Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement
Stored: Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement
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Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement (BCME) is a specialized subcommand of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), named after Rear Adm. Thomas A. Brooks, established on July 13, 2016, as the Navy’s Center of Excellence for civil maritime intelligence, located within the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland.
Mission
The Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement’s mission is to provide strategic intelligence on the civil maritime domain, focusing on security threats like smuggling, piracy, and proliferation. It engages with maritime industry, scientific research, academic institutions, and government partners to enhance understanding of global maritime activities, supporting Navy operations and national security priorities with predictive analysis.
Parent organization
The BCME operates under the Office of Naval Intelligence, within the Department of Defense, as one of ONI’s five Centers of Excellence, contributing to maritime intelligence efforts from its NMIC base.
Legislation
The BCME was not created by specific legislation but was established on July 13, 2016, under ONI’s authority to address growing demands for civil maritime intelligence, reflecting post-9/11 and post-2010s strategic shifts toward non-military maritime threats.
Partners
- National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) for coordination
- U.S. Coast Guard for maritime security collaboration
- Maritime industry, academia, and international allies for engagement
Number of employees
The exact number of BCME employees is not publicly disclosed; it employs a subset of ONI’s 3,000+ NMIC personnel, likely in the low hundreds, including analysts, maritime experts, and liaison officers, with staffing adjusted to mission needs.
Organization structure
The BCME is a distinct unit within ONI’s command structure:
Leader
The Commanding Officer of BCME is not publicly named in current records; it reports to the Commander, ONI (Rear Adm. Mike Brookes as of March 2025), with leadership typically unpublicized due to classification.
Divisions
Key functional areas include:
- Civil Maritime Analysis for commercial shipping and threats.
- Engagement Team for partnerships with industry and academia.
- Threat Assessment Unit for transnational maritime risks.
List of programs
- Civil Maritime Threat Analysis
- Maritime Community Partnership Program
- Global Maritime Security Assessments
Last total enacted budget
The BCME’s budget is not separately detailed; it’s funded within ONI’s portion of the Navy’s FY 2024 budget of $202.5 billion, under the DoD’s $842 billion, supporting personnel and operations, with no specific figure isolated.
Staff
The BCME staff includes intelligence analysts, civil maritime specialists, and engagement coordinators, likely in the low hundreds within ONI’s 3,000-strong NMIC workforce, focusing on civil maritime intelligence and supported by reservists as needed.
Funding
Since its establishment in 2016, the BCME has been funded through ONI’s appropriations under Title 10 U.S.C., with FY 2024’s $202.5 billion Navy budget covering its operations within the NMIC, without a standalone allocation.
Services provided
The BCME analyzes civil maritime threats (e.g., trafficking, sanctions evasion), builds partnerships with maritime stakeholders, supports Navy and joint operations with intelligence on commercial shipping, and enhances maritime domain awareness, delivering classified and unclassified products to strategic decision-makers.
Regulations overseen
The BCME operates under ONI’s regulatory framework, including SECNAVINST 5530.4E for security, and aligns with Intelligence Community standards like ICD 902, but does not create regulations itself.
Headquarters address
4251 Suitland Road, Suitland, MD 20746 (National Maritime Intelligence Center)
History
Named after Rear Adm. Thomas A. Brooks, a former ONI director (1988-1991), the BCME was established on July 13, 2016, to focus on civil maritime intelligence amid rising transnational threats. Located at NMIC, it has grown to address economic and security issues in the maritime domain, leveraging partnerships to enhance ONI’s capabilities.
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations:
- Office of Naval Intelligence
- National Maritime Intelligence Center
- National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office