Show Notes
Jeremy Boss found his way to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) almost by accident. After getting a master's degree in international relations, Jeremy sought out positions in the intelligence community with a desire to serve his country. After hearing about an NGA hiring event, Jeremy quickly researched the agency and submitted an application the day before event registration closed—and he got hired. Jeremy spent nearly fourteen years as a geospatial intelligence analyst fusing imagery with all-source intelligence to provide policymakers with ground truth.
While at NGA, Jeremy observed leadership through a series of crises starting in 2012. He noticed these leaders did not rely on the subject matter experts who could quickly intuit situations and understand the nuances. Instead, most of these leaders tended to clamp down and "ride the horses until they die." This type of leadership culture produced an environment where riding an analyst to burnout was normal and accepted. The culture became "Well, that's just how it is. We're in crisis." It was a perpetual crisis mode which was completely unsustainable.
Jeremy took stock of his situation. He could continue to live in constant crisis mode working 18-hour days every day, or he could prioritize himself and his family, which included two children he and his wife had recently adopted. Jeremy chose his family.
After leaving NGA in January 2025, Jeremy founded Black Horizon with the goal of providing leaders with development opportunities in crisis management. Through Black Horizon, Jeremy runs unscripted geopolitical crisis scenarios where leaders from business, academia, and the defense sector navigate uncertainty to overcome stress before facing real-world crises. Teams play senior national-level decision makers, and every decision shapes what happens next.
Highlights & Topics: East Asian Crises: A first-hand account of what it was like as an intelligence analyst supporting policymakers with crises in the South China Sea Dangerous Lanes: The challenges of fighting an asymmetrical adversary with nation-state resources in the world's most dangerous shipping lanes Complex vs. Complicated: Why peacetime leaders fail during crises Choose Your Own Adventure: Black Horizon uses unscripted, non-kinetic simulations to exercise leaders in crisis response
Additional Resources: Black Horizon: Learn how Black Horizon combines realism, pressure, and reflection to turn complex challenges into lasting insight Connect with Jeremy: Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn
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