Weekly Intelligence Notes

26 March - 01 April 2025
(Issue 13)

CONTENTS

Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)

General Interests

• Exclusive: Trump administration is pointing spy satellites at US border - Reuters, 27 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Czech authorities block Chinese satellite investment over spy fears - TVP World, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Trump declassifies files on FBI’s secret spy operation on his first White House campaign - Washington Times, 25 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Not So Secure: Drones Can Now Listen to Underwater Messages - SciTech Daily, 27 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• US religious freedom panel urges sanctions against India's external spy agency - Reuters, 26 Mar 25

Special Collections

• Counterespionage - Arrests, convictions, expulsions, and more...
• Cyberespionage - New actors, collection and sabotage ops, countermeasures, policy, other...
• Covert Action - Influence ops, assassinations, sabotage, intel agency paramilitary action, countermeasures, etcetera...

• Foreign Spies to Team Trump: 👊🇺🇸🔥 - New York Times, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Annual Threat Assessment - ODNI, 25 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• What to know about the Espionage Act and Signalgate - Axios, 26 Mar 25
• Senate Intelligence Committee Holds Worldwide Threats Hearing - Lawfare No Bull, 27 Mar 25
• Subsea Secrets: Spies, Sabotage, and the Global Race for Internet Cables - Boundless Discovery, 27 Mar 25

• Trump Is Still Obsessed With the Hunter Biden Laptop Letter - by former CIA Executive John Sipher - The Bulwark, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Warning Signals (15 min) - by former Deputy Director of CIA for Operations Jack Devine - Straight from the Shoulder Podcast, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Declassified: A Former Station Chief on the Real CIA (87 min) - with Former CIA Executive Ralf Goff - Rep. Dan Crenshaw, 29 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Taiwan has already lost its China spy war - by former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler - Washington Examiner, 25 Mar 25
• Regime change and the breaking of alliances - by former PDB Staffer and CIA Senior Analyst David Priess - Engelsberg Ideas, 25 Mar 25

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

• Counterintelligence at Its Core: Assessing and Preventing Foreign Espionage by Kevin Riehle (25 May 25)


• Admiral Canaris: How Hitler's Chief of Intelligence Betrayed the Nazis by David Alan Johnson (18 Jun 24)


• Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America's First Cyber Spy by Eric OʻNeill (26 Mar 19)

Intelligence Matters on Film: Black Bag - Steven Soderbergh (2025)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

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

Obituaries

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

• Call for Information: Nephew of OSS and CIA officer Robert Stock (1916-1983), last seen alive by family in 1957, seeks information on uncle's past.
• Call for Information: Child of CIA officer seeks former CIA SE division branch chiefs (1980-1994), CIA officers stationed in Rome (1986-90).
• Call for Study Participants: Current and former intel professionals experienced in collecting, analyzing, or disseminating intelligence that directly informs organizational goals/missions in federal agencies, military, law enforcement, or private sector.
• Call for Information: CIA in 1970 FIFA World Cup or 1968 Olympic Games.
• Call for Papers: Twenty Years After the Butler Review: Have we learned anything? Oxford Intelligence Group Conference. 5-6 June 2025. 01 Apr 25 deadline for proposals.
• Academic Opportunity: The International Security & Intelligence Programmer at Emmanuel College in the University of Cambridge, Summer 2025. Residential Programmer: Cambridge, Sunday 6 July to Saturday 2 August 2025.
• Information Sought: 1969 "KGB Wanted List"
• Call for Collaboration: AFIO member seeks help establishing YouTube channel focused on Russian and Chinese influence operations.
• Internship Opportunity: International private intelligence company accepting applications for analyst internship program.
• Call for Information: Child of former CIA Como Officer Walter E. McLeod seeks information about father's life and work.

Employment

• Director, School of Criminology and Security Studies, Full Professor or Associate Professor - Indiana State University - Terre Haute, Indiana
• Open-Source Intelligence Laboratory and Professor of Intelligence and National Security Studies - University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso, Texas
• 2 Assistant Professors in Intelligence and Security - Institute of Security and Global Affairs, University of Leiden, Netherlands
• Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies - Mercyhurst University - Erie, Pennsylvania
• Associate Professor and Chair of National Security - University of New Haven, Connecticut
• Wanted: Former intelligence officers to lead spy-themed walking tours in Washington, D.C. - Spyher Tours
• Assistant Professor - Intelligence Studies - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona

Upcoming AFIO Events

• Thu, 3 Apr 2025, 11:30 a.m. - Las Vegas, NV - The "Roger E. McCarthy" Las Vegas AFIO Chapter holds general membership and speaker meeting.
• Mon, 7 Apr 2025, noon - San Antonio, TX - AFIO San Antonio TX Chapter meets for unclassified intelligence briefing on Iranian missiles in the Russian-Ukrainian War.

Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

• Tuesday, 26 August - Friday, 29 August 2025 - Copenhagen, Denmark - The Practice of Situational Awareness sponsored by Spyher.
• 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.

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.

- CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis -
Fireside Chat
AFIO IC National Luncheon
Friday, 02 May 2025, McLean, VA

Registration Opened Today

Michael Ellis was sworn in as CIA Deputy Director on 10 February 2025. He has held a variety of senior national security positions, including General Counsel of the National Security Agency and Senior Director for Intelligence Programs at the National Security Council. Ellis previously served in the White House Counsel's Office, providing legal advice on national security and foreign relations. Prior to the White House, he was General Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Before returning to government, DD/CIA Ellis was the General Counsel of Rumble. DD/CIA Ellis is a graduate of Yale Law School and Dartmouth College. Following law school, he served as a clerk to two federal judges.

Schedule:

1030 - Check-in for preregistered attendees (no walk-ins)
1100 - CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis - fireside chat with Q&As
12-1300 - Lunch
1300 - Second Speaker (TBA)
1400 - Event ends

Registration and Cost: Registration and credit card payment required before event. Lunch is $60 (members) or $75 (guests, Subscribers). Students $30 - limited seats.
Registration opens 2 April 2025 and is available while space remains. Registration closes 1700 hours, Friday, 25 Apr 2025 or earlier when all seats taken.

Register HERE while space remains.

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22102. We do not provide special overnight room rates, but if you wish to make room reservations at the hotel, do so here.

Cancellations: No refund for cancellations after 21 Apr 2025. Payment for reservations canceled 22 to 30 Apr 2025 will be converted to donations to AFIO. Payments for reservations canceled after 30 Apr 2025 are forfeited; the meal will have been guaranteed at the hotel per the contract.

Attendees must be AFIO members or accompanied by a member. For security reasons, no late or last-minute substitutions.

Please direct questions to events@afio.com

- Released Today to Members Only -

Historian and CIA Officer Nicholas Reynolds PhD
on his book
Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence

Recorded: Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes
Duration: 29 mins

Purchase Need to Know here.

The AFIO Now video and podcast series is proudly sponsored by
Northwest Financial Advisors.

- Spy Cruise -

Valerie Plame's Spies, Lies & Nukes Conference, in collaboration with the International Spy Museum, brings you Spies at Sea 2025—an unparalleled espionage experience on the high seas! 30 August - 08 September 2025. AFIO members receive $100 discount (use code "AFIO"). More information and booking details in "Events" section below and here.

- AFIO Scholarship -

Applications Being Accepted now until 1 June 2025
Five Undergrad, Five Graduate Scholarships
$5,000 EACH.

Do not let budget limitations stop you from reaching your potential. Let AFIO offset some of your education costs. Applications for 2025 have opened and can be sent to us online until 1 June 2025. No applications accepted after midnight 1 June 2025.

View scholarship requirements here.

- New From the International Spy Museum -

Guided Tour. The International Spy Museum announces new guided public tours for its visitors through its volunteer docent program, The Honorable William H. Webster Docent Corps. On Fridays and Sundays at 11 AM and 1 PM, volunteer docents will lead visitors through a special one-hour long highlights tour of the permanent exhibit and will answer questions about the material. More information: here.

Podcast Reboot. The longest-running podcast on intelligence, the International Spy Museum’s SpyCast, gets a full refresh, kicking off the new year with a brand-new host, length, and format. Partnering with creative audio agency Goat Rodeo and curated podcast network Airwaves, the Museum will pivot from its long form interview format to the production of shorter, narrative-driven 25-minute episodes that answer specific questions about intelligence tradecraft, headlines, or processes that fascinate and mystify audiences. More information here

National Intelligence Summer Academy (NISA) - High School Students Grades 10-12
14-18 July 2025 - Cummings, GA

University of North Georgia, Cummings Campus,
300 Aquatic Circle Cummings, GA 30040

Are you thrilled or fascinated by the field of intelligence – spying and counter spying?

Are you considering a career in the U.S. Intelligence Community? Did you know that the U.S. Intelligence Community is made up of 18 separate agencies? Sign up for an intense and exciting five days of learning from intelligence practitioners, University of North Georgia instructors, and highly qualified MA and Ph.D. degree holders.

This Academy will: Lift the veil of secrecy on the hidden world of intelligence, exploring the history, challenges, and controversies; Provide a context for understanding the important role intelligence has played in our nation's history and continues to play today; Provide foundational knowledge of intelligence, setting the stage for possible careers in the field; Provide opportunities to learn from the Academy's instructors include academia, practitioners, and guest speakers.
Hear from experts that have worked with the CIA, FBI, and the former Soviet Union KGB.
Explore, Apply, Learn more

Spyher Winter Savings
Regularly scheduled spy tours are available
through Georgetown, Embassy Row, Capitol Hill, and Arlington National Cemetery.
Book now on Eventbrite

Spyher Gift Cards
Give the Gift of an Exclusive Spy History Tour with a Former Intelligence Officer
Purchase an e-gift card here.
For a physical gift card contact rosanna@spyher.co

AFIO Exclusive Content

AFIO Now interviews, video and audio-only forms, are proudly sponsored by
Northwest Financial Advisors

Click here to watch interviews in the AFIO Now series released in 2025.
View interviews from 2020 to 2024 here.
Watch public-release interviews on our YouTube channel or listen to them in podcast form at the links in the section above.

Log into the member-only area for member-only features.

THE MARKETPLACE

THE AFIO STORE

Special Gifts for Colleagues, Self, or Others

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 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.

Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)

General Interests

Exclusive: Trump administration is pointing spy satellites at US border - Reuters, 27 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

The Trump administration has directed two intelligence agencies to train their satellite surveillance capabilities on the U.S.-Mexico border region as part of a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and drug cartels. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which are part of the Department of Defense, oversee spy satellites and analyze imagery for the Pentagon and other intelligence organizations. Their engagement, coupled with troop deployments, shows increasing militarization of the southern border, where President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency. Reuters could not determine whether the effort, which has not been previously reported, would gather imagery of U.S. territory. (Access here.)

Czech authorities block Chinese satellite investment over spy fears - TVP World, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

The Czech government has blocked a Chinese company’s investment in a satellite station over concerns it could be used for spying. The firm called Emposat, based in Beijing, had plans to operate a satellite dish at the site in the village of Vlkoš in the eastern Moravia region. But in a meeting behind closed doors last week, ministers signed an order prohibiting the venture. It is the first time the Czech authorities have implemented the strongest measures permissible under a 2021 law on screening foreign investments, media reports said. The leaked decree, first reported by the Seznam Zprávy website, said that Emposat’s involvement “may pose a threat to the security of the Czech Republic,” with sources telling the publication that the decision was based on warnings from the country’s intelligence services. (Access here.)

Trump declassifies files on FBI’s secret spy operation on his first White House campaign - Washington Times, 25 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

President Trump on Tuesday signed an order declassifying all FBI files on Crossfire Hurricane, the government’s secret probe that searched fruitlessly for evidence that Mr. Trump colluded with the Russians to win the White House in 2016. Mr. Trump’s legal team called the FBI’s probe of his campaign, which continued into his first term in the White House, an example of the weaponization of law enforcement and prosecutions against the president and something that must be exposed. “We believe that it’s long past time for the American people to have a full and complete understanding of exactly what is in those files,” Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary, said as he handed Mr. Trump the memorandum to sign. (Access here.)

Not So Secure: Drones Can Now Listen to Underwater Messages - SciTech Daily, 27 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

Researchers from Princeton and MIT have developed a method to intercept underwater communications from the air, challenging long-standing beliefs about the security of underwater transmissions. The team created a device that uses radar to eavesdrop on underwater acoustic signals, or sonar, by decoding the tiny vibrations those signals produce on the water’s surface. In principle, the technique could also roughly identify the location of an underwater transmitter, the researchers said. In a paper presented at ACM MobiCom on November 20, the team described the technology and proposed strategies to defend against the new type of eavesdropping it enables. They successfully demonstrated the system on Lake Carnegie, a small man-made lake in Princeton. While applying this method in the open ocean presents far greater challenges, the researchers believe it could be achieved with substantial engineering advancements. (Access here.)

US religious freedom panel urges sanctions against India's external spy agency - Reuters, 26 Mar 25

Minorities in India face deteriorating treatment, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said on Tuesday, and it recommended targeted sanctions against India's external spy agency over alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists. The panel's annual report also said communist-ruled Vietnam stepped up efforts to regulate and control religious affairs. It recommended Vietnam - a country like India with which Washington has sought to build close ties given shared concerns about China - also be designated a "country of particular concern." Analysts say Washington has long seen New Delhi as a counter to China's rising influence in Asia and elsewhere, and, hence, overlooked human rights issues in India. It is unlikely the U.S. government will sanction India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spy service, as the panel's recommendations are not binding. Since 2023, India's alleged targeting of Sikh separatists in the U.S. and Canada has emerged as a wrinkle in U.S.-India ties, with Washington charging an ex-Indian intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav, in a foiled U.S. plot. India labels Sikh separatists as security threats and has denied involvement. (Access here.)

Special Collections

Counterespionage - Recent arrests, convictions, expulsions, and more...

• Chinese Nationals Arrested on Espionage Charges Tracked Philippine, U.S. Vessels at Subic Bay - U.S. Naval Institute, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Taiwanese soldiers guarding president’s office were spying for China  - Washington Post, 28 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Fired federal workers targeted by secretive Chinese network - USA Today, 25 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• MSS discloses cleaner among outsourced staff leaking state secrets to overseas intelligence agencies - Global Times, 28 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• NSA warned of vulnerabilities in Signal app a month before Houthi strike chat - CBS News, 25 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

Cyberespionage - New actors, collection and sabotage ops, countermeasures, policy, other...

• Stop gutting America’s cyber defense agency - The Hill, 26 Mar 25
• ‘It’s so unbelievable': Cyber world stunned over war planners using Signal - Politico, 25 Mar 25
• Chinese APT ‘FamousSparrow’ Returns: Upgraded Malware, Renewed Espionage, and North American Targets - The Realist Juggernaut, 27 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• PRC Poses Biggest Cyber Threat to US Government, Intel Report Says - MeriTalk, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Again and again, NSO Group’s customers keep getting their spyware operations caught - TechCrunch, 28 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Countering nation-state cyber espionage: A CISO field guide - Computer Weekly, 28 Mar 25

Covert Action - Influence ops, assassinations, sabotage, intel agency paramilitary action, countermeasures, etcetera...

• Influencer Paid by Russia Added to White House Press Pool - Daily Beast, 28 Mar 25
• Allegations of Indian interference rock Canada election campaign - The Guardian, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Russia’s Destabilization Strategy: Allegations of FSB and SVR Involvement in Moldova’s Crisis - Lansing Institute, 26 Mar 25

Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

Foreign Spies to Team Trump: 👊🇺🇸🔥 - New York Times, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

If you’re running the security directorate of a hostile nation, savor this moment. It’s never been easier to steal secrets from the United States government. Can you even call it stealing when it’s this simple? The Trump administration has unlocked the vault doors, fired half of the security guards and asked the rest to roll pennies. Walk right in. Take what you want. This is the golden age. In its first two months, the Trump administration has made move after move that exposes the government to penetration by foreign intelligence services. It’s not just the group chat about forthcoming military strikes that The Atlantic revealed on Monday — although that was, to be clear, as audacious and ridiculous a security breach as there has been in decades. The administration short-circuited the process for conducting background checks on top officials, turned tens of thousands of people with access to government secrets into disgruntled ex-employees and announced it was lowering its guard against covert foreign influence operations. (Access here.)

Annual Threat Assessment - ODNI, 25 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) is the Intelligence Community’s (IC) official, coordinated evaluation of an array of threats to U.S. citizens, the Homeland, and U.S. interests in the world. A diverse set of foreign actors are targeting U.S. health and safety, critical infrastructure, industries, wealth, and government. State adversaries and their proxies are also trying to weaken and displace U.S. economic and military power in their regions and across the globe. Both state and nonstate actors pose multiple immediate threats to the Homeland and U.S. national interests. Terrorist and transnational criminal organizations are directly threatening our citizens. Cartels are largely responsible for the more than 52,000 U.S. deaths from synthetic opioids in the 12 months ending in October 2024 and helped facilitate the nearly three million illegal migrant arrivals in 2024, straining resources and putting U.S. communities at risk. A range of cyber and intelligence actors are targeting our wealth, critical infrastructure, telecom, and media. Nonstate groups are often enabled, both directly and indirectly, by state actors, such as China and India as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers. State adversaries have weapons that can strike U.S. territory, or disable vital U.S. systems in space, for coercive aims or actual war. These threats reinforce each other, creating a vastly more complex and dangerous security environment. (Access here.)

What to know about the Espionage Act and Signalgate - Axios, 26 Mar 25

Trump administration officials' use of a Signal chat that included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, rocked Washington this week, raising questions about possible violations of the Espionage Act. Why it matters: The Signal chat's revelation of sensitive information about airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen threatens to wreck dire political consequences on members of President Trump's national security team. The big picture: The saga has sparked speculation over whether Trump officials violated the Espionage Act by coordinating by coordinating "national defense" plans in such a careless manner. The incident has also proven a political boon to Democrats, who have zeroed in on calls to oust Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz from their positions. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce legislation that would ensure the Espionage Act's prohibition against disclosing classified information would extend to transmitting it over unsecured channels, like Signal, Axios' Andrew Solender scooped Tuesday. (Access here.)

Senate Intelligence Committee Holds Worldwide Threats Hearing - Lawfare No Bull, 27 Mar 25

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On March 25, the Senate Intelligence Committee held the annual Worldwide Threats hearing based on the Annual Threat Assessment of the United States Intelligence Community. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, National Security Agency and Central Security Service Director Timothy Haugh, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse testified before the committee. Members of the intelligence committee questioned the witnesses about their participation in a Signal group chat that discussed plans to conduct strikes in Yemen, threats posed by Russia and China, the intelligence community’s assessment of emerging threats, and more. (Access here.)

Subsea Secrets: Spies, Sabotage, and the Global Race for Internet Cables - Boundless Discovery, 27 Mar 25

This week, Boundless Discovery dives into an overlooked but critical competition: the race to control the world’s underwater internet highways. Just 570 deep-sea cables carry 95% of intercontinental internet traffic, making them vital to communication, commerce, and security. America is spying on them, China is rapidly building a competing network, Russia is suspected of finding ways to break them, and everyone else is caught in the middle. With a history of espionage and suspected sabotage, these cables are more than just infrastructure—they’re battlegrounds. Let’s dive in. Our technology mapped events and figures outlined in 82 news articles across 64 different sources to deliver the complete picture, ensuring clarity amidst the complexity. Explore our comprehensive event graph below—packed with insights too rich and interconnected to capture in words alone. (Access here.)

Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

(Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives
and Recent Endeavors)

Trump Is Still Obsessed With the Hunter Biden Laptop Letter - by former CIA Executive John Sipher - The Bulwark, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

Along with fifty other former senior intelligence officials, I signed a letter in October 2020 warning that Rudy Giuliani’s disclosure of a laptop allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden—just three weeks before the election—posed a potential risk of Russian interference in our electoral process. The laptop contained sexually explicit content, raising concerns about its timing and origins. When Trump lost the election, he and his supporters constructed a strawman argument by distorting our words and falsely attributing deceptive intentions to our letter. Ever since, Trump has repeatedly attacked the authors of the letter, including former CIA Directors Michael Hayden, Leon Panetta, and John Brennan. He has raised the issue on multiple occasions, and most recently, during a March 14 speech at the Justice Department, where he accused the 51 signers of lying and breaking the law “on a colossal scale.” He even mentioned it during his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office. (Access here.)

Warning Signals (15 min) - by former Deputy Director of CIA for Operations Jack Devine - Straight from the Shoulder Podcast, 26 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)

In this episode, Jack and Julia discuss the US officials' Signal chat group debacle and why Jack thinks that there’s value in formality when it comes to government decision-making. Tune in for unique insights on: How government decisions of import typically get made, and what, if anything, is different about this Signal conversation; The evolution of secure communications and what’s lost - and gained - when technology makes communicating easier than ever; If the speed of technology is translating into the speed of decision-making at the highest levels, and if this is putting us at risk. Join us for a history-informed, non-partisan conversation on this critical and timely topic! (Access here.)

Declassified: A Former Station Chief on the Real CIA - with Former CIA Executive Ralf Goff - Rep. Dan Crenshaw, 29 Mar 25 (87 min)(Member Contribution)

Ralph Goff is a 35-year veteran of the CIA and a 6-time station chief who served in Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia. He gives an inside look into how the CIA manages their agents and assets in some of the most dangerous regions on Earth. We discuss the state of play with Russia, the Middle East, and Mexico. We cover fact vs fiction in Hollywood and the real skillsets that make for a good spy. And we look at how the Trump Administration will restore public trust in the intelligence community and strengthen our capabilities to counter adversaries like Russia and Iran. Ralph Goff also served as Chief of CIA’s National Resources Division, working extensively with “C Suite” level US private sector executives in the financial, banking, and security sectors. Today he is a risk management consultant and contributor for The Cipher Brief. (Access here.)

Taiwan has already lost its China spy war - by former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler - Washington Examiner, 25 Mar 25

Social media exploded late last week regarding Elon Musk’s Friday visit to the Pentagon. A seemingly well-sourced New York Times story claimed that Musk would be briefed on the Department of Defense’s overarching war plan for China. It should go without saying that this is a highly classified and sensitive document. This news thus alarmed many, with former intelligence officers such as myself asking why Musk had any “need to know” such plans, given that he isn’t a national security official. Then there’s the concern that President Donald Trump later noted: Musk’s extensive commercial and financial ties to China. Those ties make him liable to blackmail or coercion. The Trump administration fired back angrily, asserting that the Times‘s story was fake news and demanding any leakers be found. But if it was fake, how was it even a leak? Regardless, the Pentagon is now commencing that leak hunt, complete with lie-detector tests. One problem?(Access here.)

Regime change and the breaking of alliances - by former PDB Staffer and CIA Senior Analyst David Priess - Engelsberg Ideas, 25 Mar 25

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is in crisis. Just over a year after Lloyd Austin, then the US defence secretary, called it ‘the most powerful and successful alliance in history’, a new administration in Washington has cast doubt on America’s commitment to European defence. Although officials and observers were given ample warning signs from the new president, Donald Trump, there is nonetheless a pervasive sense of astonishment and dismay among European leaders over NATO’s rapid and possibly imminent demise. Stepping back, their sense of shock is made more understandable. Policymakers and international scholars alike have had their conceptions of alliances shaped primarily by the dominant schools of neorealist or neoliberal institutionalist thought. The former (focusing on the crucial role of state-versus-state power calculations) and the latter (emphasising the cumulative benefits of bureaucratised cooperation) have prepared us poorly to anticipate and address alliance dynamics. (Access here.)

Section IV - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Counterintelligence at Its Core: Assessing and Preventing Foreign Espionage
by Kevin Riehle
(Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 25 May 25)

"An essential guide to counterintelligence, blending theory with case studies to fill a crucial gap in the intelligence literature. Both insightful and accessible, this book offers a rare, practitioner-driven perspective for anyone keen to explore the intricacies of CI." ―Giangiuseppe Pili, James Madison University What is the core purpose of counterintelligence? What does it involve? To answer these questions, Kevin Riehle explains in detail how counterintelligence analysis supports the mission of thwarting adversaries―how a foreign entity's intelligence cycle can be exploited, disrupted, or manipulated―in order to gain decision advantage. Case studies of operations involving the Soviet Union and Russia also illustrate how counterintelligence-derived information can support broader US national security decisionmaking.

Order book here.

Admiral Canaris: How Hitler's Chief of Intelligence Betrayed the Nazis
by David Alan Johnson
(18 June 2024)

Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, Adolf Hitler’s chief of military intelligence, accomplished something that neither President Franklin D. Roosevelt nor Prime Minister Winston Churchill could ever achieve – he saved the lives of hundreds Jewish refugees and other racial and political undesirables by rescuing them from Nazi Germany and other Nazi-occupied countries. Seen as a quiet and uninteresting career naval officer, Canaris’ unmilitary bearing was actually a cover he had devised for himself, camouflaging a very sharp, and rebellious, mind. Admiral Canaris is a page-turning story of one of the most important and least likely saboteurs within the Third Reich. Initially a supporter of Hitler and the plan to re-arm Germany, Canaris was appointed to direct the Abwehr – Germany’s military intelligence agency – after a long career in the navy built on fostering relationships with foreign agents. But when the Nazis began their campaign of assassination and terror, including the systematic murder of thousands of Jews and other “undesirables,” the admiral became determined to do everything possible to fight Hitler and the Nazis. After the failure of Operation Pastorious, a spy mission to disarm American manufacturing plants, Hitler extolled his executive committee for risking German lives instead of the lives of “criminals or Jews.” That speech gave Canaris an idea. He would go on to disguise refugees as Abwehr agents and sent them to South America, under the official designation of “infiltration agents,” where they joined hundreds of authentic German agents operating in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and nearly every other South American country. Canaris’ anti-Nazi activities, along with some health issues, finally resulted in his dismissal as head of the Abwehr. He was suspected of inefficiency and incompetence by senior Nazi officers – who had no idea that he had turned against the Hitler regime -- and exiled to a desk-job in the Economic Warfare Department. Little did the Fȗhrer know, this placement was the best thing that could have happened to Canaris’ resistance efforts. Through in-depth research and affirming storytelling, author David Alan Johnson paints the picture of a driven and devious mind working amidst the darkest evil to save all those that he could.

Order book here.

Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America's First Cyber Spy
by Eric OʻNeill
(Crown, 26 Mar 19)

Eric O’Neill was only twenty-six when he was tapped for the case of a lifetime: a one-on-one undercover investigation of the FBI’s top target, a man suspected of spying for the Russians for nearly two decades, giving up nuclear secrets, compromising intelligence, and betraying US assets. With zero training in face-to-face investigation, O’Neill found himself in a windowless, high-security office in the newly formed Information Assurance Section, tasked officially with helping the FBI secure its outdated computer system against hackers and spies—and unofficially with collecting evidence against his new boss, Robert Hanssen, an exacting and rage-prone veteran agent with a fondness for handguns. In the months that follow, O’Neill’s self-esteem and young marriage unravel under the pressure of life in Room 9930, and he questions the very purpose of his mission. But as Hanssen outmaneuvers an intelligence community struggling to keep up with the new reality of cybersecurity, he also teaches O’Neill the game of spycraft. The student will just have to learn to outplay his teacher if he wants to win. A tension-packed stew of power, paranoia, and psychological manipulation, Gray Day is also a cautionary tale of how the United States allowed Russia to become dominant in cyberespionage—and how we might begin to catch up.

Order book here.

Intelligence Matters on Film - Black Bag - Steven Soderbergh (2025)

When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband - also a legendary agent - faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country. Fictional account.

More about this production here.

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

• CIA Covert Ops: Kennedy Assassination Records Lift Veil of Secrecy - National Security Archive, 28 Mar 25
• CIA psychic laughed out of the room after 'seeing' Russian sub... then satellites confirmed the truth - The Daily, 27 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• JFK wanted to splinter CIA ‘into a thousand pieces.’ Why didn't he? - Responsible Statecraft, 27 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• Igor Tairov: A Cold War GRU Illegal in Britain and Beyond - Shadows and Secrets, 30 Mar 25 (Member Contribution)
• A New Golden Age: The Secret Letters of Mary Queen of Scots - Spionage, 20 Mar 25

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 V - Obituaries and Classifieds

(Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

Obituaries

James Blessing — Decorated Army Intel Officer and AFIO Member

James Donald Blessing, 82, of Atlanta, died Oct. 26, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Jim was born in Johnson City, Tennessee. He graduated from Bassett High School in Bassett, Virginia, where in 1959 he played for the Virginia state champion basketball team and was selected for Virginia High School All Regional, All District and All State teams. He went on to play at Walker Junior College. He later lived in Texas, California, Japan, Virginia, Maryland, and Atlanta. During the Vietnam build-up in 1966, he joined the Army as he had an opportunity to receive an Army Intelligence slot. He had an ear for languages and learned to speak both Vietnamese and Japanese. He did a one-year tour in Vietnam from 1967-1968 (during the Tet Offensive). He and his family were also stationed in Japan for three years in the 1970s. Jim retired from the Army after 20 years as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 and received the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service. After his military retirement, he continued his career working in national security for several defense organizations, including the MITRE Corporation. While at MITRE, he received multiple awards, including the President’s award, MITRE’s highest honor. He retired from MITRE in 2009.

Bob Snow — Former Army Counterintelligence Corp Member and Secret Service Assistant Director

Retired Secret Service Assistant Director Robert 'Bob' Snow of Ashburn, Virginia, 93, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2025. Bob was born in Rochester, New York. He enlisted in the US Army Counterintelligence Corp (CIC) in 1950 during the Korean War, graduated from Michigan State University in 1957, and was hired by the US Secret Service in 1959, where he spent 33 years. Following his retirement, Bob spent 24 years volunteering at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as the Director of Law Enforcement Liaison. Following retirement, Bob was also the technical advisor on 17 Secret Service related movies, to include 'In the Line of Fire' with Clint Eastwood.

John Bestic — Former CIA Executive

John B. Bestic, Jr., a two-decade resident of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, died on March 23 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a retired senior Central Intelligence Agency officer and a Vietnam veteran. John was born in Spokane, Washington and grew up in Nebraska, Hawaii, and Virginia. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1965, with a bachelor’s in political science and a confirmed lifelong love of Tar Heels basketball. Some who knew John later in life will be surprised to hear he had planned to join the Peace Corps as a volunteer in the Dominican Republic, an assignment canceled when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent the 82nd Airborne Division there instead. With the Vietnam War heating up, and expecting a draft notice, John enlisted in the Air Force. He became an officer and served on active duty from 1965-1971, working in intelligence and special operations, in Germany and in Southeast Asia. In the latter capacity, he logged over 1,000 combat flight hours in the air over North Vietnamese-controlled Laos, and was awarded multiple Air Medals. After returning from Southeast Asia, John transferred to the reserves and went to law school. He earned a JD from the California Western School of Law in San Diego, California, in 1974. During that time, while on a reserve tour at the Pentagon, he was recruited by the CIA. John served in the CIA from 1975-2002, mostly overseas, as a member of the Clandestine Service. He, Kathie, and their children spent about 20 years living in eight countries, mostly in Africa, some not known as "garden spots." No shrinking violet, John was blunt, creative, aggressive, and had a spark of wit. But he was not flashy. He was outspoken in support of his organization and his people, and effective with U.S. partners and against U.S. foes. In a crisis, he was the one you wanted. John retired as a member of the Senior Intelligence Service.

Lois Critchfied — Former CIA Officer, Author, and AFIO Member

Lois Critchfield of Williamsburg, VA died in late March 2025. She attended Miami Edison Highschool and Brenau College in Gainesville, GA, and she held BS and MA degrees in economics from the University of Florida. She retired from CIA in 1982, having lived in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. After retiring from CIA in 1982, she joined Tetra Tech International as a researcher and newsletter writer with a focus on OPEC and Middle East markets. She is the author of Oman Emerges: An American Company in an Ancient Kingdom (Selwa Press, July 2010), which is part memoir and part case-study of her late husband's time as a consultant for Sultan Qaboos bin Said. She also wrote a biography of her husband, James H. Critchfield: Hist Life's Story 1917-2003 (Author House, 2018). James Critchfield was also a career CIA officer, serving as Chief of the Near East and South Asia Division and as National Intelligence Officer for Energy.

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

• Call for Information: Robert Stock was born on December 29, 1916 in Hamilton, Ohio and died on October 25, 1983 in Queens, New York. He entered the U.S. Army in 1941 as a private, eventually being promoted to captain. His Selective Service Number was 0-1640045. He served as an intelligence officer, possibly with the Office of Strategic Services. He was discharged from the Army shortly after the end of World War 2. He subsequently joined the CIA in May of 1950. He was assigned to the staff of the military attaché in Yugoslavia. Soon after starting his assignment in Yugoslavia, he was sent to Budapest, Hungary, ostensibly to deliver diplomatic messages to the U.S. embassy. However, his main purpose was to contact the main agent there to give that agent verbal instructions about passing information and forming an intelligence ring. He was arrested on the way by a Hungarian counter-intelligence man and sent to a Hungarian prison. During the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, he was released from prison by the revolutionaries and was allowed to go immediately to the U.S. Embassy for asylum. He then found out that his identity had been “erased” by U.S. intelligence authorities, which was done for the purpose of protecting the intelligence network that he had helped set up. He was flown to Vienna and then to an Air Force hospital in Germany while his statements about who he was were being verified. He was told not to communicate with anyone beyond his commanding officer and a psychiatrist at the hospital who was treating him. He subsequently left the CIA, probably sometime in 1956. For decades, numerous family members have attempted to find out the details of Robert’s life while he was in the CIA, with very limited success. The last contact anyone in his family had with him was a short visit he made to his brother in Albany, New York in 1957. If anyone has information on Robert, please contact his nephew, Mike Brunner at: mbrunner1@cinci.rr.com or 513-379-9734 or by mail at 351 Warren Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.
• Call for Information: Researcher working on project about her mother, a former CIA SE division desk chief, seeking former branch chiefs in the division between 1980 and 1994 to help with general descriptions of interrelationships and information flow. Also seeking officers who were in Rome station anytime between 1986-90. Please contact viveca.novak@gmail.com.
• Call for Study Participants: Are you a current or former intelligence professional interested in contributing to research on how intelligence and decision-makers collaborate? We are seeking individuals with professional experience in intelligence operations, either in current or previous roles within law enforcement, military departments, federal agencies, or the private sector. We are particularly interested in those who have been involved in collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence that directly informs organizational goals/missions. We also seek those who have been in roles who make decisions based on such intelligence. This study involves an interview lasting approximately 1 hour to explore your experiences and contribute to a deeper understanding of this critical area of collaboration. If you are interested in participating or have questions regarding whether you qualify, please email me at carlos.lopez@unt.edu.
• Call for Information: CIA in 1970 FIFA World Cup or 1968 Olympic Games. Did the CIA watch soccer? I’m a British journalist and documentary maker (20 years at the BBC, now independent) working on a historical podcast series focusing on the 1970 FIFA World Cup (soccer), as well as the 1968 Olympic Games. I am trying to understand what operational interest, if any, the CIA took in these two sporting events, particularly in the context of the Cold War in Latin America. Since both events took place in Mexico, I am keen to speak to anyone specifically about either the CIA Mexico station at that time (under Win Scott and later John Horton), or - for broader context - about the Agency’s historical interest in sporting matters more generally. Anyone with insight into the involvement of the Brazilian government or security agencies in soccer during the 1970 World Cup (under Gen Medici) would also be of interest. I can be contacted at gabriel.gatehouse@gmail.com. Discretion is, of course, assured.
• Call for Papers: Twenty Years After the Butler Review: Have we learned anything? Oxford Intelligence Group Conference. 5-6 June 2025. 01 Apr 25 deadline for proposals. See flier with full details here.
• Academic Opportunity: The International Security & Intelligence Programmer at Emmanuel College in the University of Cambridge, Summer 2025. Residential Programmer: Cambridge, Sunday 6 July to Saturday 2 August 2025. See flier with full details here.
• Information Sought: Researcher is seeking information about the document known in the West as the “KGB Wanted List,” the 1969 version of which was brought to the West by a KGB defector in 1972. Vladislav Krasnov analysed a portion of the list in his 1986 book titled “Soviet Defectors.” Both CIA and the FBI responded to FOIA requests indicating that they cannot find the 1969 list (although both CIA and NACIC have cited it in various forums). If you have a copy of the 1969 list, suggestions where it might be found in its entirety, or knowledge of any earlier lists in the series, please contact Kevin Riehle at kevin.riehle@brunel.ac.uk.
• Call for Collaboration: AFIO member seeks a collaborator with YouTube technical expertise to launch a channel that will highlight specific examples of Russian and Chinese misinformation. Please contact Greg Rushford at gregrushford@gmail.com.
• Internship Opportunity: U.K.-based private intelligence company Grey Dynamics is accepting applications for its analyst internship program. Excellent resume building experience for aspiring intel analysts and, for intelligence studies students (and graduates) who are interested in analysis and writing, a great entry-level opportunity to exercise your skills in a real editorial and publication setting. See full details and application instructions here.


• Call for Information: Child of former CIA Como Officer Walter E. McLeod seeks information on her father's life and work to help build a better understanding of the family's history. McLeod EODed in 1951 and served in Saipan, Havana, WTC, Caracas, Jakarta, Saigon, Paris, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, and Bangkok. He retired in 1975. If you have information to share, contact Kathy McLeod katherinemacleod@gmail.com.

Jobs

• Director, School of Criminology and Security Studies, Full Professor or Associate Professor - Indiana State University - Terre Haute, Indiana

Provide academic and administrative leadership within a School of approximately 500+ undergraduate majors and master’s students as well as 29 full and part-time faculty. Oversee and facilitate the School's resources. Provide support for teaching, research, service, recruitment, retention, and fundraising. Be an advocate for experiential learning and represent the School of Criminology and Security Studies effectively in college, university, and community matters. Teach and publish in expertise area. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Participate in external and community engagement to cultivate partnerships, funding opportunities, and promote the School. Full details on qualifications, duties, and application here.

• Open-Source Intelligence Laboratory and Professor of Intelligence and National Security Studies - University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso, Texas

The Department of Criminal Justice & Security Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is seeking to fill a faculty position for a new open-source intelligence (OSINT) laboratory, created to be the first of its kind to study the complex security issues within the U.S.-Mexico border region. The faculty member will lead efforts to establish the nation's premier institution analyzing U.S. Mexican border security, including how it is impacted by political, social, physical, and economic forces across (and beyond) the Western Hemisphere. The laboratory will use cutting edge OSINT techniques, build databases, help create scholarly research and analytical reports, and assist students in developing career relevant skills. This will be a full-time, tenured position beginning in Fall 2025. The faculty member will hold the rank of associate professor or professor. Responsibilities include developing and directing the laboratory, obtaining external funding, and publishing scholarly research. The faculty member will teach courses and mentor students in open-source intelligence analysis. They will work closely with community partners across the university and in the public and private sectors in support of the laboratory and the Department. Full details on qualifications, duties, and application here.

• 2 Assistant Professors in Intelligence and Security - Institute of Security and Global Affairs, University of Leiden - Netherlands

The successful candidates will have demonstrable research records in themes related to the vacancy and strong teaching background in intelligence and security, or a related field, as well as in topics related to the Institute's Bachelor's and Master's programme offerings. The candidate will be expected to teach across several programmes in the Institute, notably the master's programme Crisis and Security Management and the bachelor programme Security Studies, and our minor in Intelligence Studies. The positions are aimed at strengthening the Institute's teaching, research and grant-acquisition capacities in a phase of growth and exciting interdisciplinary research opportunities. Full details on qualifications, duties, and application here.

• 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. More information and application here or 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.

• 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 VI - Events

AFIO Events

Thu, 3 Apr 2025, 11:30 a.m. - Las Vegas, NV - The "Roger E. McCarthy" Las Vegas AFIO Chapter holds general membership and speaker meeting. You are cordially invited to join your colleagues for a guest briefing by Cary Underwood, Southwestern Zone Co-Chair Director of Intelligence, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He will talk about the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center (SNCTC). The presentation will introduce members to what the SNCTC is, what partner agencies are represented in the fusion center, what the missions are, and some examples of the impact the SNCTC has made in safeguarding our community. Meeting location: The Bass Pro Shop is located at 8200 Dean Martin Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89139. The Conservation Conference Room is located on the second floor. Questions? Contact the Las Vegas Chapter at afiolasvegas@gmail.com.

Mon, 7 Apr 2025, Noon CDT - San Antonio, TX - AFIO San Antonio TX Chapter meets for unclassified intelligence briefing on Iranian missiles in the Russian-Ukrainian War. This AFIO San Antonio TX Chapter meeting will be an unclassified intelligence briefing on Iranian missiles in the Russian Ukrainian war. The second part of the briefing will cover the "Budapest Memorandum" guaranteeing Ukraine would not be attacked if they disposed of their nuclear weapons. At the time Ukraine had the third largest nuclear weapons arsenal on earth! You probably know how this ends! All Blue Skies of Texas residents are invited to attend the program. It is presented by the San Antonio Chapter of AFIO to inform the public of the background affecting world events. AFIO Members attending should identify themselves to the 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 card.
Venue: Blue Skies of Texas - Roadrunner Lounge, John D Ryan Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78209
Questions? Contact John T. Franklin III, San Antonio AFIO Chapter President, 210-863-0430 or at johntf3@gmail.com

Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

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—

Gifts for Friends, Colleagues, Self

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.

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.
Price: $15. Order this and other store items online here.

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.

AFIO's Guide to the Study of Intelligence...and...When Intelligence Made a Difference

"AFIO's Guide to the AFIO's Guide to the Study of Intelligence has sold out in hard-copy.
It is available in digital form in its entirety on the AFIO website here.
Also available on the website here are the individual articles of AFIO's history project "When Intelligence Made a Difference" that have been published to date in The Intelligencer journal.

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 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 of AFIO board, volunteer editors/writers, donors, and members.
We thank all for their support which makes this educational effort possible.
Careers Booklet (2023 Fifth Edition) can be read or downloaded here

To unsubscribe from the WIN email list, please click the "UNSUBSCRIBE" link at the bottom of the email. If you did not subscribe to the WIN and are not a member, you received this product from a third party in violation of AFIO policy. Please forward to afio@afio.com the entire message that you received and we will remove the sender from our membership and distribution lists.