Portrait image of Behsat Ekici
Behsat Ekici, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies

Contact Information

Dr. Behsat Ekici is an assistant professor of Intelligence Studies at the School of Intelligence Computing and Global Politics. Currently, he is teaching a diverse set of courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI for National Security, AI for Business and Financial Intelligence, and AI for Intelligence), Geospatial Intelligence (with ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, and ArcPy), Data Visualization (Power BI), as well as Data Analytics and Financial Intelligence (AML and CFT).

Dr. Ekici is also an IBM, Google, Stanford University, and Deeplearning.AI-certified data scientist and AI engineer.  Dr. Ekici has been working on large numbers of hands-on machine learning (Scikit-Learn) and deep learning (PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Keras) projects on business intelligence, financial intelligence, fraud detection, transaction monitoring, surveillance (Computer Vision), sentiment analysis (Natural Language Processing), and algorithmic trade.

Previously, he was head of analytics (superintendent) at Turkish KOM, where he conducted and supervised intelligence analysis (with i2 Analyst Notebook, iBase, SQL, ArcGIS, and Python) at thousands of investigations on complex transnational networks and companies. He supervised nationwide risk assessment projects that focused on segmentation/clustering of networks, companies, passengers, criminals, couriers, cargo, and containers.

Dr. Ekici chaired large-scale UNODC meetings while he was working as a superintendent at KOM. He contributed to numerous ECO, EU, GI-TOC, Interpol, INCB, NATO, OSCE, SELEC, UN, and US projects under different capacities. Dr. Ekici gave lectures/courses on behalf of NATO, PfP, EU, UNODC, TADOC, University of Pittsburgh, Erbakan University, and Institute of Security Studies at TNP Academy. He gave on-site training programs in 15 countries within the scope of international development projects.

About Dr. Ekici
    • Ph.D. Economic Development & Security/Intelligence Studies, University of Pittsburgh
    • M.S. Criminal Justice (Intelligence Analysis Focused), Roger Williams University
    • B.S. Security/Intelligence Studies, TNP Academy (Turkey)
    • IBM Gen AI Engineering Professional Certificate - IBM
    • IBM Gen AI Engineering with LLM Professional Certificate - IBM
    • IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate - IBM
    • Advanced Machine Learning on Google Cloud Specialization - Google Cloud
    • Machine Learning on Google Cloud Specialization - Google Cloud
    • Production Machine Learning Systems - Google Cloud
    • Google Cloud Data Analytics Professional Certificate - Google Cloud
    • TensorFlow Developer Professional Certificate - Deeplearning.AI
    • Machine Learning Specialization Certificate - Stanford University
    • Google Advanced Analytics Professional Certificate - Google
    • Google Advanced Business Intelligence Professional Certificate - Google
    • Google Cyber Security Professional Certificate - Google
    • IBM Data Science Professional Certificate - IBM
    • Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate (Cont.) - Microsoft
    • i2 Analyst Certificate (Analyst Notebook, iBase, iBridge) - i2 (IBM)
    • Project Management - TADOC-UNODC
    • Money Laundering Investigations - TADOC-UNODC
    • Financial Crime Investigation and Money Laundering - NCIS (UK)
    • Counter Organized Crime Professional Certificate - (KOM)
    • TensorFlow (Deep Learning, AI)
    • PyTorch (Deep Learning, AI)
    • Keras (Deep Learning, AI)
    • Natural Language Processing (NLP)
    • Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)
    • XGBoost (Machine Learning, AI)
    • Scikit Learn (Machine Learning, AI)
    • Google Vertex AI
    • Google Big Query
    • ArcGUS Pro, QGIS, and ArcPy (Geospatial Intelligence)
    • Power BI (Business Intelligence), Advanced DAX
    • Python, Java, R
    • SQL
    • i2 Analyst Notebook
    • Nvivo
    • SPSS

    Undergraduate Courses

    • CIS 405: AI: Applications in Intelligence
    • RIAP 310: AI: Applications in Intelligence
    • RIAP 310: AI for National Security
    • RIAP 317: Data Visualization
    • RIAP 320: Advanced Crime Intelligence
    • RIAP 361: Foundations of Anti Money Laundering
    • RIAP 370: AML: Counter Terrorism Financing
    • RIAP 395: Geospatial Intelligence
    • RIAP 410: AI for Business and Financial Intelligence

    Graduate Courses

    • INTL 595: Geospatial Intelligence
    • INTL 605: Data Analytics in Private Sector
    • INTL 626: Financial Intelligence: AML/CFT
    • INTL 676: Research-Based Project
    • INTL 680: Thesis in Applied Intel
    • Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning (TensorFlow, Pytorch, Keras, Scikit Learn, XGBoost)
    • Geospatial Intelligence and Geospatial Data Science (with ArcGIS Pro, QGIS and ArcPy)
    • Financial Intelligence: AML, CFT, Sanctions, Proliferation, Fraud
    • Advanced Transaction Monitoring and Fraud Detection (with AI)
    • Advanced Business Intelligence (with AI and Power BI)
    • Ekici, Behsat & Hoffman Fred (Forthcoming) Fred, How Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) affected the Target Acquisition Capabilities of Autonomous Drones in the Russia-Ukraine War? (Peer Reviewed Article)
    • Hoffman Fred & Ekici, Behsat, Does the evolution of drone warfare in Ukraine constitute a military revolution? (Peer Reviewed Article)
    • Ekici, Behsat (Forthcoming) Financial Fortress, The Algorithmic Fortress: A Comprehensive Analysis of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Fraud Detection and Prevention (Peer Reviewed Article)
    • Ekici, Behsat, (Forthcoming) Forecasting the Stock Prices of FAANG Companies: A Comparison of Major Machine Learning and Deep Learning Algorithms, (Peer Reviewed Article) 
    • Ekici, B., & Tuzuner, M. (Forthcoming) Terrorism Financing Typologies: Comparison of PKK and ISIL in Turkey. Central European Journal of International and Security Studies.
    • Ekici, B. HANDBOOK of Counter-Terrorism Financing in Turkey (in Turkish). US Department of State. 2021. (650 pages).
    • Ekici, B. Why International Drug Control Failed in Afghanistan? Journal of Central Asian and Caucasian Studies. V.11, N22. July 2016.
    • Ekici, B. 2016. Uluslararası Uyuşturucuyla Mücadele Sistemi ve Türkiye, (Ed) Hakan Cem ÇETİN, Ahmet ÇELİK, Erkan SEZGİN) Uyuşturucuyla Mücadele Politikaları ve Yeni Trendler, Adalet Yayınevi, Ankara, 2016.
    • Ekici, B. Why Does the International Drug Control System Fail? All-Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace. V.5, N.2. July 2016.
    • Ekici, B. Türkiye’de Terörizmin Uyuşturucudan Finansmanı: 2000 yılı öncesi ve sonrasının Karşılaştırılması. Mülkiye İkstisadi ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Merkezi, Araştırma Raporu 11, 13 Nisan. 2015.
    • Ekici, B. International Drug Trafficking and National Security of Turkey. Journal of Politics and Law. Vol. 7. 2014.
    • Ekici, B., & Çoban, A. Afghan Heroin and Turkey: Ramifications of an International Security Threat. Turkish Studies. Turkish Studies, "15/2." June 2014.
    • Ekici, B. The Supply Dimension of Drugs (Drug Markets). (Ed) TUBIM, Turkish Drug Report 2013. KOM Publications. 2013.
    • Gokcegoz, F., & Ekici B. Drug Concealment Methods. KOM Publications. 2013. (Official Report).
    • Ekici, B., & Usta, E. Uluslararasi Uyusturucu Raporlari ve Turkiye. KOM Publications. 2013. (Book).
    • Ekici, B., & Unlu A. Ankara’s challenges: Increased Drug Trafficking From Iran. Middle East Forum Quarterly. Volume 20, Number 4. Fall 2013.
    • Ekici, B., & Ozbay S. Iranian Methamphetamine and Turkey: An Emerging Transnational Threat. Trends in Organized Crime. V.16, N.2. June 2013.
    • Ekici, B. Illicit Trans-border Trade between Iraq and Turkey in the post-Saddam Era. Journal of International Relations. V. 9, N. I & II. 2011.
    • Ekici, B. The African Transnational Threat to Turkey. African Security Review. Number 22/3. September 2013.
    • Ekici, B. & Unlu, A. The extend to which demographic characteristics determine international drug courier’ profile: a cross-sectional study in Istanbul. Trends in Organized Crime. DOI 10.1007. s12117-012-9152. 2012.
    • Ekici, B. Is Turkey Realigning? A three Dimensional Investigation of Turkish-Iranian Rapprochement” Lap & Lambert Academic Publishing, 2012. (Book).
    • Ekici, B., Williams P., & Akbulut A. The PKK and KDNs: cooperation, convergence or Conflict. (Ed) Strozier C. & Frank J. C. & Frank J. The PKK: Financial Sources, social and political dimensions. Saarbrücken VDM Verlag. 2011.
    • Ekici, B., & Demirci B.  Drug Markets.Turkish Drug Report 2011. TUBIM, Ankara, KOM Publications. 2011.
    • Ekici, B. Disintegration of the CFSP During the War in Iraq. TIPS Connections. Fall 2007, Issue 4. 2007.
    • Ekici, B., & Pek A. Narcoterrorism in Turkey: Financing of the PKK/KONGRA-GEL from Illicit Drug Business. (Ed) in NATO Science for Peace and Security Series 2007. 2007.
    • U.S. Department of State Research Grant on Counter-Terrorism Financing
    • Teaching Award, NATO Center of Excellence, Defense against Terrorism
    • Chairman, UNODC, Interagency Networking the Networks Meeting
    • Chairman, UNODC, 47th Sub-commission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East
    • Vice Chairman, UNODC, 46th Sub-commission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East
    • President’s Honors List, University of Pittsburgh
    • High Merit Fellowship Award, University of Pittsburgh
    • Teaching Award, TADOC-UNODC
    • Distinguished Achievement Awards, KOM and TNP
    • Teaching Award, NATO Partnership for Peace Training Center