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 AFIO Central Office
 220 Spring St
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 Herndon, VA
 20170-6205
 Voice: 703 790 0320
 Fax: 703 991 1278
 Email: afio@afio.com

 © 2024  AFIO

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Released to members-only 12 November 2024...

A CIA Officer Imprisoned by China for 21 years

Barry Werth
on Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War
on a CIA Officer Imprisoned by China for 21 years

Interview of Thursday, 1 Aug 2024 with Barry Werth, author, Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War.
Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss the remarkable true story of the longest-held prisoner of war in American history, John Downey, Jr., a CIA officer captured in China during the Korean War and imprisoned for twenty-one years.
The interview runs 28 minutes with several Q&As.
Purchase "Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War" here.
"Extraordinary Fidelity" - Released 2011 CIA Documentary of CIA officers John T. Downey and Richard G. Fecteau on their remarkable faithfulness, shown not only by the men who were deprived of their freedom, but also by an Agency that never gave up hope. The film is available here.
For an in-depth look at the John Downey and Richard Fecteau saga, see "Extraordinary Fidelity: Two CIA Prisoners in China, 1952-73," by Nicholas Dujmovic, CIA Historian, in Studies in Intelligence, Volume 50, Number 4 (2006) here.

Access the WERTH video interview here or click above image.

Released to the public 17 November 2024...

A Career with the Marines and CIA in Cambodia, Vietnam, and India Burma

Barry Broman,
author, producer, photographer. Former Marine,
CIA Clandestine Service Officer, Station Chief, Diplomat,
on his years in Indochina

Interview of Thursday, 11 July 2024 with Barry Broman, author, producer, photographer. Former Marine, CIA Clandestine Service Officer, Station Chief, Diplomat.
Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss Barry's career, from joining the CIA after fighting in Vietnam as a Marine, Broman's first posting was war-torn Cambodia. His presence at the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975, escaping just before the Khmer Rouge took power. During his career, he was twice chief of station, once a deputy chief of station, and supervised an international paramilitary project in support of the Cambodian resistance to Vietnamese invaders. He was actively involved in several assignments in counternarcotics operations in Southeast Asia including a major "bust" that yielded 551 kilograms of high-grade heroin from a major drug trafficker. His "favorite agent" against a variety of "hard targets" was a fellow whose only demand was that his assignments be "life threatening." He survived them all.
He discusses some of the fascinating people he met and places he has been, with visits to little-known and rarely seen places like the Naga Hills on the India–Burma border, the world-famous but off-limits jade and ruby mines of Burma, and the strange "Starfish" case. Includes Marines in action in Vietnam, the ravages of war in Cambodia.
He was a teenage photographer for the Associated Press in Southeast Asia, then a Marine Corps infantry officer in combat in Vietnam before spending a quarter century as a "head-hunter" with dozens of recruits for the Clandestine Service in operations around the world. Mr. Broman received a BA in Political Science in 1967 followed by an MA in Southeast Asian Studies a year later. A lifelong photographer and traveler he has published many articles and books.
The interview runs 38 minutes with several Q&As.
Purchase "Indochina Hand" here.

Access the BROMAN video interview here or click above image.

Podcast 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.

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

Full no-cost, online version of Guide 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.

ARTICLES SOUGHT

AFIO is seeking 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:

• How A.Q. Khan’s nuclear proliferation efforts were uncovered and stopped.
• The breaking of the Nazi U-boat SHARK encryption system.
• 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.
• Other topics are also welcome.

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

Espionage-themed Walking Tours
in Washington D.C. and New York City
by Spyher Tours and Events

Spyher walking tours in Washington D.C. and New York City offered Wednesday - Sunday and available to book on Eventbrite: Georgetown Spy Tour, Embassy Row Spy Tour, Capitol Hill Spy Tour, Arlington National Cemetery CIA Memorial Wall Tour, SpyKids Mission Training, and The Spies of Wall Street.
Use promo code AFIOSPYTOUR for a 15% discount.
Visit Spyher to read more about our hosts and tours. Contact us to schedule a private event.

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. 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

AFIO STORE GIFT ITEMS

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.

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.

Still available - 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, 220 Spring St Suite 220, Herndon, VA 20170. Phone orders at 703-790-0320. Questions? Contact Annette at: annettej@afio.com. Order this and other store items online here.

Also available are our popular Intelligence Community 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.

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

Saturday, 23 November 2024, 10 AM – Washington, DC – Members-Only Event: Virginia Hall Exhibit – In-Person International Spy Museum Program

Among the many women who served in the SOE & OSS, Virginia Hall stands out as one of the most distinguished. She not only created a sophisticated spy network but also organized and armed French commandos deep behind enemy lines. We've recently redesigned a key exhibit in our "Spies & Spymasters" gallery to showcase Hall's incredible story with compelling artifacts from our collection. Members can join for this exclusive look at Virginia Hall and the process of how updates are made to our permanent exhibit. Hannah Saloio, SPY's Exhibits Developer, will lead a formal discussion in the Museum's Theater from 10 to 10:30 AM that will then be followed by coffee and pastries and an opportunity to chat with members of the Spy Museum team. This event is free of charge and open exclusively to Spy Museum members. You can join SPY as a member online or by calling 202.654.2840. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Additional Events:

30 Apr - 02 May 2025 – In Person – Cryptologic History Symposium - National Cryptological Foundation and NSA Center for Cryptologic History, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland

Since 1990, the Cryptologic History Symposium has served as an opportunity to present historical scholarship found in unclassified and declassified cryptologic records and engage in discussion about their significance to history. The event is an occasion for historians and those interested in history to gather for reflection and debate on relevant and important topics from the cryptologic past. Regular speakers include historians from CCH, the Intelligence Community, the defense establishment, the military services, scholars from American and international academic institutions, veterans of the cryptologic profession, graduate and undergraduate students, and noted authors. Past symposia have featured scholarship that set out new ways to consider our cryptologic heritage. The conference provides many opportunities to interact with leading historians and other experts. The mix of practitioners, scholars, and interested observers guarantees a lively debate that promotes an enhanced appreciation for past events and their applicability to current and future issues. More information and registration here.

30 Aug - 8 Sep 2025 - Mediterranean Cruise - Spies, Lies & Nukes announce Espionage on the High Seas! Plan NOW to join the late-summer 2025 cruise.

Instead of their traditional Spies, Lies & Nukes conference in 2024, Valerie Plame and other intelligence colleagues are thrilled to introduce an exciting variation for 2025: Spies at Sea. A combined cruise and conference through the breathtaking Mediterranean, from August 30 to September 8, 2025! See brochure here.

What to Expect:
•Intimate Conference Setting: Enjoy the same close-knit, engaging environment you've come to expect, with unparalleled access to our expert speakers.
• Exclusive Shore Excursions: Explore clandestine meeting spots, delve into espionage history, and more on excursions EXCLUSIVE TO OUR GROUP.
• Seminars at Sea: Participate in lectures and presentations led by Valerie Plame and other top intelligence professionals, all the while cruising through some of the Mediterranean's most iconic destinations.
• Special Events: Enjoy exclusive cocktail receptions, surprise activities, and one-on-one conversation time.

Exclusive Spies, Lies & Nukes Itinerary Highlights:
• Barcelona, Spain: Begin your adventure in this vibrant city.
• Valletta, Malta: Walk through history with guided tours led by espionage experts who will lift the veil on area spy stories and meeting sites.
• Mykonos, Greece: Discover the charm and beauty of this picturesque island.
• Ephesus, Turkey: Explore ancient ruins with a private guide and enjoy a unique group lunch, all while learning about intelligence activities that took place at each spot.
• Santorini, Greece: Experience the iconic beauty of Santorini with endless photographic opportunities.
• Naples, Italy: Enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant and an exclusive walking tour with a private guide while learning a few spy secrets from Naples, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.

We've secured a discounted rate that includes your stateroom, meals, classic beverage package, wi-fi, exclusive excursions, and all conference activities. These cabins will get booked quickly, so don't wait—book now and get $100 off!

This is your chance to combine professional enrichment with an unforgettable travel experience. Network with like-minded professionals, gain exclusive insights, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Secure Your Spot Today

Released to members-only...

A CIA Officer Imprisoned by China for 21 years

Barry Werth
on Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War
on a CIA Officer Imprisoned by China for 21 years

Interview of Thursday, 1 Aug 2024 with Barry Werth, author, Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War.
Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss the remarkable true story of the longest-held prisoner of war in American history, John Downey, Jr., a CIA officer captured in China during the Korean War and imprisoned for twenty-one years.
The interview runs 28 minutes with several Q&As.
Purchase "Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War" here.
"Extraordinary Fidelity" - Released 2011 CIA Documentary of CIA officers John T. Downey and Richard G. Fecteau on their remarkable faithfulness, shown not only by the men who were deprived of their freedom, but also by an Agency that never gave up hope. The film is available here.
For an in-depth look at the John Downey and Richard Fecteau saga, see "Extraordinary Fidelity: Two CIA Prisoners in China, 1952-73," by Nicholas Dujmovic, CIA Historian, in Studies in Intelligence, Volume 50, Number 4 (2006) here.

Access the WERTH video interview here or click above image.

A Career with the Marines and CIA in Cambodia, Vietnam, and India Burma

Barry Broman,
author, producer, photographer. Former Marine,
CIA Clandestine Service Officer, Station Chief, Diplomat,
on his years in Indochina

Interview of Thursday, 11 July 2024 with Barry Broman, author, producer, photographer. Former Marine, CIA Clandestine Service Officer, Station Chief, Diplomat.
Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss Barry's career, from joining the CIA after fighting in Vietnam as a Marine, Broman's first posting was war-torn Cambodia. His presence at the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975, escaping just before the Khmer Rouge took power. During his career, he was twice chief of station, once a deputy chief of station, and supervised an international paramilitary project in support of the Cambodian resistance to Vietnamese invaders. He was actively involved in several assignments in counternarcotics operations in Southeast Asia including a major "bust" that yielded 551 kilograms of high-grade heroin from a major drug trafficker. His "favorite agent" against a variety of "hard targets" was a fellow whose only demand was that his assignments be "life threatening." He survived them all.
He discusses some of the fascinating people he met and places he has been, with visits to little-known and rarely seen places like the Naga Hills on the India–Burma border, the world-famous but off-limits jade and ruby mines of Burma, and the strange "Starfish" case. Includes Marines in action in Vietnam, the ravages of war in Cambodia.
He was a teenage photographer for the Associated Press in Southeast Asia, then a Marine Corps infantry officer in combat in Vietnam before spending a quarter century as a "head-hunter" with dozens of recruits for the Clandestine Service in operations around the world. Mr. Broman received a BA in Political Science in 1967 followed by an MA in Southeast Asian Studies a year later. A lifelong photographer and traveler he has published many articles and books.
The interview runs 38 minutes with several Q&As.
Purchase "Indochina Hand" here.

Access the BROMAN video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

An Exciting Career with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Charles Cleveland, MG US Army(Ret),
former Director of Operations and Military Deputy Director of NGA on his Career

Interview of Monday, 1 July 2024 with MG Charles Cleveland, US Army (Ret) - former Director of Operations and Military Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Interviewer: Jennifer Daniel, former senior officer of NGA and ODNI.
Host: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss General Cleveland's long and fascinating career in multiple agencies in the Intelligence Community.
The interview runs 49 minutes with many Q&As.

Access the CLEVELAND video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

An Exciting Career with the CIA, Television, Hollywood, and the Law

Lillian Wang,
TV & Film Writer, Lawyer, Former CIA Clandestine Service Officer,
on Her Career Trajectory

Interview of Thursday, 20 June 2024 with Lillian Wang, TV & Film Writer, Lawyer, Former CIA Clandestine Service Officer
Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss Lillian's impressive career trajectory. From immigrating to the U.S. at a young age, mastering the language and customs, exceling at school, joining the CIA and undergoing training as a Clandestine Services officer. Serving many years here and abroad. Resigning for family reasons and obtaining a law degree. And then shifting to a career in TV and Movies as a writer and subject matter expert on CIA, the IC, espionage, spying, to bring accuracy to productions for which she has been hired. She provides career advice, explains some of her CIA training, and the satisfactions she found working in the Agency.
The interview runs 19 minutes with many Q&As.

Access the WANG video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

A Look at Where Intelligence Agencies Are in the 21st Century

Alma Katsu, author, former NSA and CIA Officer,
on her upcoming book series: The Spy Who Vanished

Interview of Monday, 17 June 2024 with Alma Katsu, author, former NSA and CIA Officer, on her upcoming book series: The Spy Who Vanished - a realistic look at where intelligence agencies are in the 21st century
Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
The interview runs 17 minutes with many Q&As.
The Spy Who Vanished may be purchased here
Explore her website or her books on Amazon.

Access the KATSU video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

An Exceptional Career at NSA, the US Cyber Command, and the U.S. Navy

RADM Margaret "Peg" Klein
speaking with Everette Jordan
on her career at NSA, the US Cyber Command, and the US Navy

Interview of Tuesday, 28 May 2024 with RADM Margaret "Peg" Klein on her exceptional career at NSA, the US Cyber Command, and with the US Navy.
Co-Hosts: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer, and Interviewer Everett Jordan, former Deputy Assistant of the Treasury for IC Integration, current AFIO Board.
The interview runs 25 minutes.

Access the RADM Peg Klein video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Cold War and the Making of Miami

Dr Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs
on Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami

Interview of Monday, 20 May 2024 with Dr Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs on their new book: Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami (PublicAffairs Books, Apr 2024) on the history of how the entire city of Miami was constructed in the image of the US-Cuba rivalry. From the Bay of Pigs invasion to the death of Fidel Castro.
Host: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss secret operations, corruption, crime, and a city teeming with spies: why Miami was as crucial to winning the Cold War as Washington DC or Moscow.
The interview runs 48 minutes.
Covert City may be purchased here.

Access the HOUGHTON-DRIGGS video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Army OSINT Office's New Strategy

Dennis Eger and Shawn Nilius
on Army OSINT Office's New Strategy

Interview of Monday, 29 Apr 2024 between Dennis Eger, OSINT Defense Intelligence Senior Leader, and Shawn Nilius, Director of Army OSINT Office
Interviewer: Jennifer Daniel, former senior officer of NGA and ODNI.
Host: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss the Army Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Strategy. The Army defines OSINT as a foundational intelligence discipline playing a central role in support of operations.
The interview runs 51 minutes and includes several Q&As.

Access the OSINT video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Persistent Rivalry between the US and Russia

Brian J. Morra,
Former US Air Force Intelligence Officer,
Author: "The Righteous Arrows"
on the persistent rivalry between the US and Russia

Interview of Monday, 15 Apr 2024 between Brian J. Morra, Former US Air Force Intelligence Officer and senior aerospace executive; and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer. They discuss Brian's semi-fiction book "The Righteous Arrows" on the stubbornly persistent rivalry between the US and Russia in a story of international espionage and war.
The interview runs 18 minutes and includes several Q&As.
More about the "The Righteous Arrows" or to purchase, do so here
His earlier book "The Able Archers" may be purchased here.

Access the Morro video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

An Incredible Spy Career and
What It Took to Achieve

Jonna Mendez,
Former CIA Chief of Disguise, on her latest book
"In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked.

Interview of Wednesday, 27 March 2024 of Jonna Mendez, Former CIA Chief of Disguise, on her latest book "In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked."
Interviewer is Linda Millis, former CIA, NSA, ODNI, who is currently Assistant Professor at Marymount University and serves on AFIO's Board.
Host is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
A courageous story of being a female spy at the height of the Cold War. She began her CIA career as a "contract wife" performing secretarial duties for the Agency. Yet Mendez had a talent for espionage and soon took on more significant roles at the Agency. She parlayed her interest in photography into an operational role overseas. She lived under cover and served tours of duty all over the globe, rising first to become an international spy and ultimately to Chief of Disguise at CIA's Office of Technical Service.

The interview runs 29 minutes and includes several Q&As.
More about Jonna Mendez and her books
"In True Face" can be purchased here.

Access the Mendez video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy

Alexander Rose,
author, historian, journalist,
on The Lion And The Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy

Interview of Tuesday, 13 February 2024. Alexander Rose, author and historian, on his latest book "The Lion And The Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy."
Host and Interviewer is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
In 1861, soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, two secret agents — one a Confederate, the other his Union rival — were dispatched to neutral Britain, each entrusted with a vital mission. This is the untold tale of two implacable foes and their twilight struggle for the highest stakes involving the lucrative Cotton trade.
The interview runs 30 minutes and includes several Q&As.
On X he is @AlexRoseWriter
The Lion and The Fox is available here.

Access the Rose video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

Duplicity and Betrayal in Espionage

James Roth, author and former CIA Officer,
on The Dead Drop: Espionage is a Dangerous Game for Amateurs

Interview of Friday, 9 February 2024. James Roth, author and former CIA Officer, on The Dead Drop: Espionage is a Dangerous Game for Amateurs, explores themes of duplicity and betrayal. The novel captures the human tension of real-world espionage with a memorable cast of characters. Of the book, former CIA Officer James Lawler wrote: "...a riveting tale of spies, youthful idealism, and adult betrayal, which accelerates to a thrilling climax worthy of a major motion picture."

Host and Interviewer is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
The interview runs 22 minutes and includes several Q&As.

Access the Roth video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

Who Was Frederick Rutland aka 'Agent Shinkawa'?

Ronald Drabkin, author
Beverly Hills Spy: The Double-Agent War Hero Who Helped Japan Attack Pearl Harbor

Interview of Wednesday, 1 February 2024. Ronald Drabkin, author of Beverly Hills Spy: The Double-Agent War Hero Who Helped Japan Attack Pearl Harbor, the story of the WWI hero who became a fixture of high society in Golden Age Hollywood while acting as a double agent for the Japanese Empire as it prepared to attack Pearl Harbor.
"Thanks to recently declassified FBI files, Drabkin discovered why the UK, US, and Japan would prefer to keep their dealings with Frederick Rutland, aka 'Agent Shinkawa,' secret forever.... The life of a spy has never seemed so addictive or harrowing. Drabkin takes an evenhanded approach, portraying Rutland as complicated—equal parts hero and villain. This winning and dramatic biography pierces the veil of secrecy surrounding historical events." — Booklist
Host and Interviewer is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
The interview runs 19 minutes and includes several Q&As.

Access the Drabkin video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

Would a Victorious post-Ukraine Russia Eye the Baltics?

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.

Podcast here.

CIA Digital and Cyber Capabilities

Jennifer Ewbank, Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation,
responsible for accelerating the development and integration of digital and cyber capabilities across all of CIA's mission areas.

Interview of Wednesday, 3 January 2024. Jennifer Ewbank, Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation, responsible for accelerating the development and integration of digital and cyber capabilities across all of CIA's mission areas.
Interviewer: Paul Hollingsworth PhD, former senior CIA Executive in Analysis and Operations. Ms Ewbank retired from her CIA post shortly after this interview.
Host: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
The interview runs 36 minutes and includes several Q&As.
Jennifer Ewbank's LinkedIn page is here.

Access the Jennifer Ewbank video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Secret Pigeon Service of WWII

Gordon Corera, BBC National Security Correspondent and author
on Operation Columba - The Secret Pigeon Service: The Untold Story of World War II Resistance in Europe

Interview of Friday, 1 December 2023. Gordon Corera, BBC National Security Correspondent, Author and Journalist, on his book "Operation Columba - The Secret Pigeon Service: The Untold Story of World War II Resistance in Europe."
The fascinating, untold story of how British intelligence secretly used homing pigeons as part of a clandestine espionage operation to gather information, communicate, and coordinate with members of the Resistance to defeat the Nazis in occupied Europe during World War II.
Interviewer/host is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
The interview runs 21 minutes and includes several Q&As.
"Operation Columba - The Secret Pigeon Service" is available here

Access the Gordon Corera video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Secret History of Women at the CIA

Liza Mundy,
Journalist/Author, on her book
"The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA"

Interview of Friday, 10 Nov 2023 between 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. They 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.

Access the Liza Mundy video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

Cambodian Allies who Defied the Khmer Rouge

Dr. Chip Beck,
CIA Officer, Foreign Service Officer, Naval Commander on
"Final Days of Heroes"

Interview of Thursday, 19 Oct 2023 between Chip Beck, CIA Officer, Sailor, Artist; and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer. They discuss Chip's book "Final Days of Heroes: How a CIA Agent and his Cambodian Allies Fought, Defied, and Resisted the Khmer Rouge."
The interview runs 25 minutes and includes several Q&As.
His book FINAL DAYS OF HEROES is available for purchase here

Access the Chip Beck video interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

Iran and Its Surrogates

Recorded 31 January 2024

Norman Roule, ODNI National Intelligence Manager, Iran, on
Attacks on US Forces by Iranian Proxies

In this inaugural AFIO Special Edition episode, former CIA Division Chief and National Intelligence Manager for ODNI, Iran, Norman Roule discusses the aerial system attack at a military base in Jordan near the Syrian border last week that killed 3 service members. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.

The interview runs 27 minutes and includes several Q&As.

Access the Norman Roule interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Soviet Nuclear War Crisis of 1983

Brian J. Morra, USAF Intelligence Officer
on The Able Archers on the 1983 Soviet Nuclear War Crisis

Interview of Tuesday, 17 Oct 2023 between Brian J. Morra, Former US Air Force Intelligence Officer and senior aerospace executive; and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer. They discuss Brian's semi-fiction book "The Able Archers" on the 1983 Soviet nuclear war crisis.

The interview runs 26 minutes and includes several Q&As.
His book "The Able Archers" may be purchased here.

Access the Brian Morra interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.

The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination

Stuart A. Reid,
Executive Editor of Foreign Affairs,

on "The Lumumba Plot - The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination"

Interview of Monday, 2 Oct 2023 between Stuart A. Reid, Executive Editor of Foreign Affairs, prolific author/writer; and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss Stuart's new book "The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination."
The interview runs 30 minutes and includes several Q&As.
The Lumumba Plot can be purchased here.

Access the Stuart Reid interview here or click above image.

Podcast here.