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Welcome

AFIO BulletThe Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) presents this website to serve our members and visitors as a portal to our activities and to provide word of upcoming educational events by other select intelligence groups.

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AFIO National Spring Luncheon, Friday, 21 April 2023, 10:30 am - 2 pm EST - In-Person Tysons, VA

Presentations by LTG Michael Groen (USMC, Ret), former Commander of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, discussing AI.
His presentation begins at 11:00 a.m.
Journalist Jim Popkin discussing Cuban Spy Ana Montes featured in his book, "Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy―and the Sister She Betrayed." His talk starts at 1:00 p.m.
 

Lunch served noon-1:00 p.m. Event ends 2:00 p.m.

Registration closes 5:00 p.m. Friday, 14 April. Register here.

NO registrations or walk-ins at hotel. Check-in and badge pickup for Registered Attendees starts at 10:30 a.m.
 

Luncheon prices are $55 for Members; $70 for nonmember guests and all Subscribers.
Though we do not provide special overnight room rates, if you wish to make room reservations at the hotel, do so here

Cancellation Schedule: AFIO must guarantee XX meals to the hotel; therefore, regrets it must charge a cancellation fee. 100% refund until close of registration. No refunds or cancellations after close of registration. You will receive a donation receipt for fees forfeited. A donor statement will be sent showing that you made a "gift to AFIO" in such instances. Gifts to AFIO are tax-deductible. All attendees must be members of AFIO or accompanied by a member of AFIO.

To learn more about becoming a member, visit: www.afio.com.  If you have any questions regarding membership, contact our office at 703-790-0320 or email us at afio@afio.com

Questions regarding event? Email events@afio.com

Released exclusively to members 21 March 2023...

The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure


Recorded 2 March 2023

Erik J. Dahl, Naval Professor/Author on
The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough

Interview of Thursday, 2 March 2023 of Erik Dahl, Associate Professor and Author. Interviewer - Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former CIA Operations Officer.

TOPIC: Erik Dahl and Jim Hughes discuss Dahl's latest book, "The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough" which explores the roles that both traditional intelligence services and medical intelligence and surveillance systems play in providing advance warning against public health threats ― and how these systems must be improved for the future. Epidemiologists and national security agencies warned for years about the potential for a deadly pandemic, but in the end global surveillance and warning systems were not enough to avert the COVID-19 disaster.

The interview runs 34 minutes and includes several Q&As.
Purchase a copy of "The Covid-19 Intelligence Failure" here.

Access the Erik Dahl interview here or click above image

The AFIO Now video series in 2023 is sponsored by Northwest Financial Advisors.

AFIO Now Interviews and Podcasts in 2023 are sponsored by

Northwest Financial Advisors
Read the Press Release on this new Joint Arrangement

AFIO launched a series of recorded interviews and other activities.
These programs are available in our Members-Only section which requires your USERID and PASSWORD
— information on current member cards supplied with each renewal. Some of the featured videos appear below.

Prior Videos and Podcasts in this "AFIO Now" Series

To view publicly-released videos, visit our YouTube page here
To see all videos log into the Member-Only area of our website here.
To explore podcasts, visit main podcast page here.

JUST PUBLISHED FOR 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.
The publication is also popular with University Career Guidance Centers, professors and academic departments specializing in national security, and parents assisting children or grandchildren in choosing meaningful, public service careers.
This booklet is provided online as a public service from the generosity and efforts of AFIO board, volunteer editors/writers, donors, and members. We thank all for their support which makes this publication available.
Careers Booklet (new 2023 Fifth Edition) can be read or downloaded here

Upcoming AFIO and Intelligence Community Events
Many informative, fascinating programs are occurring in the Washington Metro Area and across the country. Find out which ones to add to your calendar to stay connected and to stay current.

Corporate
Learn how your company can make a difference with AFIO corporate memberships and marketing opportunities. Reach more than 4,800 intelligence professionals.

National Members
Join or renew your existing membership and enjoy member benefits, such as special publications, invitations to events, unique banking & investment services, scholarships, and career assistance.

Publications
As a member or subscriber you receive the popular Weekly Intelligence Notes [WINs] and the print-only academic journal: Intelligencer - Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies for the intelligence community by intelligence professionals. AFIO also produces Intelligence As A Career - a printed and online guide to organizing your life and education to qualify for work in the intelligence community, and a Guide to the Study of Intelligence to assist college instructors, secondary school teachers of history, civics, and current events, and students, on the best readings on a wide variety of current intelligence topics.

About Us
Learn about us - our many events, publications, programs, and legislative alerts. Support AFIO with purchases and donations or meet our members at events throughout the US. Make your views known.

Chapters
Local chapters have appeal to many members, so after you have joined AFIO National, consider adding a local chapter membership to your mix.

Upcoming AFIO Events ... Full listings found here
Icon Calendar

Thursday, 13 Apr 2023, 1130 PT - In Person - San Francisco - The AFIO Andre LeGallo Chapter hosts Richard E. Hanson on "CIA Operations in Viet Nam"

AFIO BulletNo-host cocktail starts at 11:30 a.m. Event starts at noon.
Location: Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco, CA.
REGISTER here.
Questions? Contact Mariko Kawaguchi, Board Secretary at afiosf@aol.com.
Students: please e-mail your school ID to get sponsored.

Online version of the Guide
AFIO's Guide to the Study of Intelligence
Are You Using It?

Full no-cost, online version of Guide is here.

Perfect for professors, students, those considering careers in intelligence, and current/former officers seeking to see what changes are taking place across a wide spectrum of intelligence disciplines.

AFIO's Guide to the Study of Intelligence helps instructors teach about the large variety of subjects that make up the field of intelligence. This includes secondary school teachers of American History, Civics, or current events and undergraduate and graduate professors of History, Political Science, International Relations, Security Studies, and related topics, especially those with no or limited professional experience in the field. Even those who are former practitioners are likely to have only a limited knowledge of the very broad field of intelligence, as most spend their careers in one or two agencies at most and may have focused only on collection or analysis of intelligence or support to those activities.

We regret that the printed, bound edition has sold out. No copies remain for sale.

AVAILABLE ONLINE-ONLY: As an educational service to professors and students, AFIO provides the full 788-page Guide online here for free. This was made possible through the generosity of our foundation, corporate, and institutional members, coupled with the donations we received from our many individual members. We thank all of them.

AFIO STORE GIFT ITEMS

Now available: new Black short-sleeved polo shirts with embroidered AFIO logo. Men's only.

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.

Mug with color glazed logo. Made in America. Sturdy enough to sit on desk to hold pens, cards, paperclips, and candy.

This handsome large, heavy USA-made ceramic mug is dishwasher-safe with a glazed seal.
$35 per mug includes shipping. Order this and other store items online here.

Also available are our popular Intelligence Community Mousepad AFIO Mousepad

Full color seals of all 18 members of the U.S. Intelligence Community on this 8" round, slick surface, nonskid, rubber-backed mouse pad. Price still only $20.00 for 2 pads [includes shipping to U.S. based address, only. For foreign shipments, we will contact you with a quote.] Great gift for colleagues and self. Click image above for larger image. Now with dark navy background, brighter, updated seals of member agencies. And now MADE IN USA. Order MOUSEPADS here.
Icon Calendar

Friday, 21 April 2023, 10:30 am - 2 pm EST - In-Person Tysons, VA - AFIO National Spring Luncheon

AFIO BulletPresentations by LTG Michael Groen (USMC, Ret), former Commander of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, discussing AI. His presentation begins at 11:00 a.m.

And journalist Jim Popkin discussing Cuban Spy Ana Montes featured in his book, "Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy―and the Sister She Betrayed." His talk starts at 1:00 p.m.

Lunch served noon-1:00 p.m. Event ends 2:00 p.m.

Registration closes 5:00 p.m. Friday, 14 April. Register here

NO registrations or walk-ins at hotel. Check-in and badge pickup for Registered Attendees starts at 10:30 a.m.

Luncheon prices are $55 for Members; $70 for nonmember guests and all Subscribers.
Though we do not provide special overnight room rates, if you wish to make room reservations at the hotel, do so here.

Cancellation Schedule: AFIO must guarantee XX meals to the hotel; therefore, regrets it must charge a cancellation fee. 100% refund until close of registration. No refunds or cancellations after close of registration. You will receive a donation receipt for fees forfeited. A donor statement will be sent showing that you made a "gift to AFIO" in such instances. Gifts to AFIO are tax-deductible.

All attendees must be members of AFIO or accompanied by a member of AFIO. To learn more about becoming a member, visit: www.afio.com.  If you have any questions regarding membership, contact our office at 703-790-0320 or email us at afio@afio.com

Questions regarding event? Email events@afio.com

Some reactions to Popkin's "Code Name Blue Wren"

"Code Name Blue Wren might be the most mesmerizing spy story I've ever read. It shows how a brilliant manipulator secretly working for the Cubans finagled her way deep into the US military—and the anguish of the friends and family she so easily conned. Jim Popkin captures the brutal realities of modern espionage. I couldn't stop reading this." —Mark Leibovich, author of This Town and Thank You for Your Servitude

"For espionage devotees, Jim Popkin's Code Name Blue Wren is a critical read. In great detail, Popkin explores the case of Ana Montes, who became a mole in the Defense Intelligence Agency for Cuban intelligence. A mole who was almost never caught thanks to years of incompetence by the FBI's counterspies. But thanks to the dogged persistence of a dedicated NSA analyst, who bypassed the FBI at great risk to her career, Montes was arrested shortly after the 9/11 attacks. Left in her wake was the likely death of an American Green Beret killed in action in El Salvador and the pro-American troops fighting alongside him." —James Bamford, bestselling author of The Puzzle Palace and Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America's Counterintelligence

"Jim Popkin uncovers riveting details about one of the most damaging spy cases in US history, revealing new insights into the highly sensitive secrets that Ana Montes gave to her Cuban handlers. Through remarkably extensive interviews with her relatives and coworkers, he exposes not only what she did but why. This is the definitive history of how one of America's most highly regarded intelligence analysts betrayed her country, and how she almost got away with it." —Pete Williams, former NBC News justice correspondent

"This spy tale reads like a new season of Homeland – except this Ice Queen's traitorous double-life was entirely real. Jim Popkin takes us deep into a long-ignored story of an intel officer who went rogue, spilling US secrets to Cuba, endangering US operatives, and tricking presidents and her own sister at the FBI in the process." —Carol Leonnig, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter at the Washington Post and author of Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service 

"An entertaining story of cunning espionage."—Kirkus Reviews

Other Upcoming Educational Events....includes selection of events from advertisers, corporate sponsors, and others—

Wednesday, 29 March 2023, 9 am - 5 pm - Boston, MA - In-Person Conference at Boston University's Pardee School of Global Studies on "How Wars End"

AFIO Members are invited to attend this event. Of special interest to members are two panels: PANEL III: How intelligence Supports Diplomats in Ending Wars with Moderator: Joseph Wippl (BU Pardee School), Erik Goldstein (BU Pardee School), Amb. Thomas Simons Jr. (Former U.S. Ambassador to Poland and Pakistan) and PANEL IV: How the Afghanistan War Ended with Moderator: John Woodward (BU Pardee School), Thomas Barfield (BU Department of Anthropology).

More here about conference, other panels, and to register...

Additional Events:

Tuesday, 28 March 2023, 2:00-3:00pm – Washington, DC – SPY with Me: Memory Loss Program – Virtual International Spy Museum Program

International Spy Museum eventsSPY 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. Every month the same program is offered on two different dates. To register, please email Shana Oltmans at soltmans@spymuseum.org. Free but space is limited. Register below. Explore or Register here: www.spymuseum.org.

Thursday, 30 March 2023, 2:00-3:00pm – Washington, DC – SPY with Me: Memory Loss Program – Virtual International Spy Museum Program

International Spy Museum eventsSPY 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. Every month the same program is offered on two different dates. To register, please email Shana Oltmans at soltmans@spymuseum.org. Free but space is limited. Register below.  Explore or Register here: www.spymuseum.org

MORE about the "AFIO Now" Video Series....

To view publicly-released videos released in 2023, click videos above or in table below or visit our YouTube page here
To see all videos released in 2023, log into the Member-Only area of our website here.
To see videos released in 2020 to 2022, log into the Member-Only area here.
To explore podcasts, see links in table below or visit main podcast page.

"AFIO Now" Interviews and Podcasts in 2023 are sponsored by

Northwest Financial Advisors
Press Release on this new Joint Arrangement

For Members-Only at this time...
Erik J. Dahl, Naval Professor/Author on
The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough
Professor Erik Dahl and AFIO President Jim Hughes discuss Dahl's latest book, "The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough" which explores the roles that both traditional intelligence services and medical intelligence and surveillance systems play in providing advance warning against public health threats ― and how these systems must be improved for the future. Epidemiologists and national security agencies warned for years about the potential for a deadly pandemic, but in the end global surveillance and warning systems were not enough to avert the COVID-19 disaster. The interview runs 34 minutes and includes several Q&As.
Purchase a copy of "The Covid-19 Intelligence Failure" here.
Access the Erik Dahl interview here or click above image
[Video not yet released to the public.]

 For Members-Only at this time...
Nigel West, Historian and Former MP, on
"Hitler's Nest of Vipers: The Rise of The Abwehr"
Interviewer - Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former CIA Operations Officer.
Nigel West and Jim Hughes discuss Nigel's recent book, "Hitler's Nest of Vipers: The Rise of The Abwehr." Topics include: German Intelligence Service and military districts; wehrmacht; Sicherheitsdienst; Abwehr defectors; Maj Richard Wurmann; MI5 post-war analysis of interrogated prisoners; Penetration of French Resistance; compromise of Allied Networks; Soviet System compromises; Rote Kapelle (Red Orchestra) started by Abwehrstelle Belgium, a field office of Abwehr; Portugal and Spanish links to Abwehr; KOs - hybrids with three branches; Impact on GRU and Communist networks; Death of British agents in Holland; the truth about the effectiveness of the Double-Cross System; the double agent who escaped capture.
The interview runs 22 minutes and includes several Q&As.
Purchase a copy of "Hitler's Nest of Vipers" here.
Access the Nigel West interview here.
[Video not yet released to the public.]		 For Members-Only at this time...
Todd Bennett, Federal Historian, Professor - on "Neither Confirm nor Deny: How the Glomar Explorer's Covert Espionage Mission Shielded the CIA from Transparency" Interviewer - Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former CIA Operations Officer. Todd Bennett and Jim Hughes discuss Bennett's latest book, "Neither Confirm nor Deny: How the Glomar Mission Shielded the CIA from Transparency" which covers billionaire Howard Hughes's 1974 Glomar Explorer, a risky deep-sea mining vessel used to retrieve a sunken Soviet sub.
The interview runs 25 minutes and includes several Q&As.
Purchase a copy of "Neither Confirm nor Deny" here.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here.		 Vince Houghton PhD, Director, National Cryptologic Museum, NSA, on the All New and Original Exhibits at the Reopened Museum
Vince Houghton PhD, Director/Curator, National Cryptologic Museum, NSA, former Historian/Curator International Spy Museum. Interviewer - Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former Senior CIA Operations Officer.
Dr Houghton and Jim Hughes discuss all the changes made while the National Cryptologic Museum was closed during the pandemic. So many changes that it is fair to call it the "All New" National Cryptologic Museum. New one-of-a-kind items pulled out or declassified from NSA archives and now on display. The interview runs 20 minutes and includes several Q&As.
More about the National Cryptologic Museum can be found here.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here.
Nigel West, Historian and Former MP, on "Spies Who Changed History: Greatest Spies and Agents of the 20th Century"
Interviewer - Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former CIA Operations Officer.
Nigel West and Jim Hughes discuss several intelligence figures from Nigel's recent book, "Spies Who Changed History: The Greatest Spies and Agents of the 20th Century." Those include: "The White Lady", "The Angel", "Garbo", Arnold Deutsch, Kim Philby, and the mysterious death of Ashraf Marwan.
Purchase a copy of Spies Who Changed History here.
The interview runs 22 minutes and includes several Q&As.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here.		 Geoff O'Connell, former CIA Operations Officer, COS Tel Aviv, on the Church of the Nativity Crisis which involved the siege by the Israel Defense Forces at the Church of the Nativity in a bid to halt terrorism by Hamas, Fatah, and Palestinians.
Interviewer - Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former CIA Operations Officer.
The interview runs 24 minutes and includes several Q&As.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here.		 Norman T. Roule, former National Intelligence Manager, Iran, ODNI; former Division Chief, CIA Operations Officer, Chief of Station on the state of Iran today and how prior, and likely current and future administrations need to approach that regime.
Interviewer - Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former CIA Operations Officer. The interview runs 25 minutes and includes several Q&As.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here. 		Bruce Henderson, Author/Historian, on The Secret Military Intelligence Role of Japanese Americans in World War II
Bruce Henderson, author of "Bridge to the Sun: The Secret Role of the Japanese Americans Who Fought in the Pacific in World War II." Host: AFIO's President, James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
The interview runs 35 minutes.
Bruce's book can be found here.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here.
Nicholas Reynolds PhD, CIA Officer, Military Historian, Author, on "Need to Know: WWII and the Rise of American Intelligence"
Senior CIA Operations Officer James Hughes, AFIO's President, and Nick Reynolds, CIA Historian, discuss the many military and private industry figures -- some from a major NY law firm -- who joined with Gen. William Donovan, head of the newly-created wartime Office of Strategic Services (OSS), to run clandestine operations based on significant codebreaking successes. How WWII histories are researched and written, and their continuing popularity, is also discussed.
Nick Reynolds book — Need to Know: WWII and the Rise of American Intelligence —can be found here
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here. 		Shelby Pierson, NGA Deputy Director, Source Operations and Management Directorate, Interviewer: Jennifer Daniel, former Senior NGA Officer and current AFIO Board member. Host: AFIO's President, James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer. They discuss the NGA's Directorate's responsibility for commercial GEOINT discovery, assessment, and acquisition. The processing and availability of commercial imagery has grown significantly changing the landscape for satellite imagery. She describes the newest (unclassified) imagery capabilities and how they have impacted the GEOINT Team, including uncovering war crimes and assisting in natural disasters worldwide.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here. 		Itai Shapira, Col. (Ret.), former Deputy Head of Analysis for the Israeli Defense Intelligence Service, on "Intelligence Culture in Israel." They discuss the topic of "The Israeli National Intelligence Culture" - which is the theme of the thesis he is working on for his doctorate. It is based on his experiences being in military intelligence for twenty-six years. Also discussed were the differences in how Israel attracts, trains, and retains intelligence officers -- particularly for military intelligence -- versus Mossad, Shin Bet, and various US and UK intelligence services.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here. 		Shane Harris, Washington Post Reporter providing an update on the Unpredictable Ukraine-Russia War. Harris discusses the confusing and dangerously fluctuating situation in Ukraine. From Putin's sudden conscription of 300,000 unwilling troops, his threats to use tactical nuclear weapons, and the mysterious sabotage of the Nordstream Pipeline.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here.
Chris Rasmussen, Founder and Manager of NGA's Tearline Project discussing Open Source Intelligence, OSINT, and Publicly Available Information. And Jardines provides historic examples of Open Source events that had a real impact which brings the topic to life.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
 Nathalia Holt, author of "Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage." Discussion centers on four women who served in the early days of OSS and CIA, enjoying exceptional careers, receiving recognition but not being considered, in those days, equal to their male colleagues in similar posts. Dr Holt explains how that began to change in 1953 with CIA's Petticoat Panel which studied the role of women in intelligence. Opportunities for women today in the Intelligence Community are far greater today because of these brave trailblazers.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.]
Podcast version here.		 Eliot A. Jardines Ed.D.,Former Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Open Source (ADDNI/OS) discussing Open Source Intelligence, OSINT, and Publicly Available Information. And Jardines provides historic examples of Open Source events that had a real impact which brings the topic to life.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Alex Finley, Former CIA Operations Officer; Journalist, Author, Satirist, on her time at CIA, her expertise on Russian intelligence and influence, disinformation, counterterrorism, and also the problems facing Agency couples. Also discussed are her three novels, and her "YachtWatch" Twitter feed which Identifies Russian Oligarch Yacht whereabouts.
[Video released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Ron Estes, Former Senior CIA Operations Officer, on his long and occasionally harrowing CIA career, including the assassination of his friend and Chief of Station, Athens, Richard Welch. [Video released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
"Terror in Athens — Remembering CIA Station Chief Dick Welch" by Samantha Randazzo Childress and Carol "Rollie" Flynn, was published in the Winter-Spring 2021 edition of AFIO's Intelligencer journal, and is available here.		 Ric Prado, Former Chief CIA Counterterrorism Center (CTC), Senior CIA Senior CIA Operations and Paramilitary Officer, on his career From the Shadow Wars Fought Since the Vietnam Era... to the Bin Laden Task Force, as presented in his new book "Black Ops." [Video released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Carol "Rollie" Flynn, former Senior CIA Operations and Counterterrorism Officer, on Rollie's ground-breaking 30-year career as one of the first women operating abroad as a Clandestine Services Officer and later as Chief of Station. Also covered are the wide variety of career opportunities available at CIA, the ways to be the most appealing candidate, the traits, interests, languages, lifestyle, experiences, and skills one should consider prior to making a formal application. [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Andrew Hammond PhD, Historian & Curator, International Spy Museum, Former Embed in G2 Intelligence and Security Unit, on the Soviet-Afghan War of 1979-89 and major shifts in Cold War Geopolitics. [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Shane Harris, Intelligence and National Security Reporter, The Washington Post, on the US Intelligence Community's unique role in this latest Ukraine-Russia War . [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Bruce O. Riedel, former CIA Analyst, Served on NSC,
Discussing Jordan and America's Enduring Friendship. Riedel is Director of The Intelligence Project at the Center for Middle East Policy. He discusses Jordan and America's Enduring Friendship -- a new publication released by The Brookings Institution. Members-only. Podcast version here.		 Melvin Gamble, a 40-year career CIA Senior Intelligence Officer, discussing the Havana Syndrome as well as the need and benefits of diversity in the intelligence community, and in CIA in particular. Mel served in a number of senior executive positions in the Directorate of Operations in the Central Intelligence Agency and is currently President of Gamble Advisory Group, a security consulting firm. He also serves as an advisor on security matters to two Wall Street firms. Members-only. Margaret Coker, Investigative Journalist, discussing her 2021 book, The Spymaster of Baghdad: A True Story of Bravery, Family, and Patriotism in the Battle against ISIS. It is an account of how a covert Iraqi intelligence unit called "the Falcons" came together to defeat ISIS. The Falcons, comprised of ordinary men with little conventional espionage background, infiltrated the world's most powerful terrorist organization, ultimately turning the tide of war against the terrorist group and bringing safety to millions of Iraqis and the broader world. [Released to public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Mike Howard, discussing his CIA Career - From Dangerous Overseas Operations to Worldwide Security for Microsoft. The variety of CIA career postings and assignments which took his career rapidly upwards and eventually led him to handle all security for Bill Gates and the Microsoft Corporation. Mike provided security for DCI Bill Casey, handled risky operations in the Philippines, and reorganized worldwide security for Microsoft, its principals and employees, including personal security for Bill Gates. [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here. James Lawler discussing the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Program through his latest novel "Living Lies" - a story about espionage, human frailty, and loyalty. The plot focuses on a covert Iranian nuclear weapons program, which Lawler -- a former senior CIA operations officer -- devoted his career to battling. [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Douglas Ollivant discussing the War in Iraq from in-country, and then while serving on the NSC at the White House. He explains the challenges he faced in 2004 thru 2007 serving in Iraq or overseeing the war in that country. We hear as he first saw the war up close in-country, and then his impressions overseeing the war as he served at the National Security Council at the White House. [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Bryan Denson, author of "The Spy's Son: The True Story of the Highest-Ranking CIA Officer Ever Convicted of Espionage and the Son He Trained to Spy for Russia" — story of a father and son co-conspirators who deceived the U.S. by selling national secrets to Russia. [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Toby Harnden, author of "The First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission To Avenge 9/11," discusses the true story of the secret mission of the eight members of the CIA's Team Alpha, the first Americans to be dropped behind enemy lines in Afghanistan after 9/11. [Released to the public. Click title to view.] Podcast version here. John Lenczowski PhD, former NSC Staffer/Expert discusses "Chinese Influence Operations in the U.S." The Chinese use the media, academic institutions, think tanks, business community, politicians, Hollywood as a tool for massive propaganda operations, Lenczowski explains. [Released to public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Steve Vogel, Author/Journalist, The Washington Post discusses traitor George Blake's betrayal of a Cold War secret tunnel, his arrest, incarceration, escape, and flight to Moscow and Vogel's visit to Blake's Dacha decades later. [Released to public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Douglas London, former Senior CIA Operations Officer, discussing his book, The Recruiter, his career, and the changes he's seen at CIA - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Panel on Proposed Legislation Restricting "Formers" from Sharing Classified Methods with Foreign Employers .with The Honorable Mike Rogers, former Chairman of HPSCI; Christopher Bing, Cybersecurity Reporter, Reuters, Stewart Baker, and James Hughes [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Seth Jones PhD, Director, Transnational Threats, CSIS, on his book "Three Dangerous Men: Russia, China, Iran and the Rise of Irregular Warfare." - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Marc Polymeropoulos, former Senior CIA Operations Officer, on his book, Clarity in Crisis, his career, his experiences with "the Havana Syndrome," and advice to students on how to be appealing to CIA and other IC recruiters. [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. David McCloskey, former CIA Analyst, discussing his realistic novel, Damascus Station, set in Syria during their civil wars. - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Mark E. Mitchell former Director for Counterterrorism, NSC, and Principal Deputy Asst Sec Def for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict, on "the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi in Mazār-i-Sharīf, Afghanistan, 2001" [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. James Gosler former Director, CIA's Clandestine Information Technology Office, on "Cyber Threats and Mitigation" -[Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Shelby Pierson - Interview #2 - the ODNI's U.S. National Elections Security "Czar" on her post-2020 Election Assessment and What the Focus is Now - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. David Robarge PhD, CIA Chief Historian on "CIA and Covert Action — Pros and Cons" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Sam Wyman, former senior CIA Field Operations officer and Arabist discussing the "Red Prince" - Ali Hassan Salameh - the chief of operations — code name Abu Hassan — for Black September, the organization responsible for the 1972 Munich massacre and other terror attacks -[Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Pete Lapp, former FBI Special Agent, co-case agent for the Ana Montes Investigation discussing the Discovery, Cautious Investigation, Arrest and Conviction of a Cuban Spy in the DIA - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Ralph Hope former FBI Special Agent, discussing his book The Grey Men: Pursuing the Stasi into the Present on the power and influence of the Stasi in Germany today - [Released to the public - click title to view.] Podcast version here. Edward Mienie PhD professor of Intelligence Studies, discussing intelligence education and careers in the U.S. Intelligence Community - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
David Wolman author-journalist, on the Life and Career of legendary NSA Officer, Juanita Moody - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Bob Wallace and Keith Melton author-historians, on their new book, "Spy Sites of Philadelphia: A Guide to the Region's Secret History" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Jason Fagone, author on his book "The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Norman Roule, former National Intelligence Manager, Iran: former Division Chief, CIA Operations Officer/COS on the state of Iran today and how current and future administrations need to approach that regime - [Released to the public - click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Sam Wyman, former senior CIA Field Operations Officer and Arabist on the geopolitical risks the USG and American businesses face in Iraq - [Released to the public - click title to view.] Podcast version here. Carmen Medina, former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence, and co-author of "Rebels at Work: A Handbook of Leading Change from Within"discussing women exerting power and being innovative in male-dominated enterprises - [Released to the public - click title to view.] Podcast version here. Jack Devine, former Deputy Director of Operations and Chief of the CIA Afghan Tast Force, on "Spymaster's Prism" on: The Fight Against Russian Aggression - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Caryn A. Wagner, former Undersecretary, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Dept of Homeland Security, on "Experiences serving as Undersecretary, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, at the Department of Homeland Security" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Steve Vogel, Author/Journalist, The Washington Post, on "Betrayal in Berlin: The True Story of the Cold War's Most Audacious Espionage Operation" on A Cold War Covert Operation of many names — Operation Gold (US); Operation Stopwatch (UK); PBJointly (CIA); Operation REGAL (NSA) - [Released to the public - click title to view.] Podcast version here. Larry Loftis, attorney, author, professor, on "The Princess Spy" on WWII Spy Aline Griffith, Countess of Romanones - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Linda Millis, former Senior Intelligence Officer at NSA, CIA, ODNI on "Women in Intelligence" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Vince Houghton PhD, Director, National Cryptologic Museum on "The Nuclear Spies: America's Atomic Intelligence Operation Against Hitler and Stalin" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Joe Augustyn, former CIA Clandestine Services Officer on "CIA's Defector Resettlement Program" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Victor Cha PhD, Former Director for Asian Affairs, NSC on "North and South Koreas — Issues Facing the Biden Administration" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Joseph W. Augustyn, former CIA Clandestine Services Officer on "CIA's Role in the Creation of the Department of Homeland Security"[Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Seth Jones PhD, Director, Transnational Threats Project, CSIS on "A Covert Action" [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
David Priess PhD, Author, former Senior CIA Analyst and PDB Briefer on "The President's Book of Secrets" [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Everette Jordan, Dep Asst Sec for IC Integration, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, US Department of the Treasury on "Enjoying a Rich, Challenging Intelligence Career Spanning Multiple Agencies." - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Bruce Riedel, former CIA Senior Analyst, Served on National Security Council during Iraq War on "Early Gulf War Policy Decisions" [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Shelby Pierson, Election Threats Executive, Office of the Director of National Intelligence on "Nationwide Election Security" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Bruce Klingner, Former CIA Deputy Division Chief for Korea; Heritage Foundation Fellow on "U.S. Strategy Towards North Korea" [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Martin C. Faga, former Director, National Reconnaissance Office on "NRO Support to the Gulf War" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Nicholas Dujmović, Professor, Author, former CIA Historian, PDB Editor on "Guidelines and Experiences Teaching Intelligence at the University Level" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. David Robarge PhD, CIA Chief Historian, PDB Editor on "The Complexities of Counterintelligence"- [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here.
Vince Houghton PhD, Director, National Cryptologic Museum on "Nuking the Moon...and Other Intelligence Themes and Military Plots Left on the Drawing Board" - [Released to the public - Click title to view.] Podcast version here. Series Introduction: Stewart Baker, Chairman, and James Hughes, President - members-only

NOTE: ABOUT THE SPEAKERS — Full bios appear below each video either using the "SHOW MORE" or the caron (down caret symbol) under image or at far right on mobile devices. Closed Captioning is available with each video. Click CC button at bottom right of video viewing window. If viewing on a mobile browser or device, click video while running and three dots will appear at top right edge to turn CC on or off.
PODCASTS: Too busy to sit and watch an entire "AFIO Now" episode above on YouTube? Would you rather listen in your car or while accomplishing other tasks? Now you can quickly download or stream episodes on your favorite podcasting platform. AFIO Now interviews are available on 8 podcasting platforms. Search for 'AFIO Podcast' for a selection of the interviews above (public released ones) or click on any of these podcast links: Podbean; iTunes; Google; Spotify; Amazon Music; Amazon TuneIn + Alexa; iHeartRadio; and Pandora.

NOW AVAILABLE

Getting a Security Clearance: Questions and Answers about what they are, how they are conducted,
how you can qualify, how long they take, and what can put them in jeopardy.

Two valuable booklets are available

The Security Clearance Process: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions - by the Congressional Research Service, Sept 2013
[PDF]

Security Clearances - FAQs - ClearanceJobs.com / DICE
[PDF]

RELEASED SEPTEMBER 2022 — a Monograph on The Cuban Missile Crisis — Sixty Years Later — by CIA Historian/Analyst Regis Heitchue

"The Cuban Missile Crisis: When Intelligence Made a Difference."

In October 1962 the US and the world faced the most serious crisis and threat of nuclear war. A new 208-page monograph published for free on-line by the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) on the Cuban Missile Crisis is an insightful examination of US intelligence during the crisis.  Unlike most accounts of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which focus on the decision-making of President Kennedy and personal accounts of those involved, "The Cuban Missile Crisis — 60 Years Later — When Intelligence Made a Difference" provides an examination of how US intelligence functioned before, during, and after the crisis.  This is a unique treatment of the topic.

Former DCI Richard Helms once said "… the Cuban Missile Crisis was really an intelligence crisis. The threat appeared only through intelligence sources. Only those sources confirmed that the threat had gone away." The monograph is the story of what American intelligence knew, when it knew it, and how it knew what the Soviets were doing in Cuba prior to and during the crisis—and what we now know, 60 years later, quite accurately, of what the Soviets were actually doing in Cuba.

The monograph examines the critical questions that the president posed to the intelligence community and how the community responded.  It also includes interesting vignettes on principal intelligence officers involved in the crisis, including Juanita Moody, head of NSA's Cuba effort, and Arthur Lundahl, the chief of the new National Photographic Intelligence Center (NPIC), who briefed President Kennedy on a daily basis.

This is a well-researched and riveting monograph, with extensive notes, bibliography, charts and photos.   It is a valuable reference for any class on intelligence. — Peter Oleson, Senior Editor

The author is Reg Heitchue, a retired senior CIA scientific and technical officer. The book project was managed and edited by former DIA Assistant Deputy Director for Plans and Policy, Peter C. Oleson, who also serves as AFIO's Senior Editor, Intelligencer journal.

The free PDF version of publication here: "The Cuban Missile Crisis: When Intelligence Made a Difference."

For those interested in purchasing a paperback edition — a longer, more comprehensive version by Mr Heitchue — it is available here.

Intelligence Community - Thirteenth Year in a Row
One of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government
and now ranked at #4 in 2021

For the 13th consecutive year, the Intelligence Community (IC) has been named as one of the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government." The IC ranked fourth overall among large federal agencies with more than 15,000 full-time permanent employees. The Partnership for Public Service (PPS) compiled the 2021 rankings and presented the awards during a ceremony today in Washington, D.C. Dustin Gard-Weiss, Deputy DNI for Policy and Capabilities, and Sherry Van Sloun, Assistant DNI for Human Capital, accepted the award on behalf of the IC.

"What makes the IC the Best Place to Work from my perspective, is the extraordinary people who show up every day, ready to solve some of the most vexing and important challenges we face in the world," said Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. "I also realize, however, that we need to support those extraordinary people and we will continue to work to make their lives and the environment that they work in one that allows them to realize their enormous potential." The "Best Places to Work" rankings provide insight into employee satisfaction across several key workplace categories including innovation, recognition, and work-life balance. The results are based on data from the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, as well as responses collected by several federal agencies that surveyed their employees during the same time period last year. PPS is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that aims to revitalize the federal government by transforming the way government works and inspiring a new generation to serve. For more details, visit: bestplacestowork.org.

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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 or contact Annette at annettej@afio.com.

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