29 Dec 2025

Nikki Rutman Believes in Unicorns

What we're seeing right now happen with the intelligence community is almost a deprecation of what is going to be available to the private sector.

Listen on Spotify

Nikki Rutman thought for sure she'd be a doctor, then she discovered her passion for intelligence. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Nikki's path shifted again from her interest in Latin American studies to an internship at the Defense Intelligence Agency when it all clicked. That drive eventually steered her to the FBI Counterterrorism Division (CTD) at Liberty Crossing where 'X' quite literally marked the spot.

Nikki brought with her a mission to integrate intelligence within the FBI. She pursued that mission throughout her time at CTD, as an advisor at ODNI, and as a Senior Supervisory Intelligence Analyst for the Northeast Regional Intelligence Group in Boston. After government shutdowns, the pandemic, and the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Nikki saw signposts that the development of the FBI's intelligence program had stalled and begun to backslide. She then transitioned to the private sector, where she founded the intelligence program for a major pharmaceutical company.

After being affected by layoffs, Nikki founded Duck Cove Consultants and took a senior role as Managing Partner for Intelligence and Investigations at Sentinel. She continues to build and integrate intelligence teams, while coaching and mentoring intelligence analysts transitioning from government into the private sector. Nikki also serves on the board of the FBI Association of Intelligence Analysts, where she urges intelligence professionals to step out of the shadows and share their expertise across industry.

Watching 2025's deprecation of the intelligence community has been gut-wrenching for Nikki. She has grown concerned for the continued reliability and availability of annual government threat assessments. Nikki sees this growing void as an opportunity for transitioning government employees, and describes intelligence analysts as today's unicorns—uniquely qualified to meet the challenge.

Nikki continues to advocate for consistency and career progression in private sector intelligence, dreaming of a day when more companies add a Chief Intelligence Officer to their boardroom. Until then, she's sending big virtual hugs to all of those transitioning out of government, reminding them they're not alone, and encouraging them to connect with others who have successfully transitioned.

You can connect with Nikki on LinkedIn or learn more about her advocacy through Duck Cove Consultants.

If you're an FBI Intelligence Analyst or Staff Operations Specialist navigating the transition or an alumnus looking for community, check out the FBI Association of Intelligence Analysts.

If you enjoy Forking Off with us, consider supporting us on ⁠Ko-fi⁠, and ⁠follow us⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.