerk, Lisa Spuria, and Gregory Thomas (2017). “From Layers to Objects: Evolving the GEOINT Analytic Tradecraft,” 2017 State and Future of GEOINT Report, The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation.
- Bacastow, Handwerk, Thomas, Bellafiore, Coster, Rosser, and Tapee (2016). “Bringing Transparency to Transparency” (2016) State of GEOINT Report, The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation.
- Bacastow, Todd, Gregory Thomas, Stephen Handwerk (2015). “What Makes GEOINT, GEOINT?” Earth Imaging Journal, September 15, 2015.
Significant Presentations
- Handwerk, Stephen (2017). “Improving the Preparation of the Geospatial Analyst.” National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), April 25, 2017.
- Handwerk, Stephen (2016). “First Principles of Geospatial Intelligence.” presented at the Esri Users Conference, June 2016.
- Handwerk, Stephen (2016). “Comparative Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Professional Communities.” Royal School of Military Survey, January 20, 2016.
- Handwerk, Stephen (2013). “Improving Geospatial Intelligence.” National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), July 2013.
Courses Taught
- Special Topic Course: Comparative Geospatial Intelligence Communities, Geography 597, The Pennsylvania State University, Summer 2017.
- Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), Geospatial Intelligence and the Geospatial Revolution, Coursera, 2015.
- Geospatial Intelligence Boot Camp, Online introductory training in the fundamentals of geospatial intelligence, developed for Booz Allen Hamilton, 2012 – present
- First Year Seminar, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Earth and Mineral Sciences 100S (GWS) First-Year Seminar, Fall 2015.
- Advanced Analytic Methods for the Geospatial Intelligence Professional, Geography 885, The Pennsylvania State University, Fall 2012, Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2013, Spring 2013, Summer 2013.
Cooperative Research Development Agreements (CRADA)
- Handwerk, Stephen (2015). Accelerating the Learning of the Geospatial Intelligence Analyst. Cooperative Research and Development Agreement HM1583-CR-FY16-001, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
- Handwerk, Stephen (2011). Improving the Teaching of Geospatial Analysis. Cooperative Research and Development Agreement HM1583-CR-FY10-007, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.