AFIO Weekly Intelligence Notes

WIN CREDITS FOR THIS ISSUE: The WIN editors thank the following special contributors: pjk, mh, km, gh, mk, rd, fm, kc, jm, mr, jg, th and fwr. They have contributed one or more stories used in this issue.

The WIN editors attempt to include a wide range of articles and commentary in the Weekly Notes to inform and educate our readers. However, the views expressed in the articles are purely those of the authors, and in no way reflect support or endorsement from the WIN editors or the AFIO officers and staff. We welcome comments from the WIN readers on any and all articles and commentary.

CAVEATS: IMPORTANT: 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 our members, and for researchers, educators, and subscribers. You are urged to exercise your usual caution and good judgment when responding, and should verify the source independently before supplying any resume, career data, or personal information.]
If you are having difficulties with the links or viewing this newsletter when it arrives by email, members may view the latest edition each week at this link. You will need your LOGIN NAME and your PASSWORD.

NOTICES

	First Announcement — Special AFIO Spring Luncheon Friday, 1 June 2018 features three keynote speakers

		Richard W. Hoch, Deputy Director of CIA for Analysis, on "The Directorate of Analysis and the Future of Analysis" [Remarks are off the record. No recording, quoting, or media permitted]
		Bruce Riedel, CIA and Brookings, on "The Future of US-Saudi Relations," based on his book, Kings and Presidents: Saudi Arabia and the United States Since FDR.
		R. Scott Decker, FBI, on Recounting the Anthrax Attacks: Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI.
	Badge pick-up at 9:15 to 10 a.m. First speaker, Scott Decker, at 10 a.m.; Bruce Riedel at 11 a.m. and CIA DD/A Hoch at 1 p.m.

	Register here to ensure a seat.

	Location: DoubleTree-Hilton, Tysons Corner, VA [formerly the Crowne Plaza], at 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22102.

Why is America in Asia? Peter Oleson Interview.

Bill Sharp of ThinkTech Hawaii interviewed AFIO's Guide author, Peter Oleson,
on "Why is America in Asia?"

View the 30 minute presentation on YouTube

____________________________________

The Boston Marathon Bombing Five Years On

AFIO members and their guests are invited to attend this special conference hosted by the Boston University community

Wednesday, 11 April 2018, 1 - 5:30 pm on the BU campus in Boston, MA. Networking session follows.

BU Prof. John Woodward, a long-time AFIO member and former CIA officer, is serving as the conference coordinator.

15 April 2018 will be the fifth-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. To commemorate this event, the BU Pardee School of Global Studies and other Boston University organizations are sponsoring a conference featuring first responders, a panel of international scholars to discuss terrorism, a panel of legal experts to explain how the US prosecutes terrorists, and an historical exhibit provided by BU's Gotlieb Archival Research Center.

Two journalists who have written acclaimed books about the bombing are also scheduled to speak.

Where: Barrister's Hall at the Boston University School of Law. RSVP: Though the conference is free of charge space is limited so registration is required. Please RSVP to eventsps@bu.edu
More information is here.

____________________________________

Books of the Week

Reporter: A Memoir
by Seymour M. Hersh
(Knopf, June 2018)

Seymour Hersh, a legendary investigative journalist for the New York Times and the New Yorker, recalls his struggles to uncover government secrets—and almost greater struggles getting them printed. His career includes stories of the 1968 massacre of Vietnamese civilians by American troops at My Lai, various Watergate revelations, and abuses at the Abu Ghraib military prison during the Iraq War. He discusses sussing out sources and documents, fencing with officials who knew they were leaking or being coy as they sought to betray or destroy classified programs without losing their clearances, and includes instances of Hersh receiving death threats. Includes his pursuit of My Lai perpetrator William Calley, which saw him barking bogus orders at soldiers and crawling through a Fort Benning barracks. Getting his stories published proved just as difficult as getting to those spilled classified secrets. Hersh endlessly faced nervous editors seeking to avoid running his incendiary (libelous?) articles while he navigated byzantine newsroom politics, especially his testy relationship with Times chief Abe Rosenthal, who emerges in this memoir as a cross between courage and, mainly, corporate-focused (pro-America) timidity. Hersh provides impressions of many well-known figures: Henry Kissinger ("the man lied the way most people breathed") to the "ass-kissing coterie of moronic editors" at the Times who, supposedly, watered down one of his attack-pieces on corporate skulduggery.

Book may be ordered here.

A Spy Named Orphan: The Enigma of Donald Maclean
by Roland Philipps
(W. W. Norton & Company, May 2018)

"Donald Maclean was arguably the most valuable, and certainly the most troubled, of the Cambridge spies. Roland Philipps knows the world that formed him and has given us the fullest account we've yet had not only of his treason but of the conflicted man who committed it." - Joseph Kanon, author of Defectors

"From his riveting recreation of the Cold War atmosphere to his in-depth exploration of such a brilliant, troubled and duplicitous character, Roland Philipps has created a masterpiece. The rich renderings of secret assignations, smuggled documents, damning intelligence and brilliant code-breaking will delight lovers of fiction and non-fiction alike. Picture Erik Larson meets John le Carré and you have only begun to scratch the surface of this absolutely gripping book." - Brad Thor, author Spymaster

"Gripping from start to finish." - Sara Wheeler, author Too Close to the Sun: The Life and Times of Denys Finch Hatton

Book may be ordered here.

Section I - INTELLIGENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Report: Russian Cyber Spy Wanted by FBI Admits Intel Sharing. A senior leader in Russia's spy agency, wanted by the FBI and suspected to be linked to Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, has agreed to plead partially guilty to sharing information with foreign intelligence, according to a Russian media report.

The Russian news site RBC reported Monday that Dmitry Dokuchaev, a major in the FSB intelligence service, has admitted that he indirectly transferred information to foreign intelligence, presumably the United States. RBC, citing two anonymous sources, said that Dokuchaev insisted it amounted to informal information-sharing about activities of cybercriminals who did not work for Russia.

That's at odds with a report from another Russian news outlet last year, which said that one of the individuals about whom Dokuchaev shared information was alleged Russian hacker Yevgeniy Nikulin. On Friday, it became public that the United States had succeeded in its attempt to extradite Nikulin from the Czech Republic - an effort bitterly fought by Moscow. Nikulin faces charges in California for allegedly hacking the databases of LinkedIn, Dropbox and Formspring in 2012.

Dokuchaev, 34, once a high-ranking official in the FSB's unit that investigates cybercrime, is also the target of an arrest warrant in the U.S. The FBI accused him in February 2017 of directing and facilitating criminal hackers who stole user information on 500 million Yahoo accounts. [Read More: Hall/mcclatchydc/2Apr2018]

Turkish Spy Agency Captures Six FET'-Linked Suspects with Help of Kosovo. Turkey's intelligence agency has brought six people suspected of links to the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FET') from Kosovo to Turkey in an operation carried out with the cooperation of the former's spy agency, the H'rriyet Daily News learned from security sources on March 29.

All six suspects were detained by Kosovo law enforcement early March 29 as a result of cooperation between the relevant government offices of the two countries and were handed at the airport to a special team deployed to Pristina by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT).

The suspects were later brought back to Istanbul on a special jet and were detained by the Turkish police March 29. They are accused of being members of FET', blamed for the July 2016 coup attempt that left more than 250 dead and thousands injured. It is believed that thousands of FET'-linked high-level military and civilian bureaucrats as well as other people have fled Turkey before and after the coup attempt.

Turkey has long been exerting efforts for the extradition of these people, including FET' leader Fethullah G'len who is in self-exile in the United States, from all over the world. A few hundreds of FET'-linked suspects have already been brought back to Turkey as a result of political and intelligence cooperation with countries such as Sudan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. [Read More: Demirtas/hurriyetdailynews/29Mar2018]

Romanian Intelligence Service Declassifies Cooperation Protocol with Prosecutors. The Romanian intelligence Service (SRI) declassified at the end of last week the cooperation protocol signed in 2009 with the General Prosecutor's Office, after requests from the ruling coalition.

The document was declassified after the Public Ministry said all conditions in current legislation are met for this.

In mid-March, justice minister Tudorel Toader and prime minister Viorica Dăncilă asked for the declassification of the collaboration protocols between the SRI and other state institutions.

The recently declassified document was signed in February 2009 by SRI deputy Florian Coldea and deputy general prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu and approved by Laura Codruţa Kovesi, then the country's general prosecutor, and SRI director George Maior. [Read More: romania-insider/2Apr2018]

Incoming NSA Chief has a Reputation for Winning 'All the Important Fights.' Russia Will be His Biggest Test Yet. The next head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command will be taking charge in the face of what intelligence officials call the greatest strategic threat to the United States: Russia's efforts to disrupt U.S. elections.

Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, who is widely expected to be confirmed this month, also will confront Russia's aggressive targeting of the U.S. electrical grid and other critical infrastructure, and if directed would be responsible for providing the president and the defense secretary options to counter such provocations.

With distrust between Washington and Moscow at a new high, Nakasone will face a host of challenges leading two agencies on the front line of this new Cold War. The NSA has been shaken by several major breaches, a steady loss of technical talent and a controversial reorganization. Cyber'Com, now eight years old, has struggled to gel as a mature organization able to offer effective options for countering cyberthreats.

"Russia is the most significant national security threat facing Paul Nakasone at Cyber Command and NSA," said Eric Rosenbach, a former Pentagon chief of staff and senior cyber official. "Given the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, and the fact that they continue to hack key democratic institutions and conduct information operations, that makes Russia his top strategic concern when he assumes command." [Read More: Nakashima/washingtonpost/1Apr2018]

After a Long Wait, World War II Spy Service Honored for Daring Acts that Helped Secure Allied Victor. For former military pilot John Billings, the commendation he received on Capitol Hill last week was welcome but late. Seventy-three years late, to be exact.

In February 1945, Billings, flying on behalf of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the World War II-era precursor to the CIA, signed up for what seemed like a suicide mission. Fly deep behind Nazi lines, high in the wintry Alps, his superiors asked, to drop a group of covert operatives on a frozen lake. The operation was so perilous the Royal Air Force refused it.

But Billings said yes, and the mission was a success, helping to provide critical information on enemy movements during the war's final period.

Last week, Billings was among about 20 OSS veterans who gathered in Washington as lawmakers including House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., awarded the OSS with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor given by Congress. [Read More: Ryan/tulsaworld/29Mar2018]

China Hackers Ordered to Report Software Holes to Spy Agency. China's spy agency has ordered local hackers to abstain from global hacking contests and instead report any vulnerabilities to the security ministry or the affected company, according to cyber security experts, as Beijing seeks to tighten its control over technology and information.

The guidance from the Ministry of State Security, which comes as China is taking an increasingly isolationist approach to technology, was aimed at boosting its stash of intelligence, experts said.

"Clearly this is about local control," said Christopher Ahlberg, co-founder and chief executive of US-based cyber intelligence firm Recorded Future. "Vulnerabilities could be problems in software but are also an opportunity to get backdoors into them."

The move is the latest bid by China to secure control of technology and information. It follows initiatives such as Made in China 2025 - a scheme to restructure China's industrial policy - and last year's cyber security law that requires foreign companies to store data locally and allow data surveillance by China's security apparatus. [Read More: Lucas/ft/28Mar2018]

Section II - CONTEXT & PRECEDENCE

Russian Spies in Seattle: Black Ops, Soviet Subs and Counter Intel in the Pacific Northwest. Wanted - FBI recruits for a career in surveillance. Must be comfortable tailing subjects by foot, vehicle or on public transportation, use electronic equipment, and work nights and weekends as necessary.

The online job post at fbijobs.gov gives a glimpse into the shadowy world of espionage that continues to unfold between the United States and Russia. The Trump administration cited the risk of such clandestine activities in its decision Monday to close the Russian Consulate in Seattle.

The Cold War spy craft that was the stuff of John le Carré thrillers may have taken a back seat in the popular imagination in the age of post-9/11 terrorism, but for FBI agents trying to identify Russian consular staff who are using their positions as cover for intelligence gathering, the work never stopped, and it may have intensified amid growing tensions between Moscow and the West.

"It's no secret that consulates serve as a potential platform for covert activities," said Charles Mandigo, a former special agent in charge of the FBI Seattle office, "just as consulate personnel and embassy staff provide the country with the opportunity to insert a spy onto U.S. soil." [Read More: Bernton, Carter, Miletich/seattletimes/28Mar2018]

I Spy at New York's Museum of Deception. "Hello Bill Hamilton." The silver kiosk displayed its welcome when I swiped the black wristband that was my admission ticket.

The days of slipping through the back of a tailor's shop are long gone.

I was standing before the first of 12 information-gathering sentinels at Spyscape, a $50 million, 60,000-square-foot spying and espionage museum, which opened recently in mid-Manhattan.

With leading questions and embarrassing exercises, the kiosks were assessing me - personality traits, risk tolerance and I.Q. - to construct a profile of the kind of spy I might best be. [Read More: Hamilton/nytimes/29Mar2018]

From Moscow with Murder: Russia Hunting Defectors in America? They get lonely. They miss their friends and family left behind in Russia. And so, despite the danger of exposing themselves to Kremlin retribution, Russian defectors hiding abroad make phone calls or send emails back to relatives in the motherland.

And when they do, the Kremlin is listening.

"It's easy to find us, if they are really determined," one defector in the U.S. tells Newsweek. Phone calls and emails make it easy for Russian eavesdroppers to locate them. A visit from a relative back home makes it even easier. Agents can just trail them to a defector's doorstep.

Some U.S. security sources say there has been an uptick in Russian activity here over the past two years. Suspected Russian agents have been spotted cruising the neighborhoods of some defectors protected by CIA security teams, they say. The FBI and CIA have been "bringing people out of retirement, people who worked against the Russians in the 1990s," to cope with the the challenge, the defector said, speaking anonymously out of fears for his personal safety. [Read More Stein/newsweek/31Mar2018]

Blazing Trails in Women's Army Corps, Intelligence Agency. Bruce Berger, of Jefferson City, has a number of reasons to take pride in the memory of his mother. Not only did she demonstrate her patriotism while supporting her country in the Women's Army Corps in World War II, but years later, after her husband passed away, she was able to raise three sons while at the same time completing a career in an American intelligence agency.

Born Nov. 19, 1915, in Brooklyn, New York, Doris Van Wickel was the daughter of Jesse Van Wickel, who was at the time serving as a Foreign Service Officer for the United States. Due to his chosen career field, his daughter was exposed to many cultures while growing up in several different countries.

"My mother lived in several places in her youth to include Shanghai, China; Jakarta, Indonesia; The Hague; Netherlands, East Indies; and England," Berger said. "Until 1939, most of her time was spent outside of the United States," he added.

Records maintained by Van Wickel indicate in the early 1930s, she attended the Malvern Girls' College in Great Malvern England and later completed coursework at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Columbia University in New York. [Read More: Amick/newstribune/2Apr2018]

Inside GCHQ: Sky News Gains Exclusive Access to the UK's Cyber Intelligence Agency. The room is windowless, and surrounded by a bank of computer and television screens. A file of maps and intelligence is on a table in the middle.

I'm encouraged to scribble notes on the table as I go along.

I'm inside GCHQ, the UK's cyber intelligence agency - more relevant than ever today, with the advance of technology and growing threats.

I'm being put through a surveillance operation by a GCHQ analyst, Louise. This has never been shown in public before. [Read More: Bunkall/sky/2Apr2018]

Israeli Intelligence at 70: Does the Future Lie with Humans or Machines? Should Israeli intelligence move more toward cutting-edge data mining or maintain the traditional pillars of human-centered work? As Israel celebrates its 70th birthday, the question will only become more pressing. What can we learn from delving into the country's intelligence history and what do top officials foresee in this realm? It comes as no surprise that the debate about whether Israeli intelligence should invest more in the direction of data mining - using pure technological and cyber power to gather and analyze threats, versus continuing to invest in human analysts and spies - is a recent development, coinciding with the steady advance of today's technological know-how.

From the founding of the state until the late '60s, the Mossad did not have substantial operational or technological arms.

Until then, it established various foreign spy rings and provided information to its big brother, Israeli military intelligence, which did the operations, technological and analysis work.

One leap forward happened in the mid-'70s. After the Agranat Commission concluded that the state was surprised by the 1973 Yom Kippur War - partially by relying too much on intelligence analysis from one organ, IDF intelligence - the Mossad established its own intelligence analysis division. The idea was to provide a separate assessment of threats for the political echelon to consider. [Read More: Bob/jpost/1Apr2018]

Secret WWII Commandos Rewarded for Valor. The secret agents would arrive at the American base in England with little time to spare before their planes took off for occupied Europe under cover of night. They traveled in cars with tinted windows and were bundled so securely in scarves and hats, even their genders were a mystery.

And for more than 40 years after World War II ended, Army sergeant Keith Cole was forbidden from uttering a single word about what he saw and did.

But on March 21, Cole and roughly 20 of his former colleagues in the Office of Strategic Services were ushered into the bright lights of the U.S. Capitol's Emancipation Hall to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award.

"It was something I never thought would happen," says Cole, 93. [Read More: Cox/heraldtribune/2Apr2018]

Section III - COMMENTARY

China's Counterintelligence "Trinity" and Foreign Business. As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) pursues a domestic anti-spy campaign and new espionage laws, PRC national security concerns and greater suspicion of foreigners may trump foreign business complaints about unfavorable treatment, rising trade barriers, and feeling unwelcomed. Foreign firms in China should not ignore these warning signs, but instead plan for a period of higher business risk and harsher conditions, especially since strong historical parallels indicate that this period may not pass quickly.

Since CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping convened the first meeting of the Central State Security Commission in 2014, a spate of new security measures has emerged including the National Security Law, the Counterterrorism Law, the Intelligence Law, the Cyber Security Law, the Counterespionage Law, as well as additional regulations meant to guide implementation (en.people.cn, May 18, 2017; China Brief, May 11, 2016; cpcnews.cn, April 15, 2014).

The party pursued these measures for clear reasons, including real espionage problems uncovered by Chinese counterintelligence. Notable among them was a multi-year roundup, ending in 2012, of over 20 PRC citizens spying for the United States, and more than 40 cases reported two years later against Chinese citizens accused of spying for Taiwan (Sina.com, October 27, 2014; New York Times, May 20, 2017).

Guided by these new laws and regulations, a media campaign emerged over two years ago that continues into the present. The first annual National Security Day inaugurated on April 15, 2016, promoted popular awareness of foreign espionage after PRC authorities unveiled their report-a-spy hotline, 12339, in late 2015. Numerous media pieces followed, including television news segments on foreign spying, and propaganda videos tailored to audiences from primary school students to young adults (Chinanews.com, April 20, 2016; bjnews.com.cn, April 10, 2017; South China Morning Post, November 6, 2017). Echoing the reality of an escalating espionage competition between Washington and Beijing, the Chinese campaign more than matched efforts by American authorities to warn of Chinese espionage in the U.S. (FBI videos Game of Pawns April 2014 and Company Man July 2015). [Read More: Brazil/jamestown/26Mar2018]

What Really Went on at Russia's Seattle Consulate? Among the 27 countries that have retaliated for what is believed to be a Kremlin-ordered chemical-weapon attack on an ex-Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain earlier this month, the United States took by far the most dramatic steps: ousting 60 diplomats in total, including 15 suspected intelligence operatives based at Russia's United Nations Mission alone - the most significant action of its type since the Reagan administration. (The move prompted Russia, on Thursday, to announce the expulsion of 60 U.S. diplomats and the closure of the U.S. consulate in Saint Petersburg.) But it was the Trump administration's announcement of the shuttering of Russia's consulate in Seattle that turned heads. Why Seattle? What was going on there? Would the closure matter?

While Seattle is an important city for Russian intelligence collection efforts domestically, its consulate's profile has generally been quieter than San Francisco's or New York's, according to two former U.S. intelligence officials who asked to remain anonymous but have knowledge of Russian activities in these areas. But the closure of the consulate is noteworthy nonetheless: Along with the administration's shuttering of the San Francisco consulate in 2017, Russia will now lack a diplomatic facility west of Houston, or any diplomatic presence on the West Coast for the first time since 1971. Russian intelligence officers - at least those under diplomatic cover - will no longer operate in easy proximity to America's two great tech capitals. Indeed, at least in Seattle, suspected Russia spies have already been caught attempting to infiltrate local tech companies.

"Certainly, there were enough issues that were important to the Russians in Seattle - the naval bases, Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon," says John Sipher, a former CIA officer who worked closely with the FBI on counterespionage issues. "There was always nervousness within the national security agencies that the sheer number of ethnic Russians in these industries was something the Russians could take advantage of. I don't know if closing Seattle was a strategic choice; nonetheless, the concentration of high-tech and military resources makes it a sensible target."

After the closure of the Russian consulate in San Francisco, former senior U.S. intel officials told me that facility had, for decades, functioned as the primary hub for Russian intelligence-gathering in the Western United States. It featured key classified communications systems, and was a crucial collection center in Russia's long-running effort to map out America's fiber-optic cable network. [Read More: Dorfman/politico/29Mar2018]

Three Reforms to Fix the House Intelligence Committee. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, long a bastion of relative bipartisanship and responsible behavior in an increasingly polarized Congress, appears to be badly broken.

The reckless behavior of the Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), has been widely reported. Using selective leaks, see-no-evil investigative techniques, and highly partisan reports, he seems to see his primary job as protecting President Trump rather than our national security. Sadly, the Republican members of the committee have gone along with his dangerous behavior.

The question now becomes how to restore the committee to its former level of responsible oversight. Doing so is vitally important to our national security.

Not only would a conscientious Intelligence committee ensure future investigations are carried out fully and fairly, but it would restore the confidence of the country and the intelligence community in the work of the panel. The nation must know that the Committee is holding our vast, powerful, multi-billion dollar intelligence system accountable. And our intelligence operatives must have confidence that the secrets they risk their lives to obtain will not be used or leaked for partisan purposes. [Read More: Gaby/thehill/29Mar2018]

What Went Wrong With 'What Went Wrong at the FBI'. You may be forgiven for having missed Thomas Baker op-ed, "What Went Wrong at the FBI," published in the Wall Street Journal on March 19. Eminently forgettable in its own right, the piece is worth noting because, in at least two ways, it highlights how much has changed since Donald Trump took office.

Baker, a retired FBI special agent and legal attaché, observes with concern that "Americans have grown increasingly skeptical since 2016" of the FBI. He is "troubled by this loss of faith" in what was "once regarded as the world's greatest law-enforcement agency" - a loss of faith caused by "lapses" apparently including the conduct of FBI agent Peter Strzok and the bureau's "egregious" application for a FISA warrant against former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Baker seeks to explain the root cause of those lapses. The original sin, he writes, was "a cultural change that occurred in the wake of the 9/11 attacks": the FBI "set out to become an 'intelligence driven' organization."

Baker contends that the FBI should have remained purely a law enforcement agency, safe behind the "'wall' between criminal and intelligence investigations." This "cultural change" from law enforcement to counterintelligence is what explains all of the bureau's current troubles - which for Baker include former deputy director Andrew McCabe's "lack of candor"; the blurring of the once-bright line that "separates the legal from the extralegal" by vesting increased power in "'politically sensitive' individuals at headquarters" rather than stalwarts in the field; and the "abuse" of conducting electronic surveillance on Carter Page by "shad[ing] the truth in a FISA application - as occurred with the 'Steele dossier.'"

The FBI's post-9/11 embrace of counterintelligence was a mistake, Baker claims, because a "law enforcement agency deals in facts," while an "intelligence agency deals in estimates" and must "often bend a rule, or shade the truth, to please [its] political masters." In other words, spies lie, while cops speak truth to power. Of course, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies alike can be guilty of shading the truth - as illustrated from as far back as the Church Report in 1976 to as recently as a March 18 article in the New York Times on "testilying." Baker's former colleagues at CIA, NSA and other U.S. intelligence agencies would likely take issue with his casual dismissal of their integrity and professionalism. [Read More: Kris/lawfareblog/2Apr2018]

Section IV - Obituaries

Obituaries

Joseph Paul Ashley, 81, CIA Career Officer, died 23 March 2018 in Springfield, VA.
Joe served in the US Marine Corps, and then joined CIA where he rose to become a member of the Senior Intelligence Service.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Quade Ashley, two sons and a daughter, and other family.

Robert Kaye Barrett, 92, an NSA intelligence analyst and cryptologist, died 20 January 2018 of congestive heart failure in St. Michaels, MD.
During WWII, he was a ball-turret gunner on B-17s, flying 20 missions over Germany, France and Czechoslovakia. After the war, Bob graduated from the University of Michigan with a master's degree in German and Latin in 1952. He worked for the National Security Agency from 1953 to 1984 as an intelligence analyst and cryptologist, and was an outstanding linguist in both German and Russian. He was presented the Meritorious Civilian Service Award honoring his outstanding service with the agency. He also ran the NSA's Russian School and served three tours in Germany.
He taught Russian history at the University of Maryland as an adjunct faculty member. He loved playing tennis and chess, but most of all, he loved sailing. He and his family spent many happy hours sailing the Chesapeake together. He served a term as commodore of the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake. Later in life, he became an avid ham radio operator and ran a network to support troops stationed overseas.
He was active in his church and served in a variety of roles, including the writing of monthly reviews of religious books for the church newsletter.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marilyn Joyce Kniebes Barrett, by two sons and a daughter, and other family.

James Ivey Brooks, 77, career NSA Electronic Research Analyst, died 13 March 2018 in Chambersburg, PA.
Ivey graduated Norlina High School in 1959 and attended NC State College. He enlisted in the USAF as an electronic intercept operator, and was an instructor in electronic radar analysis. Ivey was
an instructor in the Air Force teaching electronics and analysis from 1962-1963.
Post-military he joined NSA as an Electronic Research Analyst. He served tours of duty in Maryland, California, and Colorado, retiring with 30 years of Federal Service.
He saved many US pilots in Vietnam due to a discovery he made on the Radar Missile Weapons System.
He was a member of The Phoenix Society.
He is survived by his wife, Bette, four children, and other family.

Donald Henry Diloreto, 85, former CIA Officer, died 28 February 2018 in Falls Church, VA.
Don graduated from New Britain High School and enlisted in the US Air Force where he served in the Korean War as a forward air controller and communications specialist. He earned his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Maryland. He joined CIA where he enjoyed a long and distinguished career.
After retiring from the CIA, Don founded Video Scenes and produced many training and military documentary films.
Don is survived by his wife Marilyn, two sons and a daughter, and other family.

Franklin Owen Felt, 91, CIA Intelligence Analyst who -- upon receiving a terminal medical diagnosis -- left to run a circus, died of complications decades later from dementia 6 March 2018 in Gettysburg, PA.
A WW II Navy vet and political science PhD whose government career included stints abroad as liaison officer to British and German Intelligence, Frank served in Munich during the Praque Spring and Russian invasion of 1968. He culminated his federal career as Intelligence Liaison to the Chief of Naval Operations, when, at age 49, doctors told him he had terminal cancer and less than a year to live.
Long fascinated by the circus, the fatal diagnosis made him decide to take early retirement and pursue his childhood dream of traveling with a circus. In the summer of 1976, he and his wife packed up their two youngest daughters to travel with Circus Kirk, a small tent circus owned by a close friend. Expecting to take tickets and do odd jobs, Felt soon found himself thrust into the job of general manager when the owner had a heart attack. Felt took the show out for several seasons, as his doctors' prognosis proved wrong and was forgotten in the 24/7 rhythm and demands of setting up and taking down the show in a new town almost every day. Despite the grueling schedule and constant stress of dealing with mechanical breakdowns, severe weather, supervising dozens of performers and other personnel, he loved every minute. Eventually, Felt moved on to Roberts Brothers Circus where he served as general agent for over two decades, including one season as ringmaster, until the show closed. During this time, his circuses became annual events in Gettysburg, helping to raise funds for Friends of the Library.
Felt was also known for his community leadership, becoming an antipollution activist in Gettsburg. His group ultimately obtained Superfund status for three sites in the area and achieved a court settlement that extended city water service to hundreds of people with polluted wells and paid millions in damages to local homeowners.
Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Janice Felt, three daughters, and other family.

William Walter Hamilton, 90, a career FBI agent and career CIA officer, died 18 March 2018 of kidney failure in Ironton, OH. After two years in the US Marine Corps during WWII, Bill joined the FBI where he served 28 years. He was the supervisor of the FBI's New York office. He then joined CIA where he served 25 years. As he was heard to say, "I earned my gray hair."
Bill had been married for 50 years to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lucy Beauge, who died in 2001. He is survived by his second wife, Norma, by their son, and other family.

Howard Joseph Judd, 77, a CIA Operations Officer, died 29 March 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Howie was a standout athlete at St. John's Academy (Rensselaer, NY) and continued his love of sports throughout hs life.
He worked for CIA as an operations officer, where his assignments took him outside the U.S. serving the interests of America and her allies. Howie received both the Agency's Career Intelligence Medal and Intelligence Star. He retired from Federal Service in 1990.
In retirement he maintained a busy travel schedule and enjoyed time at his homes in Rehoboth Beach, DE and The Villages, FL. He is survived by his spouse, Robert W. Gordon of Fort Lauderdale, by two sons, by several brothers, and by other family. [Read More: The Washington Post/legacy/30Mar2018]

Albert Ellwood Severn, Col, USAFR(Ret), 73, former Chief of Systems Management, NSA, died 28 March 2018 in Ellicott City, MD. He graduated from Catonsville (Maryland) High School, 1964, and entered the inaugural class at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He later earned a BS in Information Systems Management in 1970 at the University of Maryland, College Park campus.
Al began civilian service in 1968 as a Data Systems Intern at NSA, what was the first step in what would become a 39-year career. Along the way he served in a variety of roles, including Computer Operator, Systems Programmer, IT instructor, Chief of the Information Systems Branch, Chief of Systems Management and Administration and Project Manager. He retired in 2007.
Known as "Big Al," he also enjoyed a 35-year military career. In 1964 he joined the Maryland Air National Guard as a member of the 135th Communications Flight at Martin State Airport in Middle River. After five years of enlisted service, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. He then served the Communications Flight in leadership roles culminating with appointment as Flight Commander. In 1982, Al transitioned to the Air Force Reserve and was assigned to the 512th Military Airlift Wing in Dover, DE. Over the next 12 years, he held numerous positions and eventually became the Executive Officer of entire wing. In 1994, Al transferred to the Pentagon where he provided support for the Secretary of Defense until he retired in 1999 at the rank of full Colonel.
Over the course of his career, he earned a series of decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
Al dedicated himself to a lifetime of government, military and community service coupled with a kind heart, a tireless work ethic, and joyous sense of humor. He was an active member of his church, served as Senior Warden, Treasurer, Vestry member and Chair of the Finance Committee. In addition, for the past 12 years, he had organized a monthly meal for the Baltimore County Westside Men's Shelter. As a member of the Glenwood Lion's Club, Al enjoyed cooking at the group's facility at the Howard County Fairgrounds. He was also a Past President of the Baltimore Chapter of the Data Processing Management Association. Al's personal interests included golf and all things aviation. He began taking flying lessons while still a teenager and eventually earned his private pilot's license. Nothing gave him greater joy than flying model gliders or playing flying-related video games with his grandson. He was a proud member of The Phoenix Society.
He is survived by his wife, Janice Rifenberick, a former Naval Officer, by a son, and other family.

Andrew James Britten, 57, a physician's assistant, died 6 March 2018 in Lake Mary, FL.
Andrew served in the military. Post-military service, he worked in the medical industrial complex and enjoyed traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Raynette Vergara, two sons, and other family.

Section V - Events

AFIO EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN COMING TWO MONTHS....

10 April 2018, 11:30 am - 2 pm - MacDill AFB, FL - AFIO Suncoast FL Chapter hosts Lt Col Jen Snow USAF on "Special Operations: Innovative and Emerging Disruptive Technologies."

Lt Col Jen Snow USAF, speaks on innovation and emerging disruptive technologies relative to Special Operations concerns. JJ Snow is an Air Force Lt Colonel assigned as the U.S. Special Operations Command Innovation Officer and J5 Donovan Group Future Plans and Strategy Team Air Force Representative. In her current role, JJ serves as the government representative for technology outreach and engagement on behalf of the command and 545 interagency action officers spanning 40 different government agencies. She is responsible for maintaining a network of nontraditional experts to provide government with critical access, expertise and capacity across a broad spectrum of technologies to rapidly identify best of breed while also proactively responding to potential threat aspects of concern to Special Operations and national security. She supports senior government leadership in process innovation, innovation planning in big government, and the development of smart technology policy and advises on emerging disruptive technologies.

Timing: Check-in starting at 1130 hours; Cash wine and soda bar open at 1130 hours for those who wish to come early to socialize; Opening ceremonies, lunch and business meeting at noon, followed by our speaker.
Location: MacDill AFB's Surf's Edge Club, 7315 Bayshore Blvd, MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Anyone with special AFIO Base Access should proceed to the Bayshore Gate. If you need directions, please let us know.
Fee: $20/pp. You must present your $20 check payable to "Suncoast Chapter, AFIO" (or cash) at check-in to cover the luncheon. If you make a reservation, don't cancel and get a cancellation confirmation by the response deadline and then don't show up, you will be responsible for the cost of the luncheon.
RSVP Deadline: Tuesday, 3 April you should have sent your RSVP to Chapter Secretary Michael Shapiro at michaels@suncoastafio.org. You will receive a confirmation via email. If you do not get a confirmation, please contact the Chapter Secretary. Note: Meal Alternatives Available. When you RSVP, indicate a meal preference.

Thursday 19 April 2018, 6:30 pm - West Bloomfield, Michigan - AFIO Johnny Micheal Spann Memorial Chapter, Michigan hosts "Ritchie Boy" Dr. Guy Stern.

In January 2017 Dr. Stern received the French Knight of the Legion of Honor medal. Presented by the French Consul General, the award was created by Napoleon in 1802 and is the highest honor the country can bestow upon those who achieved remarkable deeds for France. Dr. Stern was honored for his role in liberating the country during World War II. Dr. Stern was a member of the Ritchie Boys who were the US special military intelligence officers and enlisted men of Work War II trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. Training included methods of intelligence, counterintelligence, interrogation, investigation and psychological warfare. Dr. Stern landed in Normandy 2 days after D-Day and begin special interrogation of German prisoners in France and Germany.
To attend or for more info, contact the Michigan chapter at afio.secretary@afiomichigan.org.

19 April 2018, Time: 12.30-2pm - Los Angeles, CA - The AFIO Los Angeles Chapter hosts LAPD Commissioner Soboroff.

The next scheduled meeting will feature speaker Steve Soboroff, President of the L.A.P.D. Police Commission.
Commisioner Soboroff will discuss challenges the department faces and the search for a new Chief of Police.
Location: 5651 W. Manchester Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 RM 1G.
RSVP Vincent Autiero, President, AFIO-Los Angeles Chapter at afio_la@yahoo.com.

21 April 2018, 2pm - Kennebunk, ME - AFIO Maine Chapter hosts Professor Andrew Wilson on "Chinese National Security Strategy on Korea and the South China Sea."

AFIO Maine will host US Naval War College professor Andrew R. Wilson discussing "Chinese national security strategy on the Korean Peninsula and across the South China Sea." This is the latest in a series of discussions relating to the importance of intelligence in public affairs.

Wilson's presentation will explore topics such as what China can do to help resolve America's problems with North Korea. Beijing and Pyongyang have been allies for the past 70 years and more than 80 percent of North Korea's foreign trade is with China. The discussion will also provide an update on the international disputes involving the Spratly Islands - an area of the South China Sea claimed by China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan - where Chinese engineers have dredged up millions of tons of sand and rock to create an island approximately one square mile in size which boasts a nearly two-mile long runway.
Wilson is Professor of Strategy and Policy at the United States Naval War College in Newport, RI, the world's oldest and most prestigious center for senior military education. An old "China hand," he received his bachelor of arts in East Asian studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and earned a Ph.D. in history and East Asian languages from Harvard. He has published numerous articles and books on Chinese maritime history, the Chinese diaspora, Chinese military history, Chinese politics and Chinese military modernization.
TO ATTEND: The AFIO meeting is open to the public, and will begin at 2 p.m. at the Program Center of the Brick Store Museum, 4 Dane St., Kennebunk, ME. A Q&A will follow the presentation.

Monday, 23 April 2018, 5:30 - 8 pm - New York, NY - AFIO NY Metro Chapter hosts CIA's Dr. Ursula Wilder on "The Psychology of Espionage and Leaking."

Ursula M. Wilder PhD, a clinical psychologist with the CIA's Sherman Kent School for Intelligence Analysis, discusses the psychology of espionage and leaking. In her presentation this evening, she will provide crisp sketches of the three kinds of distorted personalities -- psychopathology, narcissism, and immaturity -- found in those who have abused their access to top-secret information and betrayed their country.
Dr. Wilder was a 2011-2012 Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution, where she studied the psychological rewards and challenges of professionals who work in counterterrorism. She also served as a member of the Editorial Board of CIA's inhouse journal, Studies in Intelligence.

Location: Society of Illustrators, 128 E 63rd St (between Park and Lexington), New York, NY 10065.
Timing: Registration starts at 5:30 pm, Speaker presentation starts at 6 pm. Fee: $50/person. Payment at the door only. Cash or check. Full dinner, cash bar.
RSVP: Strongly recommended that you RSVP to ensure space at event. Call or Email Chapter President Jerry Goodwin at afiometro@gmail.com or 646-717-3776.

Saturday, 28 April 2018, 6 - 8pm - Beaverton OR - The AFIO Columbia River Chapter hosts Terry Valois on "Insider Threat: Authorized Users, Privileged Access, Abused Trust."

The AFIO Columbia River Chapter hosts Terry Valois on "Insider Threat: Authorized Users, Privileged Access, Abused Trust." Valois is a Navy Cryptologic veteran and retired senior CIA officer with over 37 years of experience in the intelligence community and private sector.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from National Intelligence University. Terry (CPP, PCI) is also the founder and owner of GreyFox Security Services, LLC, a small Portland, Oregon-based, veteran-owned private security and intelligence consulting firm specializing in security program management, insider threat program development, training and education, and open source/web intelligence and investigation research.
LOCATION: This unclassified program will be held in the Fab-15 Auditorium, Intel Aloha Campus, 3585 SW 198th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97078.
REGISTRATION: AFIO members and others are invited to attend. Current AFIO membership is not required. The event is free of charge with ample parking.
The content of this presentation is provided by the author and nothing therein should be construed to represent the positions of the United States Government or AFIO
For additional information contact Carl Wege at twege@ccga.edu or 912-222-8640.

Saturday, 12 May 2018, noon - Melbourne FL - The AFIO Florida Satellite Chapter presents chapter member Dr. Henry A. Fischer on "The History and Future of the American Security Council Foundation."

Dr. Henry A. Fischer will discuss "The History and Future of the American Security Council Foundation." The ASCF is the first public policy organization in America that has been helping to keep the nation and world safe since 1985 by promoting the principles of "Peace Through Strength." Dr. Fischer's presentation includes a short video on the "Step Up America Program. Dr. Fischer is a dentist and developer in Sebastian, Florida since 1962. He is the President of Henry Fischer and Sons, Inc., a heavy equipment company developing quiet lakefront communities and beach restoration. He has dedicated 4.5 miles off the Sebastian River to the State of Florida.

LOCATION: Amici's restaurant, 7720 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL. AFIO members, their guests and interested parties are welcome to attend. Attendance is by registration only. To register, contact FSC Chapter President at afiofsc@afio.com.

Wednesday 23 May 2018 - San Francisco, CA - Historian Ralph Simpson discusses "History of the Enigma Machine" at this AFIO San Francisco Chapter meeting.

Ralph Simpson, Historian, discusses "The History of the Enigma Machine." Ralph Simpson worked in the computer industry for 32 years at IBM and Cisco Systems. He is now retired and volunteers at a local history museum. Mr. Simpson is the author of a cipher history book called Crypto Wars: 2000 Years of Cipher Evolution and is an avid collector of cipher machines, which can be seen on CipherHistory.com. Mr. Simpson lives in San Jose in a restored Victorian house, which is also home to his Cipher History Museum.
Time: 11:30 AM no-host cocktail; noon - meeting and luncheon begins.
Location: Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
To Register: Do so here (forthcoming). The venue cannot accommodate walk-ins.
Questions?: Contact Mariko Kawaguchi, Board Secretary at afiosf@aol.com.

Friday, 1 June 2018 - Tysons, VA - AFIO Spring Luncheon featuring Deputy Director of CIA for Analysis and two other keynote speakers

This special luncheon features three keynote speakers. They are: Richard W. Hoch, Deputy Director of CIA for Analysis, on "The Directorate of Analysis and the Future of Analysis" [Remarks are off the record. No recording, quoting, or media permitted] Bruce Riedel, CIA and Brookings, on "The Future of US-Saudi Relations," based on his book, Kings and Presidents: Saudi Arabia and the United States Since FDR. and R. Scott Decker, FBI, on Recounting the Anthrax Attacks: Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI.

NOTE NEW TIMES: Badge pick-up at 9:15 to 10 a.m. First speaker, Scott Decker, at 10 a.m.; Bruce Riedel at 11 a.m. and DD/A Hoch at 1 p.m.

Registration opens Friday, 6 April. Link will appear at www.afio.com and in next Weekly Notes
Location: DoubleTree-Hilton, Tysons Corner, VA [formerly the Crowne Plaza], at 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22102.

Other Upcoming Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, and Others

4-7 April 2018 - San Francisco, CA - ISA2018: The International Studies Association (ISA) 59th Annual Convention includes an Intelligence Studies Section with a exceptional program.

The Intelligence Studies Section content (4 straight days, 30 panels and roundtables) is one small part of ISA's much larger conference. The full conference program is almost 300 pages; find details at the full conference website here. The Intelligence Studies Section (ISS) is one of thirty thematic sections that make up the ISA, has approximately 350 members, and has been sponsoring research about intelligence as a function of government since the mid-1980s. Additional information on the ISS can be found here.
If you have questions about the ISS program, contact the Section Chair: Stephen Marrin at marrinsp@jmu.edu or spm8p@yahoo.com
The updated program of Intelligence Studies Section panels at ISA2018 is here. Scan down that page to be dazzled by the number of presenters and breadth of intelligence and national security topics. This is a must attend conference.

Saturday, 7 April 2018, 2:30 - 6 p.m. - Fort Meade, MD - Movie Day at the National Cryptologic Museum - sponsored by the NCMF.

There will be two showings (2:30 pm and 6:00 pm) of National Treasure - Book of Secrets - starring Nicolas Cage, rated PG. Free admission and complimentary popcorn too! Click here to reserve your seat(s).

Wednesday, 11 April 2018, noon - Washington, DC - Global Terrorism, Espionage and Cybersecurity Update - at the International Spy Museum

Join David Major, retired supervisory special agent of the FBI and former director of Counterintelligence and Security Programs at the NSC staff at the White House, for a briefing on the hottest intelligence and security issues, breaches, and penetrations. Presented in partnership with The Centre for Counterintelligence and Security Studies (CI Centre), these updates will cover worldwide events such as breaking espionage cases and arrest reports, cyber espionage incidents, and terrorist activity. Major uses his expertise to analyze trends and highlight emerging issues of interest to both intelligence and national security professionals and the public. Cases are drawn from the CI Centre's SPYPEDIA.
Event is free. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Wednesday, 11 April 2018 - Boston, MA - The Boston Marathon Bombing: Five Years On - A Conference.

"The Boston Marathon Bombing: Five Years On" - AFIO members and their guests are invited to attend this special conference hosted by the Boston University community. BU Prof. John Woodward, a long-time AFIO member and former CIA officer, is serving as the conference coordinator.

When: Wednesday, 11 April 2018, from 1-5:30 p.m., followed by a networking session.
Where: Barrister's Hall at the Boston University School of Law.
RSVP: Though the conference is free of charge space is limited so registration is required. Please RSVP to eventsps@bu.edu
More information is here.

Thursday, 12 April 2018, 6:30pm - Washington, DC - Introducing Chris Costa: The New Spy Museum Director - at the International Spy Museum

COL Christopher P. Costa (US Army, ret.) is the new Executive Director of the Spy Museum. He has done some things he can't even tell you about, but this evening he'll share what he can from an intense career in the intelligence community. Costa has most recently been the Special Assistant for the President & Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council where he applied what he learned as a practitioner to policy making. Previously his career included 25 years of active duty deployed in hot spots such as Panama, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He's the recipient of two Bronze Stars for intelligence work in Afghanistan and has been inducted into the Commando Hall of Honor for the US Special Operations Command. His career has included human intelligence, special operations, counterintelligence, unconventional warfare, and now...museums! Join Spy Museum historian Dr. Vince Houghton when he sits down with Costa for an informal get-to-know-you.
Tickets for the general public: $10 per person; Museum members: free. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

13 April 2018, 11 am - Arlington, VA - NIP (Naval Intelligence Professionals) 2018 Spring Red Tie Luncheon features VAdm Kernan on "National Security Challenges."

Registration is currently underway for 2018 NIP Spring Luncheon (aka...Red Tie) being held at the stately Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. A special guest goes along with what will be a special day: Vice Admiral Joe Kernan, USN (Ret), Under Seretary of Defense for Intelligence. He will share his thoughts and impressions of the current "National Security Challenges" facing the nation.
VADM Kernan was confirmed by the U.S. Senate at the USD(I) in November 2017. During his naval career, he commanded Seal Team Two, the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Naval Special Warfare Command, and US Naval Forces Southern Command/Fourth Fleet. He also seved as Senior Military Assistant to former Defense Secretary Robert Gates and as Deputy Commander of the U.S. Southern Command.
Location: Army Navy Country Club (ANCC), Arlington, VA. Abundant free valet parking. A no-host social hour will commence at 1100 with lunch following at noon.
Registration: NO AT THE DOOR REGISTRATIONS, Reservation deadline is COB 6 April 2018
To register online do so here. To register by US Mail with check, send to: NIP, PO Box 11579 Burke, VA 22009. Include your menu selection - Salmon or Chicken or Vegetarian. Nonmembers of NIP are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, 17 April 2018, 1130 - 1400 - McLean, VA - The Defense Intelligence Forum meets to hear BG Francix X Taylor (USAF, Ret) on "Threats to the Homeland and DHS Responses."

The Defense Intelligence Forum (DIA Alumni Association) meets to hear Brigadier General Francis X. Taylor (USAF, Retired) discuss "Threats to the Homeland and DHS Responses."
BG Taylor is Pres and CEO, FXTAYLOR Associates. He retired from the USG on 1/20/17 as Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) at DHS. From Mar 2005 until Nov 2013, he was Vice President and Chief Security Officer for the General Electric Company. Prior to joining GE, Mr. Taylor had a distinguished 35-year career in government service, where he held several senior positions managing investigations, security and counterterrorism issues. He served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, with a rank of Ambassador. Ambassador Taylor also served as the US Ambassador at Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism for the Department of State from July 2001 to November 2002. In this role, he was responsible for the implementing US counterterrorism policy overseas and coordinating the US government response to international terrorist activities. During his 31 years of military service, Ambassador Taylor served with distinction, rising to the rank of Brigadier General. In his final active duty assignment, Brigadier General Taylor headed the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor's and Masters Degrees in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1970 and 1974. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the Notre Dame ROTC program. BG Taylor will address "Threats to The Homeland and DHS Responses," including Russia and election security BG Taylor's remarks will be off the record and not for attribution.
Location: Pulcinella Restaurant, 6852 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA. Plentiful free parking available.
RSVP: Make reservations by Tuesday, 10 April, online here, or by email to diforum@diaalumni.org. Include names, telephone numbers, and email addresses for all attendees. For each attendee, indicate choice of chicken parmesan, trout lemone, lasagna, grilled sausage with sweet peppers, fettuccini with portobella, manicotti with spinach and ricotta, or cannelloni alla bolognese for luncheon selection.
Fee: Pay $30 online here as you also make your reservations, or at the door with exact cash or a check payable to DIAA, Inc. DIAA cannot take credit or debit cards at the door. Check-in starts at 1130; lunch at 1200. Late comers will be served last.

Thursday, 19 April 2018, 6:30-9:30pm - Washington, DC - Surveillance 101 with Eric O'Neill: Spy School Workshop - at the International Spy Museum

What if you were assigned to watch the most damaging spy in US history? As a young operative in the FBI, Eric O'Neill was put into position as Robert Hanssen's assistant with the secret task of spying on his boss, who was under suspicion of working for Russia. O'Neill's background with the FBI was in surveillance, so he was up to the challenge. But how would you measure up? It's your chance to find out.
O'Neill is prepared to share his hard-earned expertise with you. This intense small group introduction to surveillance will include learning the basics and conducting surveillance in the streets of DC. Will you be able to track the "Rabbit" without being "made?" You'll learn how to snap clandestine shots and keep your target in view so you won't miss operational acts or clandestine meetings. O'Neill will lead the exercise and help you learn how to blend into the shadows for the best spy results! Space is limited to only 16 participants - advance registration required.
To register, email Shana Oltmans at soltmans@spymuseum.org.
Tickets for the general public: $94 per person; Spy Museum members: $75. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

22 - 25 April 2018 - Tampa, FL - USGIF GEOINT 2018 Symposium on "Driving Data to Decisions and Actions."

Always a phenomenal event in number of panels, quality (fame) of speakers, and hundreds of latest tech exhibits. This is the GEOINT version of the dazzling Consumer Electronics Show...

Hear from senior defense and intelligence leaders such as NGA Director Robert Cardillo and USDI Joseph Kernan in keynotes, panels, and presentations.
Learn from 52 hours of professional development, training, and education sessions with PDUs and CEUs.
See the latest in technology, services, and solutions from 200+ exhibitors in more than 100,000 sq ft of exhibit space.
Networking with more than 4,000 GEOINT Community professionals from 40 countries spanning defense, intelligence, homeland security, industry, and academia.

Learn more about the GEOINT Symposium here
Or register now and start planning on your trip to GEOINT 2018 in Tampa.

Wednesday, 25 April 2018, 1-4pm - Washington, DC - Beware of the Predator - at the International Spy Museum

Join the Spy Museum Store as it meets author/career CIA Technical Operations officer, Warren D. Holston, and Intel analyst/contributing author, Dave White. Holston has worked throughout the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and defense industry for more than 30 years and was awarded the CIA's Intelligence Commendation Medal and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. White has worked for the US government in a broad range of roles and missions within the Intelligence and Defense Communities for almost 30 years, including serving as a Deputy Senior Operations Officer and Identity Intelligence Analyst at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and as a biometrics technology consultant in the Intelligence Community.
Their latest book, Beware The Predator, is an easy-to-read guide for anyone who wants to raise their security awareness and defensive posture. This book will help you understand how to protect yourself, your family and business from criminal predators, corporate intrusion, and State sponsored spying. Whether you are a corporate or government executive, a high-net-worth individual, or someone simply concerned about identity theft and personal safety, you should be aware of the vulnerabilities to your personal data and predatory attacks against your assets and relationships.
Event is free. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Thursday, 26 April 2018, 6:30pm - Washington, DC - Spy Chiefs: An Overview - at the International Spy Museum

In pop culture, the spy chief is an all-knowing, all-powerful figure who masterfully moves spies like pieces on a chessboard. How close to reality is that depiction, and what does it really take to be an effective leader in the world of intelligence? As editors of Spy Chiefs: Volume 1, Dr. Mark Stout, a program director at Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Christopher Moran, an associate professor at the University of Warwick, will reveal what they have gleaned about the role of intelligence leaders in foreign affairs and national security in the US and the UK from the early 1940s to the present. They will discuss some of the most intriguing of these shadowy figures such as William Donovan and John Grombach, who ran an intelligence organization so secret that not even President Truman knew of it. They'll also explore questions about spy chief accountability and just how powerful they were...or weren't. Spy Chiefs will be available for sale and signing at the event.
Tickets for the general public: $10 per person; Spy Museum Members: $8. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Friday, 18 May 2018, 1 - 2:30 pm - Annapolis Junction, MD - 2018 Henry F. Schorreck Lecture Speaker Series by NSA's Center for Cryptologic History on "The Pueblo Incident: A Fifty-Year Retrospective."

The National Cryptologic Museum hosts NSA's Center for Cryptologic History's 2018 Henry F. Schorreck Lecture Speaker Series which will explore "The Pueblo Incident: A Fifty-Year Retrospective."

The special guest speaker is Mitchell Lerner, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Institute for Korean Studies at Ohio State University. He is the author of The Pueblo Incident: A Spy Ship and the Failure of American Foreign Policy, which won the 2002 John Lyman Book Award.
"Remember," Rear Admiral Frank Johnson told the officers of the USS Pueblo just before they departed for their first mission, "you are not going out there to start a war." And yet, war appeared to be not far off when the spy ship was captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, leaving one dead crewman and 82 other Americans held captive for a year in North Korean prison camps. This presentation will examine this controversial incident from start to finish, and will open a window into not only American decision making but also into the perspectives of North Korea, South Korea, and the Soviet Union.

REGISTRATION: Event is free. However, a full house is anticipated and thus, advanced registration is required at this link. The NSA-CCH will confirm registrations and answer any questions.
DIRECTIONS: The NCM is located at 8290 Colony Seven Rd, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. Here is are directions to the Museum.
Qs or prefer to register by email?: contact Greg Nedved at gjnedve@nsa.gov to reserve the desired number of seats by email.

3 - 15 June 2018 - Charlottesville, VA - 26th National Security Law Institute Call for Applications

The 26th National Security Law Institute will take place June 3 through June 15, 2018. The National Security Law Institute provides advanced training for government officials and professors of law and political science who teach or are preparing to teach graduate-level courses in national security law or related subjects requiring a detailed understanding of National Security Law. Applications are also invited from government attorneys in the national security community who are actively engaged in the practice of national security law or otherwise have a professional need for such training. This annual intensive two-week course is held at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Virginia. Prominent scholars and current and former government experts will take part in lectures, panels, and debates to address both theoretical background and important contemporary issues of national security law.

Topics addressed include: Contemporary Theory Concerning the Origins of War and the "Democratic Peace"; Aggression & Self-Defense; The ISIL Threat; Cyber Threats; War and Treaty Powers under the Constitution; Intelligence and the Law; Domestic and Transnational Terrorism; Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare Threats; Law of Armed Conflict; War Crimes and Their Prosecution; and Maritime Concerns/South China Sea.

Accommodations: Hyatt Place Charlottesville, 2100 Bond St (GPS use 1954 Swanson Dr), Charlottesville, VA. Approximately 25-30 participants are selected to attend each Institute. Participants are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Charlottesville and paying a tuition fee of $1,950.00, which includes lodging, lunches, course materials, and any group dinners during the Institute. The deadline for applications for the 2018 Institute is May 11, 2018. For additional information please contact Bill Lacy regarding applications (blacy@law.virginia.edu) or Mer McLernon (mer@law.virginia.edu) for logistics (lodging, meals, etc.). The Center has a small fund from which to provide scholarship assistance to a few applicants who might otherwise not be able to attend the program. More information here.

Wednesday, 28 November 2018, 6 - 10:30 pm - Washington, DC - International Spy Museum's Annual "William H. Webster Distinguished Service Award Dinner" honoring Adm McRaven

For your calendar. A special evening to illuminate the critical role of individuals and organizations serving the Intelligence Community, and to raise funds in support of the International Spy Museum.

The William H. Webster Distinguished Service Award Dinner will take place at The Ritz Carlton Hotel. More than 600 attendees are anticipated and will recognize the men and women who have served in the field of National Security with integrity and distinction. This annual tribute dinner is given by the International Spy Museum to an individual who has embodied the values of Judge William H. Webster. This year's honoree is a patriot for whom love of country has been his guiding principle: Admiral William H. McRaven, former US Special Operations Commander, former Joint Special Operations Commander, and Chancellor of The University of Texas System.
Schedule: 6 pm - VIP Reception; 6:30 pm - Cocktail Reception; 7:30 - 9 pm - Dinner & Awards; 9 - 10:30 pm - Dessert Reception.
Location: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037. **Please note: this event is closed to Media**
Tickets Available Now: Prices range from $100,000 to a single seat for $495. Funds raised at this tribute dinner will support artifact preservation, educational programming, research, exhibits, and accessibility programs for underserved communities at the International Spy Museum. To purchase tickets now, do so here. To learn more about this annual dinner, it is available here.

Gift Suggestions:

AFIO's Guide to the Study of Intelligence AFIO's 788-page Guide to the Study of Intelligence. Peter C. Oleson, Editor, also makes a good gift. View authors and table of contents 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.

For a printed, bound copy, it is $95 which includes Fedex shipping to a CONUS (US-based) address.
To order for shipment to a US-based CONUS address, use this online form,

To order multiple copies or for purchases going to AK, HI, other US territories, or other countries call our office at 703-790-0320 or send email to afio@afio.com to hear of shipment fees.

Order the Guide from the AFIO's store at this link.

...ORDER HERE from AFIO.

The Guide is also available directly from Amazon at this link.

AFIO's 2017 Intelligence Community Mousepads are a great looking addition to your desk...or as a gift for others..
Made in USA. Click image for larger view.

These 2017 mousepads have full color seals of all 18 members of the US Intelligence Community on this 8" round, slick surface, nonskid, rubber-backed mouse pad with a darker navy background, brighter, updated seals. Also used, by some, as swanky coasters. Price still only $20.00 for 2 pads [includes shipping to US address. Foreign shipments - we will contact you with quote.] Order NEW MOUSEPADS here.

Disclaimers and Removal Instructions

Weekly Intelligence Notes (WINs) are commentaries on Intelligence and related national security matters, based on open media sources, selected, interpreted, edited and produced for non-profit educational uses by members and WIN subscribers.

REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS: We do not wish to add clutter to inboxes. To discontinue receiving the WINs:

a) IF YOU ARE A MEMBER - click here: UNSUBSCRIBE and supply your full name and email address where you receive the WINs. Click SEND, you will be removed from list. If this link doesn't open a blank email, create one on your own and send to afio@afio.com with the words: REMOVE FROM WINs as the subject, and provide your full name and email address where you are currently receiving them.

b) IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, and you received this message, someone forwarded this newsletter to you [contrary to AFIO policies]. Forward to afio@afio.com the entire WIN or message you received and we will remove the sender from our membership and distribution lists. The problem will be solved for both of us.

CONTENTS of this WIN [HTML version recipients - Click title to jump to story or section, Click Article Title to return to Contents. This feature does not work for Plaintext Edition or for some AOL recipients]. If you wish to change to HTML format, let us know at afio@afio.com. The HTML feature also does not work for those who access their e-mail using web mail...however NON-HTML recipients may view the latest edition each week in HTML at this link: https://www.afio.com/pages/currentwin.htm

WINs are protected by copyright laws and intellectual property laws, and may not be reproduced or re-sent without specific permission from the Producer. Opinions expressed in the WINs are solely those of the editor's) or author's) listed with each article. AFIO Members Support the AFIO Mission - sponsor new members! CHECK THE AFIO WEBSITE at www.afio.com for back issues of the WINs, information about AFIO, conference agenda and registrations materials, and membership applications and much more!

Click here to return to top.