Monthly WIN Short-Form Book Review

The new book by Dr. Bryan Leese, At Sea Against the Soviet Fleet: The Evolution of the U.S. Navy Operational Intelligence in the Cold War, published late last year by USNI, is a great read for AFIO members. As a history book of intelligence in the Cold War, it is unique in its depth of information on how Naval Intelligence transformed itself between 1960 and 1980. Dr. Leese is a retired US Navy Captain and Intelligence Officer and is currently teaching at the Joint Forces Staff College. As a former enlisted Intelligence Specialist and from directing intelligence operations afloat and ashore, Bryan has a hands-on understanding of what it takes to collect, analyze and disseminate intelligence. Based on his doctoral thesis work with Kings College, London, the book is meticulously researched history and provides insights from original research of materials from the period and interviews with key leaders like Admiral Bobby Inman.

The relevance of this book to the study of intelligence is the critical analysis Dr. Leese brings to the question of why Naval Intelligence developed and matured a decentralized Operational Intelligence, or OPINTEL, approach. The book focuses on how Naval Intelligence responded to the technical and managerial challenges from an expanding Soviet maritime threat and from the new sources and methods created as the US Intelligence Community significantly expanded data collection and dissemination capabilities to provide precision intelligence. Leese explains that a key objective in the Naval Intelligence response was to stay close to its customers to enable decision advantage at the strategic and operational levels. The Navy's carrier intelligence centers (CVICs) and its Ocean Surveillance Information System (OSIS) with Fleet Operational Surveillance Intelligence Centers/Facilities (FOSICs/FOSIFs) were created and designed to enable greater processing, analysis and direct dissemination to Naval operational leaders, afloat and ashore. Using insights from deep penetration and analysis from national agencies, Naval Intelligence professionals at the Fleet levels were able to provide timely, relevant and predictive intelligence that gained them credibility with a generation of Navy leaders.

This book's storytelling is superb in its “fusion” of geo-political challenges, technological developments like "Outlaw Shark" and the extreme importance of smart, focused, military personnel management. As a career Intelligence Officer, Captain Leese understands the culture of the US IC, Naval Intelligence and the "operators" of the U.S. Navy. This period, 1960-80, is key period in US Intelligence history. The story of how Naval Intelligence navigated changes in technology and threat capabilities in the 1960s and 70s provides important lessons to how US Intelligence must transform itself in the 21st century as it faces even greater technological advances like AI and the broader spectrum of threats from fifth generation warfare, drones and hypersonic missiles. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to really understand how intelligence professionals must master technology while staying focused on the mission, developing its people and its relaxations with its customers. It is also a fun read for us Cold War veterans.

Tony Cothron, an AFIO member and retired Naval Officer, was the 62nd Director of Naval Intelligence and is the Director of National Security and Intelligence Programs at Liberty University.