Defense Intelligence Agency Director Michael Flynn sought to underscore the role of intelligence in national security amid the rising threats from fiscal, cyber and geopolitical crises worldwide at a summit last week, American Forces Press Service reported Monday.

Cheryl Pellerin writes Flynn addressed an Intelligence and National Security Alliance Summit panel and said the intelligence community must modify its operating model in order to achieve its goals, as well as stress cooperation and integration.

Flynn also proposed that those initiatives be consolidated into the practices of DIA, according to the report.

DIA recently adopted a new model that seeks to integrate the expertise of analysts, collectors, collections managers, technicians, technical experts and targeteers into one team, AFPS reports.

Flynn told the panel DIA also focuses on cyber attacks in addition to infrastructural threats.

Pellerin writes Flynn emphasized the need for the agency to understand the intentions behind cyber threats in order to address the risks.