Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

17 - 23 April 2024
(Issue 15)

Readers who encounter problems with the email version of the WIN can
view the latest web edition here.

Please send contributions and comments to: winseditor@afio.com.


CONTENTS


Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)



Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)



Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

(Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives)



Section IV - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

(All Categories)

  • Article: Biden signs FISA extension, ending fight over warrantless spying — temporarily - Washington Times, 21 Apr 24
  • Article: CIA director refuses to provide information on Spanish company’s espionage of Julian Assange - El Pais, 19 Apr 24
  • Article: FARRAH, the superstar satellite - The Space Review, 15 Apr 24
  • Article: CIA doubles down on see-no-Russian Havana syndrome spin - Washington Examiner, 16 Apr 24
  • Article: The Sympathizer Isn’t a True Story, but There Were Real Vietnam War Spies Like the Captain - Biography, 15 Apr 24
  • Article: Germany arrests 2 alleged Russian spies accused of scouting U.S. military facilities for sabotage - CBS News, 19 Apr 24
  • Article: Chinese spy allegations rattle Europe-China relations - Semafor, 22 Apr 24
  • Article: Israel’s Military Intelligence Chief Resigns Over Failure to Prevent Oct. 7 Attack - Time, 22 Apr 24

*The editor thanks the following contributors of content for this issue:

GR, LR, EB, KB, TJ


Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

True Intelligence Matters on Film: The Spy - Gideon Raff (2019)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

Infographic: Charted: Global Uranium Reserves, by Country - Visual Capitalist, 13 Feb 24

Walking Tours: "The Spies of Embassy Row" and "Spies of Georgetown" - Washington, DC. (Sundays, Dates/Times Vary)



Section VI - Obituaries and Classifieds

(Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

Obituaries

  • Ross Cowey, Decorated CIA Executive

    • Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

    • Call for papers: National Intelligence History Conference: "People in Intelligence" - Bletchley Park and GCHQ - 24 May Deadline.
    • Call for information: Seeking input and suggestions for a chapter on Counterintelligence for the second edition of the Oxford University Handbook of National Security Intelligence.
    • Call for information: Seeking information on Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit, OSS-CIA, 1941-1965.
    • Call for information: Seeking information on Peruvian communist terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path).
    • Seeking Interview Subjects: Seeking information on Czech-U.S. relations late 1970s and 1980s, StB’s techniques and effectiveness, exposition and expulsion of U.S. staff in Prague, Czech intel operatives on U.S. soil.
    • Seeking Interview Subjects: Current or former intelligence officers, analysts, and counterintelligence (CI) professionals with firsthand experience in dealing with Russian illegals to participate in confidential interview sessions as part of a PhD dissertation.
    • Call for Information: Swiss photographer Bruno Zehnder and research activity/death in Mirny Antarctica 1997 / info on climate between Russia and the CIA in the 19980s/90s regarding adhering to the scientific treaty and the race to be the first to breach Lake Vostok.
    • Call for Information: DIA officers VADM Eric Burkhalter and Colonel Roy Jonkers 1980 - 1985
    • Call for Information: University professor seeks information about POW camp in Ambon, 1942-45
    • Call for Interviews: Author of forthcoming book seeks conversation with intelligence officers who have worked on China during their career
    • Call for Information: CIA’s Office of Soviet Analysis (SOVA) 1981-1992
    • Call for Information: Al "Albert" Purdum, stationed at Arlington Hall 55, Defense Language School - Albanian 55-56, NSA Linguist, Sr. Cryptologist 57-95
    • Call For Articles: AFIO Journal, The Intelligencer

    Employment



    Section VII - Events

    Upcoming AFIO Events

    • Tuesday, 30 Apr 2024, 1130 (PT) - AFIO SF Chapter hears from LtCol Thomas Kulisz on "TikTok and China: National Security Threat or National Panic Attack?". - In Person, San Francisco, CA
    • Monday, 6 May 2024, noon CDT - in-person - AFIO San Antonio Chapter hears Brian Morra on "Able Archer" and a 1983 Soviet Nuclear War Crisis.
    • 30 July 24, 1900 (PT) - Former CIA Director General David Petraeus on challenges in Ukraine and the Middle East - In-Person, Yorba Linda, CA - AFIO Los Angeles Chapter; Dinner after presentation.

    Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

    See the AFIO Calendar of Events for scheduling further in the future.



    DISCLAIMER


    The Weekly Intelligence Notes include a wide range of articles and commentary to inform our readers. It also includes several paid advertisements. Views expressed in articles and advertising are those of the authors and advertisers; they do not reflect AFIO's support or endorsement. Notices about non-AFIO events do not reflect AFIO endorsement or recommendation.
    AFIO does not vet or endorse research inquiries, career announcements, or job offers. Reasonable-sounding inquiries and career offerings are published as a service to readers, who should exercise caution and good judgment when responding and independently verify the source before supplying resumes, career data, or personal information.

    		     


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    MORE FROM AFIO

    Released to members today...23 April 2024...

    Would a Victorious post-Ukraine Russia Eye the Baltics?


    Recorded 12 December 2023

    James Stejskal,
    Author, Military Historian, Conflict Archaeologist,
    author of "Dead Hand" on a victorious post-Ukraine Russia eyeing the Baltics

    Interview of Tuesday, 12 December 2023. James Stejskal, Author, Military Historian, Conflict Archaeologist, former CIA and Special Forces, on his book "Dead Hand" on a story of what happens after Russia has won the war in Ukraine and is eyeing the Baltics. As the world stands on the precipice of war, a legendary CIA Officer rushes to meet a spy deep in the Kremlin, on an operation where failure could mean nuclear Armageddon.
    Interviewer/host is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
    The interview runs 14 minutes and includes several Q&As.
    "Dead Hand" is available here.

    Access the James Stejskal video interview here or click above image.

    If you missed the most recent installment in The OSS Society's "Oh So Social" Conversation Series on April 3rd, when Dr. Mike Vickers interviewed LTG Charles Cleveland, USA (Ret.) about his RAND report, "The American Way of Irregular War: An Analytical Memoir," watch it here.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    BOOK REVIEWERS WANTED

    With the growth in intelligence-related books, AFIO seeks volunteers who are willing to review new releases. We are looking for short reviews (500 words) for inclusion in the WIN. The make-up of AFIO's membership puts us in a position to offer unique reviews in the intelligence studies world, matching backgrounds with subject matter. If interested, please contact the WIN editor at winseditor@afio.com


    Special Walking Tours
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    New 2024 Dates


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    The Podcast


    LATEST PODCAST: In this episode, Liza Mundy, award-winning journalist and New York Times-bestselling author of five books; Linda Millis, Former Senior CIA, NSA, and ODNI Executive, Assistant Professor, Marymount University / AFIO Board Member, and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations, discuss Liza's latest book "The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA."
    The interview runs 24 minutes and includes several Q&As.
    The Sisterhood is available here.
    Her earlier book, Code Girls, is available here.

    Podcast here.

    Are you too busy to watch an entire AFIO Now episode on YouTube? Would you rather listen in your car or while accomplishing other tasks? You can download or stream episodes on any of the 8 podcasting platforms that host AFIO Now. Search for 'AFIO Podcast' for a selection of the interviews above (public released ones) on:

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    The Archive

    AFIO Now Video Interviews and Podcasts in 2023 and 2024 are sponsored by
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    Click here to watch interviews in the AFIO Now series released in 2024.
    View interviews from 2020 to 2023 here.
    Watch public-release interviews on our YouTube channel or listen to them in podcast form at the links below.

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    Section I - CURRENTS

    (Recent Events, Developments, Highlights)

    House committee finds CIA at fault in investigation on sexual assaults - Politico, 22 Apr 24

    The House intelligence committee has found that the CIA failed to properly deal with sexual assault among employees in its ranks, according to a copy of the investigation’s final report obtained by POLITICO. In its hardest-hitting finding, the bipartisan report said there was “little to no accountability or punishment for confirmed perpetrators” and that there was “confusion and disorder” in the process of reporting such assaults. The committee started its inquiry in January 2023 after a female CIA employee alleged that she had been physically attacked and sexually assaulted by a fellow officer at CIA headquarters. POLITICO, which revealed the investigation last April, reported that the agency had not punished a male colleague who had tried to forcibly kiss her repeatedly and that the agency did nothing when she reported the incident. (Read more here.)

    Pentagon Aims to Ease Classification Rules in Military Space Programs - Clearance Jobs, 16 Apr 24

    Overclassification is the number one culprit limiting our ability to conduct operational cooperation in space with our allies, says, the top space policy official, at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense John F. Plumb during a speaking engagement as the Keynote for the 2024 Space Policy Symposium. Plumb was sworn in as the assistant secretary of Defense for Space Policy, in March of 2022, right after Russia invaded Ukraine. “The conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated to the entire world the essential role of space in modern warfare,” said Plumb. “Russia and China both know that space is essential to the US way of war, and they have developed a variety of means to attack our satellites. The United States Department of Defense is focused on China as our pacing challenge; space is both essential to deterring a potential conflict with China and prevailing if deterrence fails.” (Read more here.)

    Former British spy in IRA who allegedly admitted murder will not be prosecuted - The Guardian, 21 Apr 24

    Victims’ families have reacted with anger after it emerged that a former British double agent in the IRA who allegedly admitted to murder while giving training presentations to members of the security services will not be prosecuted. The case had emerged during an investigation by officers into the activities of the British spy known as Stakeknife and a criminal file was passed to the prosecution service of Northern Ireland. According to the officers, the agent, who is not Stakeknife, had assisted the British security forces by giving lectures to “new agent handlers and other security force personnel” after being resettled outside Northern Ireland. The training presentations included alleged admissions to serious criminal offences, including murder, but the British agent was not investigated or charged at the time for any crime. (Read more here.)

    NSA Unveils New Guidelines for Safe AI Deployment in Defense Sector - Clearance Jobs, 17 Apr 24

    In a very short time, artificial intelligence (AI) has gone from being little more than a buzzword of science fiction to a widely employed technology that could impact the world in still unforeseen ways. It offers countless opportunities but also poses significant threats. To ensure the safe use of AI, the National Security Agency’s (NSA’s) Artificial Intelligence Security Center (AISC) – working with several additional U.S. and foreign agencies – this week released a Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI) intended to support National Security System owners and Defense Industrial Base companies that will be deploying and operating AI systems designed and developed by an external entity. (Full article here.)

    Chinese Spies Targeting Dutch Tech: Intelligence Agency - Asia Financial, 18 Apr 24

    Chinese spies have targeted the Dutch chip, aerospace and maritime industries, the country’s military intelligence agency claims, in a bid to boost its military power. The MIVD said, in its annual report published on Thursday, that China is investing heavily in the collection of western knowledge and technical capabilities. “China wants to be independent from western knowledge and technology [and] wants to build a military that can match any other,” the agency claimed. “To do so, it needs advanced technology it doesn’t yet fully possess. It tries to get this abroad, using legal means such as research and investments, but also through its intelligence agencies.” Dutch intelligence agencies first publicly attributed cyber espionage to China in February, when they said state-backed cyber spies had gained access to a Dutch military network last year. (Full article here.)

    Big Tech Says Spy Bill Turns Its Workers Into Informants - Wired, 17 Apr 24

    A trade organization representing some of the world’s largest information technology companies—Google, Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft among them—say its members are voicing strong opposition to ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to dramatically expand a key US government surveillance authority. The US Senate is poised to vote Thursday on legislation that would extend a global wiretap program authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Passed by the House of Representatives last week, a provision contained in the bill—known as the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA)—threatens to significantly expand the scope of the spy program, helping the government to compel the assistance of whole new categories of businesses. (Full article here.)

    Prez Xi launches Information Support Force, a new wing of Chinese military - Business Standard, 20 Apr 24

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday launched an Information Support Force, a new wing of the People's Liberation Army, which he said will be a strategic branch, a key pillar and a vital power in modern warfare for the world's largest military. Xi, 71, who also heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military, besides heading the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Presidency, said that the establishment of the Information Support Force (ISF) is a major decision made by the CPC and the CMC in light of the overall need of building a strong military. (Read here.)

    Microsoft finds Russian influence operations targeting U.S. election have begun - Reuters, 17 Apr 24

    Microsoft said on Wednesday that Russian online campaigns to influence the upcoming U.S. presidential election kicked into gear over the past 45 days, but at a slower pace than in past elections. Russia-linked accounts are disseminating divisive content aimed at U.S. audiences, including criticising American support of Ukraine in its war with Russia, researchers at the tech giant said in a report. The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment, but the Kremlin said last month it would not meddle in the November U.S. election. It also dismissed U.S. allegations that it orchestrated campaigns to sway the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections. (Full article here.)

    Paris tests AI surveillance ahead of Olympics - Deutsche Welle, 19 Apr 24

    Police in the French capital Paris have given rail company SNCF and transport operator RATP authorization to conduct surveillance tests at four different train stations near two large events this weekend as a way to fine-tune their abilities ahead of this summer's Olympics. The companies will have access to images from more than 100 cameras. Those images will then be analyzed using artificial intelligence to run "intelligent and algorithm-based technology" that will surveil crowds attending a pop concert by the Black-Eyed Peas as well as a soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyon. (Full article here.)

    Five Eyes Agencies Release New AI Security Guidance - Security Week, 18 Apr 24

    Organizations looking for guidance and recommendations on deploying and operating externally developed artificial intelligence systems should check out a cybersecurity information sheet authored by government agencies from the Five Eyes countries. The joint guidance, announced this week, expands on previous work and outlines methodologies for protecting data and AI systems. While the guidance is intended for national security purposes, the information can be used by any organization and it can be particularly useful to those with high-risk/high-value environments. The document focuses on securing the deployment environment, continuously protecting the AI system, and secure AI operation and maintenance. Securing the deployment environment includes managing environment governance, ensuring a robust architecture, hardening configurations, and protecting the deployment network from threats. (Full article here.)

    Russian espionage efforts in 2023 posed huge threat to region: Romanian defence report - Euractive, 16 Apr 24

    Russia was the “principal political and military actor” involved in all security matters in the region bordering Ukraine, with attempts by Russian espionage to gather information from defence and security institutions, infiltrate critical communication and information infrastructures, and weaken trust in international and national institutions in Romania, a report by the Supreme Council for National Defence for 2023 reads. The report, seen by Euractiv, which was submitted by President Klaus Iohannis to parliament on Tuesday, outlines the security challenges Romania faced that year. “The Russian Federation was the main political and military actor involved in all security matters in the region,” as military challenges continued to arise from Moscow’s efforts to exert influence over states in the region, the document reads. (Full article here.)

    Swiss intelligence: “At least a third of Russian diplomats are spies” - Nova News, 18 Apr 24

    At least a third of the approximately 220 Russian diplomats accredited in Switzerland, in the Bern and Geneva offices, are spies for the secret services of Moscow. This is what the Confederal Intelligence Service (DNB), the Swiss intelligence agency, states in its report on national security for 2023. The document reads: "Throughout Europe, Switzerland is among the states where Russian agents under diplomatic coverage are more active, among other things due to its role as a country that hosts international organizations". Interviewed by the newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, the DNB highlighted that Moscow's secret services represent the greatest current espionage threat, both from cyber and human sources. The service added that Russian diplomatic missions in Switzerland are used “mainly for these activities.” However, neither the DNB nor the Foreign Ministry in Bern responded when asked whether the Swiss Confederation has expelled Russian spies in the last two years. (Full article here.)

    Counterespionage Corner - Recent Arrests, Convictions, Expulsions, and more...

    Cyberespionage Collection - Newly Identified Actors and Operations, Countermeasures, Policy, other...



    Section II - DEEP DIVES

    (Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

    The Silent Hand: Russian Intelligence Activities in Europe - Grey Dynamics, 17 Apr 24

    Head of MI5, Ken McCallum, disclosed that European nations have expelled over 400 undeclared Russian intelligence officers since the invasion of Ukraine. Countries like France, Belgium, and Germany have also notably taken significant action. Additionally, the Finnish intelligence and security service SUPO has highlighted the impact of these expulsions. They noted that visa refusals for replacements have weakened Moscow’s intelligence presence in the Nordic region. On 4 April, Politico reported that the Russian SVR and GRU are attempting to rebuild their human espionage networks, particularly focusing on military aid in Ukraine. Russia’s espionage activities in Europe have reached unprecedented levels, marked by covert operations and the dissemination of sensitive information, including leaked phone conversations. On 7 March, RUSI reported that the magnitude of Russian infiltration is soaring to Cold War-era levels, with an extensive network penetrating European nations since the Ukrainian invasion [Source]. Despite setbacks in early 2022, Russia’s intelligence agencies have regrouped, employing new tactics such as using proxy actors and recruiting agents with legitimate cover stories. (Full report here.)

    The Legal Case for Victims of Havana Syndrome with Mark S. Zaid (55 mins) - Secrets and Spies Podcast, 12 Apr 24

    On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by national security Lawyer Mark S. Zaid. They discuss the legal case for the victims of the Anomalous Health Incidents, more popularly known as Havana Syndrome. Mark discusses the US government's denial and how that affects his clients, who have had their lives disrupted by these alleged attacks. (Listen here.)

    Spy scandal revives fears of Austrian exposure to Russia - BBC, 18 Apr 24

    It is being called Austria's biggest espionage scandal for decades, which began with the arrest of a former domestic security official and has led to a raft of allegations and accusations. Egisto Ott, 61, was detained at the end of March on suspicion of spying for Russia. According to an 86-page Austrian police warrant, obtained by Austrian and German media, Mr Ott is suspected of passing information to Jan Marsalek, the fugitive executive of collapsed German payments firm Wirecard. Mr Marsalek, 44 and also an Austrian citizen, is wanted by German police for alleged fraud and is currently believed to be in Moscow, having fled via Austria in 2020. A recent report by a group of European newspapers said he was recruited by Russian agents in 2014. (Access here.)

    CIA's Burns Spurs Spy Agencies to Embrace Book Learning, Data Extraction - Spy Talk, 15 Apr 24

    Although largely overlooked in spy thrillers, Open Source Intelligence, or OSINT—vacuuming up publicly available reports, books, and data—remains an enduring and high value component of any spy organization. Perhaps we can blame James Bond, who only read The Times of London, for OSINT’s perceived second class standing among the intelligence disciplines. Though to be fair, the peripatetic 1970s-era conspiracy spectacle Three Days of the Condor, despite starring a young and bookish Robert Redford, clearly did little to burnish the reputation of open source. (Full report here.)

    Putin's Perfect Spy - Kyiv Post, 15 Apr 2024

    Europe’s biggest fraud suddenly turned into its biggest espionage scandal. A sensational story in the Financial Times reads like a John Le Carre thriller but isn’t fiction. Investigators have discovered that years ago Russia infiltrated Europe’s financial, political, NATO, police, and military systems. And at the center of this scheme was a middle-aged, Austrian-born Czech named Jan Marsalek who disappeared in 2020 after being charged with fraud and embezzlement involving Germany’s $2-billion Wirecard scandal. Now, four years later, he is also accused of obtaining and selling secrets to the Russians as he rose to the position of Chief Operating Officer of the German payments processing giant. He commingled his crimes. He sold the Kremlin access to Wirecard’s confidential data base containing financial information about millions of people. He embezzled funds and also used his company’s transactions business to bribe officials and finance Russian undercover operations and crimes. “Marsalek used compromised intelligence officials in Vienna to spy on European citizens and plot break-ins and assassinations by elite Russian hit squads,” wrote FinTimes’ reporter Sam Jones. (Full report here.)

    NSA’s transformation from secret agency to public cybercrime warrior - Federal Times, 16 Apr 2024

    The National Security Agency, once so secretive that its acronym NSA was jokingly referred to by intelligence insiders as “No Such Agency,” is out of the shadows. NSA’s Cybersecurity Director Rob Joyce even appeared recently at New York City’s International Conference on Cyber Security to warn about the new dangers AI will raise as an enabler of increasingly sophisticated espionage, terrorist attacks and criminal activity. Joyce and other NSA leaders now regularly speak in public, unclassified forums about the NSA’s offensive and defensive cyber missions. Organizationally, NSA now collaborates openly with other agencies in defense, law enforcement, and homeland security to openly discuss foreign efforts to infiltrate American and allied information networks, threaten our critical infrastructure, and disrupt our supply chains. (Full report here.)

    The Latest from International Spy Museum Historian Andrew Hammond, PhD.

    Spycast is the official podcast of the International Spy Museum and hosts interviews with intelligence experts on matters of HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT, OSINT, and GEOINT. Spycast is hosted by historian Andrew Hammond, PhD.

    16 Apr | “The Foundations of American Intelligence in WWI” – with Mark Stout Mark Stout joins Andrew to discuss his new book, World War I and the Foundations of American Intelligence. Mark Stout is a former intelligence analyst and former SPY Historian. 


    Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

    (Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives)


    The Latest Insights from Former CIA Acting Deputy Director for Operations Jack Devine.

    In Other News The proprietary analytic newsletter crafted for The Arkin Group's private clients by former CIA Acting Deputy Director for Operations Jack Devine.

    17 Apr | Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel didn’t settle the score, but it shined light on how to best defend against future threats worldwide. Although Iran and Israel have been fighting a shadow war for decades, Iran has traditionally relied on its proxies like Hezbollah to conduct physical assaults on Israel. But on April 13, in what was a significant escalation, Iran shifted course and launched hundreds of drones and missiles directly at Israel. According to Iranian officials, the attack was payback for the recent Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consular building in Syria that killed a handful of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) members along with high-ranking Iranian Brigadier General Zahedi - who reportedly played a role in planning the October 7 attack. (Full report here.)


    Daily Analysis of Security Issues and Geopolitical Trends

    Intel Brief The Soufan Center's flagship, daily analytical product focused on complex security issues and geopolitical trends that may shape regional or international affairs. The Soufan Center was founded by former FBI Special Agent and Soufan Group CEO Ali Soufan.

    23 Apr | Erdogan Visits Iraq to Discuss Security, Trade, Water, and Energy Issues

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Iraq yesterday, the first time the Turkish leader has made the trip in more than a decade. Erdogan last visited Iraq in 2011, when he was the prime minister of Türkiye. A host of issues are on the agenda for Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, including discussions related to counterterrorism, trade, water, and energy. During the visit, Erdogan also met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid. In a joint news conference, Erdogan said: “I believe that my visit and the agreements just signed will constitute a new turning point in Türkiye-Iraq relations.” The visit is a step forward in resetting the bilateral relationship between Ankara and Baghdad, enshrined with a strategic framework agreement that covers the litany of issues of mutual concern. In all, more than twenty separate memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed during the visit, including cooperation on agriculture, health, and education. Iraqi Government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi agreed with Erdogan's assessment, commenting that Erdogan's trip to Iraq represents “a major starting point in Iraq-Turkish relations.”

    22 Apr | Iran’s Gains and Setbacks from Attack on Israel

    19 Apr | 29th Anniversary of Oklahoma City Bombing a Painful Reminder of the Threat Posed by Domestic Terrorism

    18 Apr | Climate and Energy Policy Hot Topics Amongst Year of Global Elections

    17 Apr | Will the EU’s New Pact on Migration Temper a Rising Far-Right?



    Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell and former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andy Makridis on critical security challenges.

    Intelligence Matters: The Relaunch is a Beacon Global Strategies podcast.

    16 Apr | ISIS-K: Former CIA Executive Dave Pitts Michael talks to Former Assistant Director of CIA for South and Central Asia Dave Pitts about the threat of ISIS-K. Before retiring in October, Pitts was among the last American officials on the ground during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. He discusses the growing threat of ISIS-K, which has been operating in the country, and around the region. Michael and Dave also reflect on the state of Al-Qaeda.



    Tipping Off Our Enemies to Terrorist Attacks (38 mins) with former CIA Ops Officer and Base Chief Laura Thomas - Spycast Podcast, 18 Apr 24

    Last month’s spectacular terrorist attack on a concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, which left 144 people dead, was quickly followed by startling news that US intelligence had warned the Russians about the impending assault. When the Kremlin said the warnings hadn’t been specific, moreover, US officials pushed back, saying, in effect, “Oh yes they were,” and added details to its rejoinder. Likewise, it turned out that back in January, US intelligence had warned Iran about an impending Islamic State terrorist attack at a gathering to honor its fallen Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani, who had been killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad. The revelations that our spy services had actually warned two of our greatest mortal enemies astounded many people and triggered a lot of acidic commentary, confusion and the inevitable conspiracy theories on social media. Today’s guest, former CIA case officer and base chief Laura Thomas, who held a number of senior intelligence positions during her nearly 16 years of government service, says those actions followed a standard practice in American intelligence. It’s called “a duty to warn.” And she’s here to explain how that seemingly esoteric, even confounding, practice is not only a staple of the spy world—at least on the American side—but it has some espionage benefits as well. (Access here.)

    STEM in the IC (24 mins) with former DIA Officer Cortney Weinbaum - INSA's Intelligence Career Conversations Podcast, 15 Apr 24

    On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly is joined by Cortney Weinbaum, Senior National Security Researcher, RAND Corporation. Tune in to hear Ms. Weinbaum discuss her career journey from DIA to RAND Corp., the significance of a STEM degree, passion for her work, challenges facing the IC workforce...and more! (Access here.)

    Former CIA Systems Engineer Turned Luxury Event Entrepreneur Rises in Customized Brand Experience Market with Raven White - Black Enterprise, 20 Apr 24

    The global market for corporate bespoke brand activations is projected to reach $526.1 billion by 203, offering a promising opportunity for entrepreneurs specializing in luxury event production and high-end lifestyle experiences. Luxury brand activations transcend extravagant budgets and lavish decor, reflecting a sector undergoing transformative growth on a global scale. These exclusive events serve individuals searching for meticulously tailored experiences that go beyond mere financial means, which they can then share with their clientele. According to Bizzabo’s research, over 70% of events industry professionals view in-person events as essential components of their marketing efforts. Clients are increasingly demanding exceptional experiences and personalized strategies that align with their preferences, aiming to achieve outcomes that enhance brand visibility and drive sales. (Read here.)

    Prime Minister Kishida’s Successful Visit – A Time to Reflect by former CIA Executive Ambassador Joseph DeTrani - The Cipher Brief, 17 Apr 24

    The state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was a timely reminder, by one of our closest allies, that the tense situation in East Asia will require even greater U.S. global leadership. Mr. Kishida, in his address to the joint session of Congress, said it clearly: “The leadership of the U.S. is indispensable. Without U.S. support, how long before the hopes of Ukraine would collapse under the onslaught from Moscow? Without the presence of the U.S., how long before the Indo-Pacific would face even harsher realities? Ukraine of today may be East Asia of tomorrow.” Mr. Kishida was concerned about North Korea’s nuclear program and their weapons support to Russia for the war in Ukraine. He also said: “China’s current external stance and military actions present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge, not only to the peace and security of Japan but to the peace and stability of the international community at large.” (Read here.)

    Steel Scale (51 mins) with former NSA Director of Information Assurance Deborah Plunkett - Iron Butterfly Podcast, 16 Apr 24

    On this episode we are joined by the amazing Debora Plunkett, former Director of Information Assurance at the National Security Agency (NSA). Tune in to hear Debora discuss her illustrious career within the NSA, her time serving on the National Security Council, and what it was like working as CSI before CSI was cool. (Listen here.)

    Iran Downplays Israel's Retaliation and North Korea Pursues Bioweapons for Germ Warfare (11 mins) by former CIA Ops Officer Kevin Baker - President's Daily Brief Podcast, 19 Apr 24

    In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: We’ll bring you the latest updates regarding Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran as leaders in Tehran attempt to downplay the incident; We’ll discuss a U.S. State Department report that reveals North Korea is producing biological weapons, including weaponized viruses and bacteria, as part of the regime’s secretive germ warfare program. (Listen here.)

    A Confident Putin Has Many in Europe Frightened by former CIA Acting Director John McLaughlin - The Cipher Brief, 17 Apr 24

    The dynamics of the Ukraine war are changing rapidly, with consequences that are profound and global. The battlefield is the most obvious area of change; it is now clear that Russia has learned enough from past errors to gain momentum and that Ukraine, which has gone without substantial U.S. aid for six months, is at much greater risk of defeat. Ukraine has lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25, acknowledging a growing shortage of troops, but its most desperate needs are for artillery ammunition and air defense. The top U.S. commander in Europe estimates that Russia will have a 10-to-1 advantage in artillery shells “within weeks.” Meanwhile, Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot and other air defense systems is leaving major cities including Kharkiv and Odesa open to regular attack, including by Russian “glide’ bombs” that are particularly difficult to intercept. Against this backdrop, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said for the first time that Ukraine could “lose the war” if U.S. aid remains stalled. (Listen here.)




    Section IV - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

    (All Categories)

    Article: Biden signs FISA extension, ending fight over warrantless spying — temporarily - Washington Times, 21 Apr 24

    The intelligence community won an expansion of snooping powers from Congress, but opponents cut the authority to two years, meaning Capitol Hill will revisit the fight much sooner than anticipated. President Biden signed the expansion into law Saturday, capping an intense six-month fight over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to scoop up and search through communications of foreign targets — including communications with Americans and others inside the U.S. — without a warrant. The bill cleared the Senate on a bipartisan 60-34 vote late Friday, just hours before the former authority expired and after the spying tool’s supporters shot down attempts to add a warrant requirement and roll back the bill’s new reach, which could compel data centers to cooperate in turning over information that crosses their servers. (Read full report here.)

    Article: CIA director refuses to provide information on Spanish company’s espionage of Julian Assange - El Pais, 19 Apr 24

    CIA Director William J. Burns has invoked the National Security Act of 1947 and the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to refuse to provide any information to a New York court judge investigating how a Spanish company spied on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his stay at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. In an eight-page letter sent to Judge John G. Koeltl, Burns claims that the information could cause “serious damage to the national security of the United States.” He further cites the CIA’s statutory privileges “to protect intelligence sources, methods and activities” at issue in the case. The New York judge ruled last December that the Spanish company UC Global S. L and the CIA violated the rights and privacy of the U.S. citizens who visited Assange during his stay at the Ecuadorian embassy — rights protected by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. (Read full report here.)

    Article: FARRAH, the superstar satellite - The Space Review, 15 Apr 24

    The Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located near Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, DC, has a large viewing gallery overlooking its restoration hangar. Whereas some museum artifacts spend years in the restoration hangar, many others cycle through quickly for a cleaning and minor repair work before returning to storage or display. Recently a surprising one showed up in the hangar, a half-scale model of a formerly top-secret signals intelligence satellite from the Cold War known as FARRAH. FARRAH was named after actress Farrah Fawcett, who rocketed to fame in the late 1970s after appearing on a poster in a swimsuit and then being cast as one of the angels in the popular TV show “Charlie’s Angels.” Unlike Farrah Fawcett, whose poster reportedly sold six million copies, no previous images of a FARRAH satellite have been released, so this was the satellite’s first public, albeit low-key, debut, 42 years after it was launched. (Read full report here.)

    Article: CIA doubles down on see-no-Russian Havana syndrome spin - Washington Examiner, 16 Apr 24

    That’s the only logical conclusion we can make from the short internal memo CIA Director Bill Burns sent to his workforce on Monday. In that memo, Burns affirmed the agency’s support for its prior assessment on Havana syndrome, or what the intelligence community refers to as “Anomalous Health Incidents.” Namely, that Havana syndrome is highly unlikely to be the result of a foreign actor. This matters because Havana syndrome has seen hundreds of U.S. military and government officials complain of strange, unexplained ailments while serving at home and abroad. Symptoms include dizziness, extreme pressure in the head, and unsteady gait. Some suspected victims now suffer serious, lifelong ailments. Others have even died prematurely. And while a large number of Havana syndrome reportees are very likely suffering from prior-undiagnosed or unrelated medical ailments, there is very significant evidence of a hostile Russian connection to dozens of other reports. (Read more here.)

    Article: The Sympathizer Isn’t a True Story, but There Were Real Vietnam War Spies Like the Captain - Biography, 15 Apr 24

    A Vietnam War spy grapples with his new life as a refugee and the lingering perils of his profession in the upcoming espionage series The Sympathizer. The show follows the titular mole, a half-Vietnamese and half-French man known simply as the Captain, who works as a North Vietnamese spy with relationships on both sides during the war. When its conclusion forces him to relocate to the United States, the Captain must continue to maintain a dual life. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2015 novel of the same name, the seven-episode limited series began April 14 on HBO and its streaming service, Max. It stars Hoa Xuande as the Captain alongside Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr. and Emmy nominee Sandra Oh in supporting roles. (Read more here.)

    Article: Germany arrests 2 alleged Russian spies accused of scouting U.S. military facilities for sabotage - CBS News, 19 Apr 24

    German authorities say they have arrested two people suspected of spying for Russia. The suspects, identified as German-Russian nationals, are accused of scouting targets for potential attacks, including U.S. military facilities in Germany, the Federal Public Prosecutor General for Karlsruhe said in a statement released Thursday. The arrests, made by police in the Bavarian town of Bayreuth, come amid high tension between Russia and the West, more than two years after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The alleged spies' stand accused by Germany of working to undermine the military support provided to Ukraine by Germany. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Chinese spy allegations rattle Europe-China relations - Semafor, 22 Apr 24

    The U.K. and Germany have charged five people suspected of being Chinese spies on Monday. Prosecutors in Berlin charged three people for allegedly handing over technologies with potential military purposes to Chinese intelligence. All three were accused of exporting a special laser without authorization to China, and two of the three — a married couple — were also accused of helping a Chinese contractor partner with a German university to conduct research on machine parts that could be used to build powerful marine engines. In the U.K., police announced charges against two men — one of whom was a former high-profile researcher for the Conservative Party — for providing “prejudicial information” to China. The two men were arrested last year but released on bail, pending charges. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Israel’s Military Intelligence Chief Resigns Over Failure to Prevent Oct. 7 Attack - Time, 22 Apr 24

    The head of Israel’s military intelligence directorate resigned on Monday over the failures surrounding Hamas’ unprecedented Oct. 7 attack, the military said, becoming the first senior figure to step down over his role in the deadliest assault in Israel’s history. Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva’s resignation sets the stage for what’s expected to be more fallout from Israel’s top security brass over Hamas’ attack, when militants blasted through Israel’s border defenses, rampaged through Israeli communities unchallenged for hours and killed 1,200 people, most civilians, while taking roughly 250 hostages into Gaza. That attack set off the war against Hamas in Gaza, now in its seventh month. (Read full report here.)



    Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

    Books — Forthcoming, Newly Released, Overlooked


    The Lifting the Fog: The Secret History of the Dutch Defense Intelligence and Security Service (1912-2022)
    by Bob de Graaf
    (Rowman and Littlefield, 07 May 24)

    Lifting the Fog: The Secret History of the Dutch Defense Intelligence and Security Service (1912-2022) is unique as a general body of knowledge about the history of the Dutch intelligence and security services since 1913. The chapters alternate between a general historical overview and a number of case studies spread out over the more-than-a-century long history that taken together give a good insight into the main functions of a middle-size military intelligence service as The Netherlands has known. The MIVD is giving the author access to the archives of the MIVD and its predecessors, which normally are closed to outsiders.

    Order book here.



    Agents of Influence: Britain’s Secret Intelligence War Against the IRA
    by Aaron Edwards
    (Merrion, 29 Apr 21)

    Recruited by British Intelligence to infiltrate the IRA and Sinn Féin during the height of the Northern Ireland Troubles, they were ‘agents of influence’. With codenames like INFLICTION, STAKEKNIFE, 3007 and CAROL, these spies played a pivotal role in the fight against Irish republicanism. Now, for the first time, some of these agents have emerged from the shadows to tell their compelling stories. Agents of Influence takes you behind the scenes of the secret intelligence war which helped bring the IRA’s armed struggle to an end. Historian Aaron Edwards, the critically acclaimed author of UVF: Behind the Mask, explains how the IRA was penetrated by British agents, with explosive new revelations about the hidden agendas of prominent republicans like Martin McGuinness and Freddie Scappaticci and lesser-known ones like Joe Haughey and John Joe Magee. Bringing to light recently declassified TOP SECRET documents and the first-hand testimonies of agents and their handlers, Edwards reveals how British Intelligence gained extraordinary access to the IRA’s inner circle and manipulated them into engaging with the peace process. With new insights into the spy masters behind the scenes, their strategies and tactics, and operations in Europe, the United States and beyond, Agents of Influence offers a rare and shocking glimpse into betrayal at the heart of Irish republicanism during the vicious decades of the Troubles.

    Purchase book here.


    Spying in America in the Post 9/11 World: Domestic Threat and the Need for Change
    by Ronald A. Marks
    (Praeger, 02 Nov 10)

    In the United States, there are a staggering number of agents of the CIA, FBI, and state, local, and tribal police, all authorized and empowered to collect intelligence. But is there a way to use these vast resources to gather intelligence in a socially tolerable fashion and still maintain our cherished civil liberties? This book presents a thorough investigation of intelligence collection in the United States that examines the delicate balance of civil liberties with the effectiveness of intelligence collection. It contains a history of domestic intelligence in America, a description of the various threats against our nation, and a discussion of the complexities of deciding what kind of information needs to be collected― and against whom. The conclusion succinctly states the author's opinions on what needs to be done to best address the issue.

    Order book here.


    True Intelligence Matters on Film - The Spy - Gideon Raaf (2019)

    Israel, 1959. The Mossad are desperate to embed a spy in Syria and select Eli Cohen, an unassuming yet fervently patriotic accountant. After training he assumes the identity of a Syrian national living in Argentina and uses this as a means to gain entry into Syria. Netflix series staring Sacha Baron Cohen.

    More on this based-on-true-events production here.





    Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

    Infographic: Charted: Global Uranium Reserves, by Country - Visual Capitalist, 13 Feb 24

    There can be a tendency to believe that uranium deposits are scarce from the critical role it plays in generating nuclear energy, along with all the costs and consequences related to the field. But uranium is actually fairly plentiful: it’s more abundant than gold and silver, for example, and about as present as tin in the Earth’s crust. We visualize the distribution of the world’s uranium resources by country, as of 2021. Figures come from the World Nuclear Association, last updated on August 2023. (View graphic here.)

    Walking Tours - "Spies of Embassy Row" and "Spies of Georgetown" - Washington, DC - Sundays (Dates/Times Vary)

    Former intelligence officers guide visitors on two morning and afternoon espionage-themed walking tours: "Spies of Embassy Row" and "Spies of Georgetown." For more information and booking, click here or contact rosanna@spyher.co



    Section VI - Obituaries and Classifieds

    (Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

    Obituaries

    Ross Cowey — Decorated CIA Executive

    Ross Edwin Cowey, age 89, passed away on April 15, 2024 in Bethesda, Maryland, of complications from pneumonia. He was born and raised in Middletown, Rhode Island. He received his B.A. from Brown University and M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. He served four years in the Navy, two on the aircraft carrier USS Leyte. Mr. Cowey began his intelligence career in 1963 as a military and current intelligence analyst with the CIA, producing reports on Soviet military activity in Cuba and on the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the island in the wake of the missile crisis of October 1962. Later, in various CIA positions, and as Director of the Office of Strategic Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, he served as a behind-the-scenes advisor to negotiations which led to the 1971 Seabed Treaty and to discussions which culminated in the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaties (SALT) with the former Soviet Union, signed in 1972 and 1979. From 1972 to 1974 Mr. Cowey was assigned as liaison officer with British military intelligence in London, U.K. At the time of his retirement in 1990 he was executive assistant to the Executive Director of the CIA. He received the Agency's Career Intelligence Medal.



    Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

    • Call for papers: National Intelligence History Conference: "People in Intelligence" - Bletchley Park and GCHQ - 24 May Deadline. The theme of the 2024 conference is ‘People in Intelligence’. The call for papers deadline is 24 May 2024 and the programme will be published in July 2024. Topics presented at the conference may include the history of intelligence organisations, personal stories, biographies, cryptography and cryptanalysis throughout history, representations of intelligence in popular culture, human intelligence and espionage. Delegates will enjoy three days of panel discussions, plenary lectures, poster displays, networking opportunities and free access to the Bletchley Park heritage site and facilities. Booking for the conference (3-day or 1-day tickets available) opens 1 July 2024. Conference runs 20-22 November 2024. More information here.
    • Call for information: Paul Redmond requests members’ input and suggestions for a chapter that he will be writing on Counterintelligence for the second edition of the Oxford University Handbook of National Security Intelligence (last edition published in 2010). Tentative Title: Challenges to Counterintelligence in 21st Century United States. Some examples of possible topics: Post- Ames reforms in CIA; DNI's NCIX/NCSC and its expansion into security role; leakers as a new threat; post-Cold-War cultural changes in the United States relating to USG CI and Security; post-911 concentration on terrorism perhaps at expense of CI; cyber threat from outside, cyber threat from inside (systems administrators); impacts of policy changes, such as transfer of some of CIA personnel data to OPM; impact/implications of DNI-imposed policy of “obligation to provide;” lessons learned and implemented from espionage/leak cases; impact/implementation of DNI promulgated “Insider Threat” policy; implementation by succeeding administrations of Presidential Decision Directives; effect of Congressional oversight on USG counterintelligence; impact of enhanced reporting requirements on contractors and contract employees; overall impact of the Internet and digital technologies on the CI craft; and impact of post-Cold war geopolitics on counterintelligence; impact of CIA involvement in military activities on CI; Attitudes of senior national security agencies management on CI. Published materials will be precleared with CIA's PCRB. Contact Paul Redmond at pjr@redmondfamily.net or 202-288-0671.
    • Call for information: In search of information on the career of my grandmother, Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit, at OSS-CIA, 1941-1965. She worked mostly in the Washington, DC office except for 1963-1965 in Miami during the Cuban crisis. Believed to have been forging documents during WWII and did some anti-communist research in the 1950s regarding Albania. She also worked on clothing disguises and “pocket litter”. I have seen her personnel file for OSS, which has only the first 10 months of her employment beginning as a gs4 assistant in the security office doing applicant background checks. She started at OSS at the age of 50 and worked 7 years past the automatic retirement age of 65. As she was multi-lingual and knew Germanic script she moved early on into forging passports for agents. Any assistance would be appreciated. Contact Sharon C. Park at sharoncpark@gmail.com.
    • Call for information: AFIO member, author, and former CIA officer Michael Ard is researching the Peruvian communist terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) and how intelligence made a difference in capturing its leaders. Anyone with information that would help with his research is asked to contact Michael at mard@jhu.edu.
      • .
    • Seeking Interview Subjects: Seeking information on Czech-U.S. relationship in the late 1970s and 1980s, including StB’s techniques and effectiveness, exposition and expulsion of U.S. staff in Prague; conversely frequency of U.S. finding Czech intelligence operatives on U.S. soil. Have any former StB personnel spoken publicly about their previous work? Please email viveca.novak@gmail.com.
    • Seeking Interview Subjects:Current or former intelligence officers, analysts, and counterintelligence (CI) professionals with firsthand experience in dealing with Russian illegals to participate in confidential interview sessions as part of a PhD dissertation. Research Topic: The research investigates the impact of technological advancements on the operations and effectiveness of the Russian illegals program. Your insights will be invaluable in understanding the evolving landscape of espionage and informing potential countermeasures. Confidentiality: Your anonymity will be strictly protected. No identifying information will be used in the dissertation or any subsequent publications unless otherwise agreed to. However, written transcripts of the interviews will be retained for academic purposes. Eligibility: If you possess relevant experience and are willing to share your expertise in a confidential setting, please email omid.townsend@kcl.ac.uk.
    • Call for Information: A documentary on the life and death of Swiss photographer Bruno Zehnder needs some help. His family members received information that Bruno may have been approached by the CIA in the 1990s to help inform on Russian research activity in Antarctica. Bruno died whilst on a 1997 expedition there at Mirny under questionable circumstances as he was dubbed ‘ the western spy’ on board. We are looking for anyone who may have any information in Bruno or more generally who may be able to speak to the climate between Russia and the CIA in the 19980s/90s regarding adhering to the scientific treaty and the race to be the first to breach Lake Vostok. Contact Thomas Whitmore at Naomi.harvey@clockworkfilms.tv.
    • Call for Information: Private civilian researcher seeking information about VADM Eric Burkhalter and Colonel Roy Jonkers working in the Defense Intelligence Agency during the period of 1980 to 1985, and VADM Burkhalter’s activities as Director, Intelligence Community Staff during that time. Contact Thomas Whitmore at twhitmore87@gmail.com.
    • Call for Information: Professor Emerita Joan Beaumont, Australian National University, Canberra, is currently revising, for republication in 2025, her 1988 book on Australian prisoners of war on Ambon, Gull Force: Survival and Leadership in Captivity. The POW at Tan Tui (Tan Toey), Ambon, was bombed twice during the war, on 15 February 1943 and 28 August 1944. These raids were two of many on the island. I am trying to ascertain whether the presence of the POW camp was known to the USAAF and RAAF when they set targets for bombing the island. The existence of the POW camp was reported by men who escaped back to Australia in March–April 1942 and reported to Army Headquarters in Melbourne. This information was shared with senior US naval officers (Vice Admiral Leary vetoed a proposed rescue plan in June 1942). My question: would this intelligence have been forwarded to air force bases in the Norther Territory? And how were targets for bombing raids set? The Australian official history of the air war in the Pacific by George Odgers (vol. II 41) suggests that the squadron involved in the 15 February 1943 bombing might have been no 319, 90th Bombardment Group, based at Fenton. Any information that might be germane to my research should be sent to joan.beaumont@anu.edu.au. or +61418376909.
    • Call for Interviews: Alex W. Palmer, a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine, is working on a book about the history of American intelligence on China. He's looking to speak with any intelligence officers who worked in or on China during their career, from whatever timeframe and in whatever role. He can be reached at alex.palmer@nytimes.com and +1-262-894-7160 on Signal.
    • Call for Information: Dr. Andrew Hammond and Dr. Mark Stout are seeking interviewees for a journal article on the CIA’s Office of Soviet Analysis (SOVA). The final output will be based on oral history interviews which can be (a) on-the-record (b) off-the-record or (c) utilizing a pseudonym. The data will be used for this project only and thereafter destroyed. Our aim is to understand how people who served in SOVA or who worked alongside SOVA made sense of it: what was it like, what was its culture, what were its strengths and weaknesses, how did it relate to the rest of the CIA and other agencies, is there anything we can learn from SOVA re the new era of Great Power Conflict, etc.? If you served in SOVA during the period 1981 to 1992 and would like to be interviewed, please contact Dr. Andrew Hammond at ahammond@spymuseum.org.
    • Call for Information: Seeking information on Al "Albert" Purdum, stationed at Arlington Hall 55, Defense Language School - Albanian 55-56, NSA Linguist, Sr. Cryptologist 57-95. Looking for colleagues or friends who knew him, of him. Researching Role of National Security Linguists and Foreign Affairs. Contact cristina.purdum@gmail.com.
    • Call For Articles: AFIO's Journal, The Intelligencer. AFIO seeks authors for its section on "When Intelligence Made a Difference" in the semi-annual Intelligencer journal. Topics of interest for which we are seeking authors include:

      - The breaking of the Nazi U-boat SHARK encryption system.
      - How A.Q. Khan’s nuclear proliferation efforts were uncovered and stopped.
      - How US intelligence found Usama Bin Laden in Abbottobad, Pakistan.
      - How US intelligence discovered the Soviet’s high speed Shkval torpedo.
      - Intelligence and the rescue of Scott O’Grady.
      - The hunt for Pablo Escobar.
      - How National Technical Means (NTM) have been used for environmental purposes (MEDEA Program).
      - Other topics are also welcome.

      Interested authors can contact The Intelligencer's senior editor, Peter Oleson, at peter.oleson@afio.com

    Jobs

    • Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies - Mercyhurst University - Erie, Pennsylvania

      • Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA, invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies in the School of Intelligence, Computing and Global Politics. The position is at the Erie campus and begins Fall Semester 2024. Successful candidates will teach introductory and applied courses in Crime and Law Enforcement intelligence analysis at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in addition to the ability to teach undergraduate or graduate courses in: Leadership in Intelligence; Advanced Analytic Techniques; Intelligence Collection and Analysis. Additional information and application instructions here.

    • Associate Professor and Chair of National Security - University of New Haven, Connecticut

      • The Department of National Security invites nominations and applications for a tenured Full/Associate Professor and Chair of National Security. The department includes a dynamic undergraduate program encompassing four distinct bachelor’s degrees (Security & Defense Policy, Intelligence Analysis, Homeland Security, and International Affairs), a robust master’s degree program, and several practitioner-oriented certificates. Qualifications: A terminal degree in national security, public policy, political science, or related field is required; Ph.D. preferred. The successful applicant will have a record of teaching excellence at the university level, established catalog of academic publications, and an innovative research agenda. Applicants should also possess experience in university-level service and leadership. The department is particularly interested in candidates with policymaking experience in national security at either the federal, state, or local level. Tenurable Assistant Professors may also be considered in accordance with the aforementioned qualifications. Application Instructions: Please submit a brief cover letter explaining teaching experience and philosophy, publication record, practitioner-oriented experience (if applicable), CV, and the name and contact information for three references. Applicants may also include up to 3 artifacts of teaching ability (examples include syllabi, student evaluations, learning exercises, assignments, or other feedback) that illustrate teaching experience. All materials should be submitted online via interfolio link: https://apply.interfolio.com/138857 and indicate position search #24-26F in the subject line. For additional information, feel free to contact Search Committee Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Treistman at jtreistman@newhaven.edu.

    • Wanted: Former intelligence officers to lead spy-themed walking tours in Washington D.C. - Spyher Tours

      • These are 90-120 minute historical tours with an interactive "operational" component. Most tours start at 10am on select Thursdays-Sundays. The immediate opportunity is for dates in March, but additional opportunities are available through June, and new opportunities are likely to become available throughout the year. This is a fun way to get back out on the streets, engage/educate the public on the world of espionage, and make some extra cash. The next opportunities to see a tour in action (and train before the Spring rush) are Sunday 2/18 and Sunday 3/3. Please contact Rosanna at 571-236-9052 or rosanna@spyher.co. Visit https://spyher.co.

    • Wanted: Retired Federal Government Employees - NSA - Fort Meade, Maryland

      • The National Security Agency (NSA) may occasionally need skilled civilian retirees to augment the existing work force on high priority projects or programs. In order to fill these temporary positions quickly, we need to know who may be interested and available to return to work with us on a short notice basis as well as their skills. Retired federal government employees at NSA provide expertise and corporate knowledge to temporarily support mission requirements, manpower shortfalls, and/or mentor the next generation of Agency employees. Applications accepted until 30 September 2024.

      Additional information and application here.

    • Assistant/Associate Professor of Intelligence Studies (Global Security and Intelligence Studies) - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott, Arizona

      • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott, Arizona campus is accepting applications for a tenure-track assistant or associate-level professor of intelligence studies to teach intelligence courses to students in the Global Security and Intelligence program. The successful candidate will teach students about the intelligence community, strategic intelligence, the intelligence cycle and intelligence analysis, writing, and briefing. Prior experience working in the intelligence community is strongly preferred. We are interested in candidates with teaching acumen in intelligence analysis and writing using structured analytical techniques.

      Additional information and application here.


    Section VII - AFIO Events

    Tuesday, 30 Apr 2024, 1130 (PT)) - AFIO SF Chapter hears from Hoover Institution National Security Affairs Fellow USMC LtCol Thomas Kulisz on "TikTok and China: National Security Threat or National Panic Attack?". - In Person, San Francisco, CA - Location: Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco. No host cocktails at 1130, meeting starts at 1200. Pre-registration is required. Contact Mariko Kawaguchi at afiosf@aol.com.

    Monday, 6 May 2024, noon CDT - in-person - AFIO San Antonio Chapter hears Brian Morra on "Able Archer" and a 1983 Soviet Nuclear War Crisis. The program will be in two parts: A review of the Reforger and Able Archer military exercises in Europe followed by an AFIO Now video interview with Brian Morra, a USAF Intelligence Officer during the 1983 Soviet Nuclear War Crisis. The Soviet Union and NATO almost mistakenly went to war with nuclear weapons! Blue Skies of Texas residents are invited to attend the program. The San Antonio AFIO Chapter meeting will be at the Blue Skies Texas West complex, 5100 John D Ryan Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78245. AFIO Members attending should identify themselves to the Blue Skies gate guard as coming for the intelligence meeting in the Roadrunner Lounge at The Towers. AFIO members attending should park in front of The Towers. You may come early and have lunch in the dining room adjacent to the Roadrunner Lounge. Please pay with a credit cardQuestions to San Antonio Chapter President John Franklin, 210.863.0430 or at satxafio@gmail.com.

    Tuesday, 30 July 24, 1900 (PT) - Former CIA Director General David Petraeus on challenges in Ukraine and across the Middle East - In-Person - Yorba Linda, CA - AFIO Los Angeles Chapter.
    Location: Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA 92886. Following the presentation, we will meet at 2030 hours for dinner at Chilis Grill (18380 Yorba Linda Blvd.). If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. Questions? Contact Vincent Autiero, President, AFIO-Los Angeles Chapter, at afio_la@yahoo.com


    Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

    23 April 2024, 1400-1500 (ET) - Virtual - SPY with Me: Program for Individuals with Dementia and their Care Partners - International Spy Museum, Washington DC
    SPY with Me is an interactive virtual program for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Join SPY as we use music and artifacts to explore some of our favorite spy stories. Programs last one hour and are held virtually through Zoom. To register, please email Shana Oltmans at soltmans@spymuseum.org. Free but space is limited. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

    Thursday, 25 April 2024, 6:30pm – Washington, DC – Covert City with Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs – In-Person International Spy Museum Program. You might not be able to make it to Miami for Spring Break this year, but you can do the next best thing and take a deep dive into the secret operations, corruption, crime, and spies that made Miami a Cold War hot spot as crucial to winning the Cold War as Washington, DC or Moscow. The Cuban Missile Crisis was perhaps the most dramatic and dangerous period of the Cold War. What's less well known is that the city of Miami, mere miles away, was a pivotal part of Cold War history. With its population of Communist exiles from Cuba, its strategic value for military operations, and its lax business laws, Miami was an ideal environment for espionage. Join the co-authors of the new book Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami, Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs for a conversation exploring Miami as a hub for not just money and cocaine, but also secrets and ideologies. Houghton, the Director of the National Cryptologic Museum at the National Security Agency, and Driggs, who is a congressional liaison for US Southern Command are both Miami natives who come at this story with skin in the game. They'll lead you through the myriad ways that intelligence was integral to the development of Miami — who says you can't get a great tan and plot against Castro at the same time? Covert City will be available for sale and signing after the conversation. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

    Sunday, 28 April 2024, 10:00-11:00am – Washington, DC – Yoga & Sound Bath at SPY – In-Person International Spy Museum Program To master the art of espionage, agents must learn to control body, mind, and spirit. Experience an all-level yoga flow session led by instructor Beth A. Wolfe, accompanied by a sound bath led by Mel of Beyond Yoga, a yoga teacher certified in crystal alchemy sound healing. Harmonic chords and binaural sounds will be played which promote balance and relaxation. Yoga practice will take place among the clouds on the Museum's rooftop terrace which offers a sweeping view of the SW waterfront (the Wharf), National Airport, and Nationals Park. All are welcome--the class is open to brand new and seasoned yogis alike! No previous yoga experience required. Please purchase tickets in advance and BYO yoga mat. Tickets are $30. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

    Monday, 29 April 2024, 2:00-4:00pm – Washington, DC – In Store Book Signing Event for American Mother with Author Diane Foley – In Person International Spy Museum Book Signing National Book Award-winning author Colum McCann channels Diane Foley's voice as she tells her story, as the mother of American journalist Jim Foley – in search of answers, beyond justice, found through dogged, empathetic, spiritual enquiry. In late 2021, Diane Foley sat at a table across from her son's killer, Alexanda Kotey, a member of the ISIS group known as "The Beatles" who plead guilty to the kidnapping, torture, and murder of her son seven years earlier. Kotey was about to go serve life imprisonment and this was Diane's chance to talk to the man who had been involved with brutally taking her son's last breath. What would she say to his killer? What would he reveal to her? Might she even be able to summon forgiveness for him? So begins American Mother — which reads alternately like a thriller, a biography, a mystery, a memoir, and a literary examination of grace. Diane looks back on the early days when Jim was a child, his journey to journalism, and the killing fields of the world where he reported with indefatigable determination and insight on the plight of those caught up in the agonies of war. She guides us through her family history and the difficulties they faced when Jim was captured. And she also charts the tenacity it takes to turn her grief into grace as she seeks to give voice to those who are still being kidnapped and wrongfully detained around the world. Few journeys are more worthy than this and, in this astonishing book, we are all invited to celebrate the lives of those who are never, in the end, gone. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

    Gifts for Friends, Colleagues, Self

    NEW Gray long-sleeved polo shirts with embroidered AFIO logo. Men's sizes only.
    Show your support for AFIO with our new Gray Long-sleeve Polo Shirts. Shirts are shrink and wrinkle resistant of fine cotton with a soft, "well-worn, comfy" yet substantial feel. They feature a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. Get a shirt for yourself and consider as gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. Only $60 each including shipping.
    Sizes for men, only: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL.  $60 per shirt.     Order this and other store items online here.




    NEW 20 oz ceramic Mug with color glazed logo. Made in America. Check out our new tapered, sleek AFIO coffee mug!! This handsome 20 oz. ceramic mug is made in the USA, has a white matte exterior, sports a beautiful navy-blue interior, and is dishwasher safe.  Order yours today! $35 per mug includes shipping to a CONUS address. [includes shipping to U.S. based address, only. For foreign shipments, we will contact you with a quote.] SHIPPING: For shipment to a U.S.-based CONUS address, shipping is included in price. For purchases going to AK, HI, other US territories, Canada, or other foreign countries the shipping fees need to be calculated, so please call our office M-F 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET at 703-790-0320 or email afio@afio.com providing following information: 1) your name, 2) mailing address (or addresses where each gift item will be shipped), 3) name of the AFIO store items you wish to purchase, 4) quantity of each, 5) your credit card number and expiration date, 6) amount (except for additional of shipping fees) authorized to charge, and 7) your phone number and email should we have questions. Foreign shipments fees will be calculated and estimates emailed to you, awaiting your approval.  Order this and other store items online here.

    Black short-sleeved polo shirts with Embroidered AFIO logo
    Show your support for AFIO with our new Black Short-sleeve Polo Shirts. Shirts are shrink and wrinkle resistant of fine cotton with a soft, "well-worn, comfy" yet substantial feel. They feature a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. Get a shirt for yourself and consider as gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. Only $50 each including shipping.
    Sizes for (M) men, only; Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL. $50 per shirt.
    You may pay by check or credit card. Complete your order online here or mail an order along with payment to: AFIO, 7600 Leesburg Pike, Ste 470 East, Falls Church, VA 22043-2004. Phone orders at 703-790-0320. Questions? Contact Annette at: annettej@afio.com.





    PopSocket for cellphones or tablets
    Show your support to AFIO while enjoying the convenience offered by our AFIO Logo PopSocket. The PopSocket is most commonly used as a stand and as a grip for your mobile phone or tablet; handy for taking selfies, watching videos, and for texting. The PopSocket looks like a small button or sticker which, when closed, sticks flat to your mobile device. However, its accordion-like design enables it to pop open for use. The benefits of using a PopSocket make it a must-have accessory for your mobile phone or tablet. It also aids in keeping your phone from slipping off your hand during use, falling, or breaking.
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    Duffel Bags - Royal Blue and Black with Full Color AFIO Logo This duffel has it all when it comes to value, style and organization.
    600 denier polyester canvas with polyester double contrast; D-shaped zippered entry for easy access. Front pocket with hook and loop closure. End mesh pocket Easy-access end pockets. Four durable, protective feet and built-in bottom board for added strength. Web handles with padded grip. Detachable, adjustable shoulder strap.
    Dimensions: 11"h x 19.75"w x 9.75"d; Approx. 2,118 cubic inches
    Price: $50. Order this and other store items online here.




    Caps - Dark Navy with Navy AFIO Logo
     An authentic silhouette with the comfort of an unstructured, adjustable fit. Fabric: 100% cotton. Unstructured. Fabric strap closure with adjustable D-clip. Price: $30. Order this and other store items online here.


     

    PUBLISHED IN 2023
    Be informed on career opportunities in the U.S. Intelligence Community
    Intelligence as a Career - with updated listings of colleges teaching intelligence courses, and Q&As on needed foreign languages, as well as the courses, grades, extracurricular activities, and behavioral characteristics and life experiences sought by modern U.S. intelligence agencies.

    AFIO's popular 47-page booklet reaches thousands of high school, college students, university guidance offices, and distributed in classes teaching intelligence, to help those considering careers in the U.S. Intelligence Community.
    This is the all new fifth edition.
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    This booklet is provided online as a public service from the generosity of AFIO board, volunteer editors/writers, donors, and members.
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