Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

17-23 May 2023
(Issue 20)

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CONTENTS


Section I - CURRENT INTELLIGENCE NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Section II - REGULARLY FEATURED PODCASTS, BROADCASTS, NEWSLETTERS

Section III - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Article: FBI broke rules in scouring foreign intelligence on Jan. 6 riot, racial justice protests, court says - Associated Press, 19 May 23
  • Article: FBI whistleblowers describe retaliation by bureau brass against rank and file who speak out - Washington Times, 18 May
  • Audio: "Ghosts of Beirut" with Suzanne Kelly and Bill Harlow - Cover Stories Podcast, 17 May 23
  • Article: China Puts Spymaster in Charge of U.S. Corporate Crackdown - Wall Street Journal, 18 May 23
  • Article: Leak suspect shared classified secrets with foreigners, prosecutors say - Washington Post, 17 May 23
  • OpEd: FBI, Prosecutors Outline Chinese Communist Intimidation, Surveillance, Influence - New York Sun, 16 May 23
  • Article: Secret Messages Can Hide in AI-Generated Media - Quanta Magazine, 18 May 23
  • Article: The CIA Is Now Trying to Recruit Russian Spies On Telegram - Time, 18 May 23
  • Article: Russian Hit Team Feared in Suspected Poisoning of U.S. Citizens - Daily Beast, 16 May 23
  • OpEd: Biden’s CIA Assist in the 2020 Presidential Election - Wall Street Journal, 11 May 23
  • OpEd: How Can We Keep the CIA and the FBI Out of Our Politics? - Wall Street Journal, 16 May 23
  • Article: Millions of Android Phones and TVs May Come with Preinstalled Malware - Ars Technica via Slashdot, 21 May 23

Section IV - DEEPER DIVES, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Section V - Books, Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Jobs, Obituaries

Books — Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

  • Survey for Members: Skill Sets Needed for Intelligence Analysis Degree Holders to See Success After Graduation
  • Call for Information: 430th CIC in Salzburg in 1946
  • Call For Sources: Intelligence activities in Grenada and the southern Caribbean between 1979, Operation Urgent Fury, Leonard Barrett
  • Call For Sources: Intelligence Officers Who Lived in Spain in the 1970s
  • Call For Papers: Intelligence and Post-War Reconstruction - International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence
  • Call For Articles: AFIO Journal, The Intelligencer

Jobs

Obituaries

Section VI - Events

Upcoming AFIO Events

  • 19 Jun 23 (Monday), 1800 (PDT) - Virtual - Peter Warmka, Veteran CIA Operations Officer, on "Confessions of a CIA Spy - The Art of Human Hacking" - AFIO Columbia River Chapter

Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

  • 23 May 23, 1200-1300 (ET) Beverly Gage, "G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century" – NASIH - Virtual
  • 23 May 23, 1400-1500 (ET) SPY with Me: Memory Loss Program – International Spy Museum - Virtual
  • 06 Jun 23, 1700-1900 (ET) The OSS Society Commemorates the 79th Anniversary of D-Day – OSS Society - In Person - Washington, DC
  • 25 May 23, 1200 (ET) Spy Chat with Chris Costa ft. Special Guest: Dr. Joshua A. Geltzer – International Spy Museum - Virtual
  • 25 May 23, 1400-1500 (ET) SPY with Me: Memory Loss Program – International Spy Museum - Virtual
  • 31 May 23, 1200 (ET) Lost Son with Brett Forrest – International Spy Museum - Virtual
  • 13 Jun 23, 1200-1300 (ET) Amy Zegart, "How Technology Is Changing American Intelligence" – NASIH - Virtual
  • 13 Jun 23, 1800 (ET) An "Oh So Social" Conversation - A discussion about Michael Vickers forthcoming book, "By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy" – OSS Society - Virtual
  • 14 Jun 23, 1200-1300 (ET) The Making of Global Trends 2030 – Johns Hopkins University - Virtual
  • 20 Jun 23, 0800-1000 (ET) A Celebration of Excellence: Honoring Charlie Allen – INSA - In Person - Tysons Corner, VA
  • 29 Jun 23, 0900-0945 (ET) Coffee and Conversation with The Hon. Michael Vickers – INSA - Virtual
  • 13-14 Jul 23 2023 Intelligence and Security Summit – AFCEA/INSA - In Person - National Harbor, MD
  • 20-22 Jul 2023 NASIH Annual Conference 2023 – NASIH - In Person - University of Calgary, Canada

See the AFIO Calendar of Events for scheduling further in the future.




ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


The WIN editors thank the following contributors of content for this issue:

LR, EB, S, JK, BH, AD, FR

Readers are encouraged to suggest material for any section of the WIN to:

winseditor@afio.com

DISCLAIMER


Our editors include a wide range of articles and commentary in the Weekly Intelligence Notes to inform and educate our readers. The views expressed in the articles are purely those of the authors and do not reflect support or endorsement from AFIO. WIN notices about non-AFIO events do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by AFIO.
AFIO does not vet or endorse research inquiries, career announcements, or job offers. We publish reasonable-sounding inquiries and career offerings as a service to our members. We encourage readers to exercise caution and good judgment when responding and to independently verify the source before supplying resumes, career data, or personal information.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES


Readers who encounter problems with links or viewing this newsletter as an email can access
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FROM THE AFIO STORE

Roy Berkeley's "A Spy's London" - Original U.S. Edition - A Few Unsold Copies Available

In 'this remarkable book' (as intelligence historian and AFIO member Nigel West describes in his Foreword), the reader will be struck by the vibrancy of history made real. Author/AFIO member Roy Berkeley goes behind the facades of ordinary buildings, in the city that West calls 'the espionage capital of the World,' to remind us that the history of intelligence has often been made in such mundane places. With his evocative photographs and compelling observations, The 136 sites are organized into 21 manageable walks. But also a joy to armchair travelers. Among the sites: the modest hotel suite where an eager Red Army colonel poured out his secrets to a team of British and American intelligence officers; the royal residence where one of the most slippery Soviet moles was at home for years; the London home where an MP plotting to appease Hitler was arrested on his front steps in 1940.

A few copies are available at only $20 a copy (postage to a U.S.-based address included). Telephone the office at 703-790-0320 or email julie@afio.com to obtain one of these last copies.

Clearance Sale on Long-Sleeved Polo Shirts with AFIO Logo
Superior quality and shrink resistant; features a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. The shirt color is royal blue.
The sale price is $25 and includes shipping.
Available in men's sizes only:  small, medium, large, extra-large, XXL, and XXXL.
Due to limited quantities, please contact the AFIO National Office for availability of size and to provide payment information.
You may telephone the office at 703-790-0320 or email annettej@afio.com



 

      

LATEST FROM AFIO



Released exclusively to members 16 May 2023...

The Growing Capability of Foreign Countries
to Conduct Large-Scale Espionage within the U.S.


Recorded 14 April 2023

James Bamford, journalist/author, discussing
his latest book, "Spyfail"

Interview of Friday, 14 April 2023 of James Bamford, award-winning journalist/author, discussing his latest book, Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America's Counterintelligence.
Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former Senior CIA Operations Officer. Interviewer: John Quattrocki, AFIO Treasurer, a former Senior FBI Officer

TOPIC: Jim Bamford and John Quattrocki discuss SPYFAIL which describes the highly dangerous and growing capability of foreign countries to conduct large-scale espionage within the U.S. and how the FBI and other agencies have failed to prevent it. These covert operations involve a variety of foreign countries—North Korea, Russia, Israel, China, and others—and include cyberattacks, espionage, psychological warfare, the infiltration of presidential campaigns, the smuggling of nuclear weapons components, and other incredibly nefarious actions.
The interview runs 60 minutes and includes several Q&As.
Spyfail is available here.

Access the James Bamford interview here or click above image

This, and upcoming AFIO Now videos in 2023, are sponsored by Northwest Financial Advisors.



WORK AT AFIO

AFIO is seeking a Director of Outreach. (This is an In-Office Position)

A few of the responsibilities include: • Serve as focal point for a major AFIO project, to include maintaining project database and supporting a large annual formal dinner • Provide back-up support to AFIO Directors of Membership and Operations • Support AFIO's existing partners and stakeholders ... Robust Microsoft Office Skills (Excel, Outlook, Word) required.
Full job description here.



"AFIO Now" Video Interviews and Podcasts in 2023 are sponsored by
Northwest Financial Advisors

Read the Press Release on this new Joint Arrangement

Click here to watch interviews in the AFIO Now series released in 2023.
View interviews from 2020 to 2022 here.
Watch public-release interviews on our YouTube channel or listen to them in podcast form at the links below.

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



"AFIO Now" Podcasts


Latest podcast episode: Nigel West, Historian and Former MP, on "Hitler's Trojan Horse: The Fall of The Abwehr"
Video and Podcast released to public 21 May 2023.
Nigel West and Jim Hughes discuss Nigel's recent book, "Hitler's Trojan Horse: The Fall of The Abwehr." Topics include: Impact of Abwehr defections; Richard Wurmann; Erich Vermehren; SIS Officer Nicholas Elliott; Paul (Willi) Hamburger; SIGINT; Adm. Wilhelm Canaris; Operation Valkyrie; 20 July Plot; Sicherheitsdienst; Otto John - code name WHISKY; Claus von Stauffenburg; Prince Frederick III, Solms-Baruth, tortured for his attempt to assassinate Hitler on 20 July 1944, SIS officer and professor H.L.A. Hart..

Are you too busy to watch an entire AFIO Now episode on YouTube? Would you rather listen in your car or while accomplishing other tasks? You can download or stream episodes on any of the 8 podcasting platforms that host AFIO Now. Search for 'AFIO Podcast' for a selection of the interviews above (public released ones) on:

Podbean; iTunes; Google; Spotify; Amazon Music; Amazon TuneIn + Alexa; iHeartRadio; Pandora


AFIO on Social Media


Social media users, and those who wish to explore, can find or be notified about new announcements and other material on AFIO's Twitter feed, LinkedIn page, and YouTube channel. Access them here: LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

  


The OSS Society's first 2023 "Oh So Social" Virtual Conversation Series is 13 June 2023, 6-7 p.m. EDT

Please join The OSS Society for the first installment in its Virtual 2023 "Oh So Social" Conversation Series on June 13, 2023 — the OSS' 81st birthday — at 6 p.m. EDT. Gen. Jim Mattis will interview OSS Society Chairman Dr. Mike Vickers about his forthcoming memoir, By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Special Operations, Intelligence, and Strategy. Please register for this event by clicking here.
You can pre-order a copy of "By All Means Available" by clicking here.



FOR YOUR FALL TRAVEL PLANS
10-12 November 2023 - Sante Fe, NM - Spies, Lies & Nukes Conference

Spies, Lies & Nukes - Third Conference - Santa Fe, NM
Plan Your Fall Attendance NOW to capture the lower rates

This third, enhanced running of Spies, Lies & Nukes. Join Valerie Plame and some of her legendary, highly decorated, and experienced CIA colleagues as they pull back the curtain on the real life "wilderness of mirrors" that is international espionage.
Hear from and engage with the best of CIA's spies to better understand today's world: from emergent threats, to never-before-told spy operations, black market nuclear scams, how to recruit a spy, the growth of domestic terrorism, how social media is used in espionage, and keeping your employees and your company safe from foreign spies.

Topics: "Soul Catcher: The Metaphysics of Recruiting a Spy" with Jim Lawler, Former Senior CIA Ops Officer
"Delusion and Illusion in Moscow" with Jonna Mendez in conversation with Valerie Plame, Former Covert CIA Ops Officer
"CIA in the Movies" - Panel;
"China: An Emerging Threat" with Mary Beth Long, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
"Inside Putin's Head" with Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Former Senior CIA Intelligence Officer
"Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA" with Marc Polymeropoulos, Former Senior CIA Ops Officer
"Disinformation Distortions: AI, Deep Fakes, and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Social Media and Espionage" with Alma Katsu, Former Senior CIA and NSA Analyst
"Morality and Ethics in the CIA" with Doug London, Former Senior Officer in the CIA's Clandestine Service
Michael Morrell in conversation with Valerie Plame, Former Covert CIA Ops Officer
"Eliminating Players on the Intelligence Battlefield: Havana Syndrome" with Marc Polymeropoulos, Former Senior CIA Ops Officer
"The End of the Global Nuclear Order" with Valerie Plame, Former Covert CIA Ops Officer
Program also includes: Former Senior CIA Intelligence Officer; Michael J. Morell, Former CIA Deputy Director

FEE: Early Bird purchase window: Apr 12 - Jun 15, $1200; Regular Sale purchase window: Jun 16 - Nov 2, $1300; Late Sale purchase window: Nov 3 - Nov 10, $1450
Ticket price does not include accommodations. More about accommodations here

Tickets include breakfasts, lunches, VIP reception and all speaker presentations and activities.

Conference location: Conference Location: La Fonda On the Plaza, 100 E. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
More information or to register here


Access CIA's Inhouse Gift Shop



One special benefit of AFIO membership is access to CIA's EAA Store.

After completing the required, quick pre-approval process for all AFIO members, described here, you can purchase directly from the EAA online store their unusual logo'd gift items for self or colleagues. EAA on 12 May 2023 released the photo above, which features some of their newest CIA items and other gift suggestions.

Section I - CURRENT INTELLIGENCE NEWS HIGHLIGHTS


N. Korean leader inspects military spy satellite: state media - Yonhap News Agency, 17 May 23

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the country's first military reconnaissance satellite and gave the green light for its "future action plan," Pyongyang's state media said Wednesday. Kim made the on-site inspection to the Non-permanent Satellite Launch Preparatory Committee a day earlier to check the overall status of the spy satellite ready to be mounted, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "After acquainting himself in detail with the work of the committee, he inspected the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 which is ready for loading after undergoing the final general assembly check and space environment test," it said. Kim stressed that "the more desperately the U.S. imperialists and South Korean puppet villains" escalate their confrontational moves against the North, "the more fairly, squarely and offensively" it will exercise its just right to self-defence to deter them. (Full article here.)

Why presenter Harry Harding believed he was being groomed to spy on Australia - ABC Australia, 18 May 23

Walking into a Starbucks in Guangzhou, China in October 2021, Harry Harding was searching for a woman called “Susan”. He was there to discuss a new business opportunity. She’d contacted him over the messaging app WeChat, explaining that she was from a consulting company in Shanghai — later clarifying it was a think tank — and wanted him to write essays for her “clients”. Harding was a famous face in Guangzhou, where he had become an overnight pop sensation and television presenter. His high profile meant he was regularly asked to host or emcee events, charity galleries, and other freelance opportunities. From his correspondence with her, Harry had anticipated “Susan” to be a professional who was fluent in English. He recalled being surprised when he arrived to discover that “Susan” was accompanied by a man. Both were young, only knew Mandarin and Harding thought they “looked like university students”. (Full article here.)

EXCLUSIVE: Clandestine Russian Intelligence Ring in Europe Uncovered - Kyiv Post, 21 May 23

Ukrainian open source intelligence (OSINT) agency Molfar, has released the data of 167 persons whom they say are employees of the Russian Federation’s foreign intelligence service. The data indicates that most of the spy networks in Western countries were using diplomatic cover, known in spy parlance as “official cover.” To avoid suspicions, the Russian spooks took day jobs at embassies, worked as journalists, and gained employment in cultural organizations to act as cover for their real goal: to infiltrate organizations to spread disinformation about Ukraine before the full-scale invasion. According to Artem Starosiek, the CEO of the Molfar OSINT agency, uncovering the identities of Russia’s top spies started with a tip: Someone turned over a database of likely employees of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. (Full article here.)

IARPA Pursuing Breakthrough Biointelligence and Biosecurity Innovations - DNI, 17 May 23

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) — the advanced research and development arm of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence — recently launched a program to develop new innovations for tackling threats and advances inherent within the rapidly changing biointelligence and biosecurity landscapes. The Biointelligence and Biosecurity for the Intelligence Community (B24IC) program represents the Intelligence Community’s (IC) latest investment in research that pushes the boundaries of our biointelligence and biosecurity understanding and technologies. The resulting innovations could have far-reaching impacts, with the potential to develop new ways to collect, detect, analyze, and prevent traditional biothreats, while addressing possibilities and dangers associated with biotechnology. To address these challenges, the IC seeks to advance research across multiple biology sub-disciplines. (Full article here.)

International Spy Museum Is Set To Explore Asian History in Espionage - Outlook India, 19 May 23

The spy genre, also known as espionage fiction, has gained significant popularity and enduring appeal over the years. This genre focuses on stories centered on spies, intelligence agents, and their covert operations. It has captivated audiences through various mediums, including literature, film, and television. In the heart of Washington, DC, the International Spy Museum pays homage to this genre. The museum’s mission is to create compelling exhibitions and immersive learning experiences that unveil the hidden realm of espionage and intelligence. By doing so, it aims to educate and challenge visitors to critically engage with our world’s intricate complexities. (Full article here.)

U.S., Russian spy agencies publish rival ads encouraging would-be informants - Intel News, 17 May 23

Rival online campaigns by American and Russian intelligence agencies are encouraging each other’s citizens to contact them, share information and possibly even defect. At least three ads have been on social media, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issuing the earliest one in February of this year. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and its Russian counterpart, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), are now believed to have published similar ads. The FBI ad initially appeared on Twitter, directing users to the website of the Bureau’s Washington Field Office. There, a text in Cyrillic urges Russian nationals to “change [their] future” by contacting the FBI. The CIA followed suit on Monday of this week by posting a video on its new channel on Telegraph, a popular social media platform among young Russians. The CIA video portrays frustrated Russian government employees morally torn by the Kremlin’s policies. It concludes with them contacting the CIA through a secure online connection. A narrator’s voice states, “my family will live with dignity thanks to my actions”. Viewers are then assured that their safety is the CIA’s highest priority, should the choose to do the same. (Full article here.)

‘Lancefly’ espionage group targeting organizations across Asia with custom malware - The Record, 16 May 23

A government-backed hacking group known as “Lancefly” has been seen using custom-made malware to attack governments, telecoms and other organizations across Asia. Researchers from Symantec said Lancefly, labeled as an advanced persistent threat (APT), was previously implicated in several 2020 attacks that used phishing lures based on the 37th ASEAN Summit. The latest campaign — which ran from the middle of 2022 through the first quarter of 2023 — targets organizations in South and Southeast Asia, in sectors including government, aviation, education and telecoms. The backdoor used by the group, named Merdoor, has been around since 2018 but has been used in a “highly targeted” fashion against “just a handful of networks and a small number of machines over the years,” Symantec said. The researchers tracked the backdoor’s use in two different campaigns and said the goal of both was intelligence gathering. Merdoor allows hackers to track actions, log keystrokes and communicate directly with an infected device. (Full article here.)

U.S. Tech Espionage Team Unveils First Cases Involving China and Russia - New York Times, 16 May 23

The Biden administration announced arrests and criminal charges on Tuesday in five cases involving sanctions evasion and technology espionage efforts linked to Russia, China and Iran. Two Russian nationals were taken into custody last week under accusations of sending aircraft parts to Russia in violation of sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. In another case, a former Apple engineer is accused of stealing the company’s autonomous vehicle technology to provide it to a Chinese competitor. The announcements were the work of a recently established “technology strike force,” which aims to protect critical American technology or data from theft by hostile nations. The strike force was set up in February and brings together agents with the Commerce and Justice Departments, as well as the F.B.I. and local attorneys offices. (Full article here.)

DIA’s new unclassified software factory to give classified apps a boost too - Federal News Network, 15 May 23

For the Defense Intelligence Agency, the move to the multi-cloud contract called C2E is all about data interoperability. Sharing and disseminating data with other intelligence community partners, with other Defense Department agencies and with foreign allies is driving much of DIA’s IT modernization goals. EP Mathew, the DIA deputy chief information officer, said DIA is making data sharing easier and secure by building a capability delivery pipeline, which will include a software factory at the unclassified level. (Full article here.)

The UK’s Secretive Web Surveillance Program Is Ramping Up - Wired, 15 May 23

The UK government is quietly expanding and developing a controversial surveillance technology that could be capable of logging and storing the web histories of millions of people. Official reports and spending documents show that in the past year, UK police have deemed the testing of a system that can collect people’s “internet connection records” a success, and have started work to potentially introduce the system nationally. If implemented, it could hand law enforcement a powerful surveillance tool. Critics say the system is highly intrusive, and that officials have a history of not properly protecting people’s data. Much of the technology and its operation is shrouded in secrecy, with bodies refusing to answer questions about the systems. At the end of 2016, the UK government passed the Investigatory Powers Act, which introduced sweeping reforms to the country’s surveillance and hacking powers. The law added rules around what law enforcement and intelligence agencies can do and access, but it was widely criticized for its impact on people’s privacy, earning it the name the “Snooper’s Charter.” (Full article here.)

Counterespionage Corner - Recent Arrests, Convictions, Expulsions, and more...



Section II - REGULARLY FEATURED PODCASTS, BROADCASTS, NEWSLETTERS


The Latest from International Spy Museum Historian Andrew Hammond, PhD.

Spycast is the official podcast of the International Spy Museum and hosts interviews with intelligence experts on matters of HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT, OSINT, and GEOINT. Spycast is hosted by historian Andrew Hammond, PhD.

16 May | "70th Anniversary of James Bond Special" with Alexis Albion Curators Alexis and Andrew use James Bond artifacts in SPY’s collection to discuss all things 007. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Ian Fleming novel, Casino Royale. 


Past episodes:
09 May | "St. Ermin's Hotel London" - The History of a Legendary Spy Site
02 May | "Ukraine and the Alliance with NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security"
25 Apr | "Espionage and the Two Queens" - With Kent Tiernan



The Latest Insights from Former CIA Acting Deputy Director for Operations Jack Devine.

In Other News The proprietary analytic newsletter crafted for The Arkin Group's private clients by former CIA Acting Deputy Director for Operations Jack Devine.

18 May | Ukraine and allies demonstrate the impact of a committed defense. This week, Russia intensified its assault on Ukraine, launching over 30 cruise missiles into Ukrainian territory on Thursday morning alone. Thankfully, effective Western air defense systems and a concerted military training effort have allowed the resilient Ukrainian troops to largely defend against these attacks in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy recognizes how essential these defensive weapons are to his nation’s security, and this week he made in-person visits to some of his most critical European suppliers like Germany and the United Kingdom. (Full version available to AFIO members in the coming days here.)

12 May | As the war grinds on, Ukraine’s patience and preparation stands in stark contrast to the bluster of Russian leadership.

05 May | If EU member states maintain a more unified stance on China, it will bolster the EU’s standing on other issues.

28 Apr | Russia continues its physical and ideological attacks, but Ukraine and allies are holding their ground.



Daily Analysis of Security Issues and Geopolitical Trends

Intel Brief The Soufan Center's flagship, daily analytical product focused on complex security issues and geopolitical trends that may shape regional or international affairs. The Soufan Center was founded by former FBI Special Agent and Soufan Group CEO Ali Soufan.

23 May | Libyan Warlord Exploits Sudan Crisis

The post-dictatorship experiences of both two large countries in North Africa, Libya and Sudan, have been converging over the past several years. Deposing longtime Libyan dictator Muammar Qadhafi in 2011 and Sudanese military chief Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019 failed to produce peaceful transitions to unified civilian rule. Libya remains divided by rival administrations based in Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east. In both Sudan and Libya, military and militia-backed leaders in both countries have refused to implement U.N.-brokered agreements to cede power to civilian rule or to hold elections, apparently perceiving that stepping out of their positions would render them vulnerable to prosecution, retribution, and loss of wealth. In Sudan, major fighting - still ongoing amidst the wreckage of several cease-fires - broke out in mid-April between the two top military leaders of Sudan - General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, who commands the Sudanese Armed Forces, and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (widely known as “Hemedti”), who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting between the two forces appears to have no realistic conclusion other than the defeat and exile of one or the other. Libya has been plagued by similar armed conflict; in 2019, the eastern-based strongman, Field Marshal Khalifah Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA), sought but failed to unify the country by force, despite backing from Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt. Haftar and his allies in eastern Libya have since - with limited success - turned to political means to try to gain control over Tripoli and the rest of western Libya. (Full brief here.)

22 May | Special Delivery: With Long-Range Missiles Secured, Are Fighter Jets Next for Ukraine?

19 May | Arson Attack in France Signals the Rising Strength of the Far-Right in Europe

18 May | South Africa No Longer Hedging, Moves Closer to Russia

17 May | China’s Crackdown on Multinational Corporations a Worrying Trend for Private Sector



Analysis of Global Security Events with WTOP National Security Correspondent JJ Green

Inside the SCIF - 18 May - Kremlin-backed poisonings, Whelan, Sudan, and more...




Target USA Podcast - 17 May - Conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan are connected

The Hunt Broadcast - 17 May - More extremist content showing up online




The Latest Insights from Jeff Stein and Colleagues in SpyTalk (Substack)

22 May | A New History of the Church Committee - Jeff Stein
Looking back some 50 years now, it’s hard to imagine how a Senate investigation into CIA assassination plots, coups d’etat, domestic spying, covert alliances with the Mafia and mind-control drug testing on countless unwitting Americans would draw little interest from the press and public. But that’s the way it was in the winter of 1975, when the U.S. Senate created a committee under the leadership of Frank Church of Idaho to look into a wide range of reported and rumored unsavory activities by the CIA. (Full article here.)

16 May | Nearly 600 Americans Missing in Mexico - Jonathan Broder
On July 22, 2016, Frederick Henry Bell Mix IV, a 32-year-old American living in Mexico’s Caribbean resort town of Puerto Morelos, called his mother in Savannah, Georgia, to ask her to send him a new bank card and cell phone. After a short conversation, he rang off, saying he'd call again as usual in a few days. (Full article here.)

14 May | "Ghosts of Beirut," a Reflective Counterterrorism Masterpiece - Jeff Stein

06 May | Biden Maintains Veil Over Israeli Nuclear Bomb Program - Jefferson Morley

04 May | A Real Iran Crisis Story Behind 'The Diplomat' - Jeff Stein


To support SpyTalk, subscribe here.



Section III - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS


Article: FBI broke rules in scouring foreign intelligence on Jan. 6 riot, racial justice protests, court says - Associated Press, 19 May 23

FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when they searched a vast repository of foreign intelligence for information related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a heavily blacked-out court order released Friday. FBI officials said the thousands of violations, which also include improper searches of donors to a congressional campaign, predated a series of corrective measures that started in the summer of 2021 and continued last year. But the problems could nonetheless complicate FBI and Justice Department efforts to receive congressional reauthorization of a warrantless surveillance program that law enforcement officials say is needed to counter terrorism, espionage and international cybercrime. The violations were detailed in a secret court order issued last year by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has legal oversight of the U.S. government’s spy powers. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a redacted version on Friday in what officials said was the interest of transparency. Members of Congress received the order when it was issued last year. (Read full report here.)

Article: FBI whistleblowers describe retaliation by bureau brass against rank and file who speak out - Washington Times, 18 May

Three FBI whistleblowers testified before a House Judiciary subcommittee Thursday and described abuses they witnessed at the bureau and how the FBI retaliates against its employees who speak out against the agency. Two current and former agents testified before the House Judiciary Committee’s Weaponization of the Federal Government subcommittee and made several remarkable claims. FBI Special Agent Garret O’Boyle, FBI Staff Operations Specialist Marcus Allen and former FBI Special Agent Stephen Friend testified that the bureau suspended or revoked their security clearances. Additionally, they testified the bureau restricted them from seeking outside employment to support themselves and their families during their unpaid suspensions after they filed whistleblower disclosures to Congress about the agency. The FBI told The Washington Times, “The FBI’s mission is to uphold the Constitution and protect the American people. The FBI has not and will not retaliate against individuals who make protected whistleblower disclosures.” (Read full report here.)

Audio: "Ghosts of Beirut" with Suzanne Kelly and Bill Harlow - Cover Stories Podcast, 17 May 23

Imad Mughniyeah was a Lebanese terrorist responsible for more American deaths than any other individual – until 9/11. He is now the subject of a 4-part Showtime dramatic series that debuts on May 19. We talk with Greg Barker who directed and co-wrote this unusual series that tells from American, Israeli and Lebanese perspectives the story of the man who was behind many suicide bombings, hijackings and murders in the Middle East and who evaded capture for two decades until he was killed by a car bomb in Syria. The drama also weaves in first-hand, real-life interviews with prominent officials from the CIA and Mossad. (Read full report here.)

Article: China Puts Spymaster in Charge of U.S. Corporate Crackdown - Wall Street Journal, 18 May 23

China’s crackdown on overseas firms has made clear that leader Xi Jinping values security over economic growth. To eradicate any doubt, according to people familiar with the matter, he has put state-security czar Chen Yixin in charge. The campaign, which has included raids on Chinese offices of U.S. due-diligence firms and questioning of staff at the Bain consulting firm, is sending shock waves across global businesses. As news about investigations emerged in recent weeks, some international business executives were surprised that no one in Xi’s leadership came out to try to calm foreign investors, as was the case in the recent past. Such a role was traditionally played by technocrats such as Liu He, Xi’s longtime economic adviser, who negotiated a trade deal with the Trump administration and retired in March. This time, economic officials stayed silent as the crackdown intensified. (Read full report here.)

(NOTE: This material may require a free registration or sit behind a pay wall.)

Article: Leak suspect shared classified secrets with foreigners, prosecutors say - Washington Post, 17 May 23

The Air National Guard member accused in a high-profile classified leaks case appears to have shared sensitive secrets with foreign nationals and had raised concern among his co-workers in the months before he was charged with mishandling and disseminating national security information, prosecutors said in a court filing Wednesday. Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested in April after FBI agents traced back to him a collection of classified material posted in an online chat group. Authorities say Teixeira, who worked as an IT professional at a military base in Massachusetts’s Cape Cod, misused his top secret clearance to share U.S. intelligence assessments and other sensitive information with others on Discord, a social media platform popular with video game players. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday where U.S. magistrate judge David Hennessy plans to rule on whether Teixeira should remain behind bars while awaiting trial. In their Wednesday court filing, prosecutors offered new evidence, “which compounds the national security and public safety risks that the government previously noted to the Court,” and shows, they said, that he should not be released. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a free registration or sit behind a pay wall.)

OpEd: FBI, Prosecutors Outline Chinese Communist Intimidation, Surveillance, Influence - New York Sun, 16 May 23

The Department of Justice, in a series of moves, is unearthing Chinese Communist attempts to infiltrate American universities and to intimidate U.S.-based advocates of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in Hong Kong and China. There are recent developments in three Massachusetts-based cases. A May 15 Justice Department press release describes the indictment of Litan Liang, 63, of Boston’s Brighton neighborhood, for acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese Communist government. Mr. Liang has pleaded not guilty, and the Foreign Agents Registration Act is overdue for a review by Congress. The activities described in the indictment, though, are disturbing. According to the indictment, Mr. Liang, consulting with Chinese government officials, co-founded something called the New England Alliance for the Peaceful Unification of China, and organized a pro-Beijing counterprotest against a Boston rally for democracy and rule of law for Hong Kong. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a free registration or sit behind a pay wall.)

Article: Secret Messages Can Hide in AI-Generated Media - Quanta Magazine, 16 May 23

On June 27, 2010, the FBI arrested 10 Russian spies who lived and worked as American professionals near New York City. The case, which unraveled an intricate system of false identities and clandestine meetings, exposed one of the largest spy networks in the U.S. since the Cold War ended and inspired the show The Americans. It also brought attention to stenography, a way of disguising a secret message within another message. The New York spies hid their secrets in plain sight, encoding communications within the pixels of seemingly innocuous images posted on publicly available websites. To read them, the recipient had to download an image, translate it into the 1s and 0s of binary code, and know which altered digits, taken in sequence, would spell out the secret. (Read full report here.)

Article: The CIA Is Now Trying to Recruit Russian Spies On Telegram - Time, 18 May 23

A man trudges through snow to a bleak office full of paperwork. A woman logs onto a government computer. The weary bureaucrats seem to be reaching a breaking point with life in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.“Is this the life I dreamed of?” a speaker asks. The camera pans over photos of their children on their desks. The cinematic video, with the gray tones of a Cold War thriller, is part of a U.S. effort to provide more tools for disaffected Russians who might be willing to provide information. Created by the Central Intelligence Agency, the two-minute clip was posted Tuesday on a new Telegram channel that provides information on how to securely contact the U.S. agency using a Tor browser and encryption tools to send information via the dark web. (Read full report here.)

Article: Russian Hit Team Feared in Suspected Poisoning of U.S. Citizens - Daily Beast, 16 May 23

The head of a U.S.-based nonprofit that fights against Russian repression, the Free Russia Foundation, says she was possibly poisoned by “some nerve agent” while on a recent trip to Europe, in a possible sign that Russia's poison team is targeting critics again. “There is a suspicion that during my recent trip to Europe I was poisoned, possibly by some nerve agent, investigated by one… Western intelligence agency, I still have neuropathy symptoms, but overall I feel much better,” Natalia Arno, who has lived in the U.S. for a decade, said in a social media post. Arno’s symptoms set in while she was on a trip to the Czech Republic early this month, according to independent Russian news outlet Agentsvo, which described the founder as a U.S. citizen. Arno did not respond to a comment request from The Daily Beast by the time of publication. She doesn't appear to be alone. At least two other Kremlin critics have reportedly been targeted in suspected poisoning attacks since 2020, including former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, according to Agentsvo. (Read full report here.)

OpEd: Biden’s CIA Assist in the 2020 Presidential Election - Wall Street Journal, 11 May 23

Even new habits are hard to break, and that’s the case with a federal intelligence apparatus that can’t keep its fingers out of elections. It seems President-elect Biden on Nov. 4, 2020, owed thanks not only to a cabal of former intelligence officials, but to the Central Intelligence Agency. That’s the big takeaway of this week’s interim report from House committees detailing the origins of the October 2020 disinformation letter about Hunter Biden’s laptop. An earlier release revealed that Joe Biden’s campaign helped engineer a statement from 51 former U.S. spies that claimed the laptop had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” That letter provided Democrats, journalists and social-media companies the excuse to dismiss and censor evidence of Hunter’s influence peddling, removing an obstacle from his father’s path to victory. Now we find out that, according to a written statement supplied to the committee, an active CIA official joined the effort to solicit more signers to the letter. The campaign to elect Joe Biden extended into Langley. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a free registration or sit behind a pay wall.)

OpEd: How Can We Keep the CIA and the FBI Out of Our Politics? - Wall Street Journal, 16 May 23

This month brings more evidence that the U.S. government’s national-security apparatus was used to help Democrats in our last two presidential elections. The challenge for all Americans is to prevent this corruption from infecting the election of 2024. This week Justice Department special counsel John Durham’s report confirms that right from the start, the FBI’s Russia collusion investigation of the 2016 Trump campaign was biased, reckless and irresponsible. The Durham report notes that the FBI’s Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Peter Strzok, who “had pronounced hostile feelings toward Trump,” opened the Crossfire Hurricane case as a full investigation in 2016 without even a modest attempt to vet claims about the Trump campaign and adds: "FBI records prepared by Strzok in February and March 2017 show that at the time of the opening of Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI had no information in its holdings indicating that at any time during the campaign anyone in the Trump campaign had been in contact with any Russian intelligence officials... (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a free registration or sit behind a pay wall.)

Article: Millions of Android Phones and TVs May Come with Preinstalled Malware - Ars Technica via Slashdot, 21 May 23

"Multiple lines of Android devices came with preinstalled malware," reports Ars Technica, "that couldn't be removed without users taking heroic measures." Their article cites two reports released Thursday — one from Trend Micro and one from TechCrunch: Trend Micro researchers following up on a presentation delivered at the Black Hat security conference in Singapore reported that as many as 8.9 million phones comprising as many as 50 different brands were infected with malware... ["It's highly likely that more devices have been preinfected," the report clarified, "but have not exchanged communication with the Command & Control server, have not been used or activated by the threat actor, or have yet to be distributed to the targeted country or market... The threat actor has spread this malware over the last five years. "] "Guerrilla" opens a backdoor that causes infected devices to regularly communicate with a remote command-and-control server to check if there are any new malicious updates for them to install. These malicious updates collect data about the users that the threat actor, which Trend Micro calls the Lemon Group, can sell to advertisers. Guerrilla then surreptitiously installs aggressive ad platforms that can deplete battery reserves and degrade the user experience... Guerrilla is a massive platform with nearly a dozen plugins that can hijack users' WhatsApp sessions to send unwanted messages, establish a reverse proxy from an infected phone to use the network resources of the affected mobile device, and inject ads into legitimate apps... (Read full report here.)


Section IV - DEEPER DIVES, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE


Decoding China’s Counter-Espionage Crackdown - The Diplomat, 19 May 23

The recent series of raids and arrests signals an expanded national security drive during Xi Jinping’s third term. “We must better balance development and security,” said Xi Jinping at this year’s National People’s Congress, shortly after being reappointed as China’s president. These words reflect Xi’s preference for putting political and national security ahead of economic growth, an approach that appears to be gathering pace at the start of his third term in power. In the weeks following Xi’s speech, Beijing has launched a broad attack on suspected espionage activities. Targets have included an executive of Japanese drugmaker Astellas, who was arrested in March on spying charges, and veteran columnist Dong Yuyu, who was indicted in April for espionage. This month, U.S. citizen and Hong Kong resident John Shing-Wan Leung was sentenced to life in prison for spying. Meanwhile, the China offices of several U.S.-headquartered consulting firms have been raided on national security grounds. They include due diligence provider Mintz Group, which reportedly had five employees detained in March, and “expert network” consultancy Capvision, where employees were alleged to have helped leak state secrets. (Full report here.)

Are Intelligence Agencies Opening Up? A Proposed Research Agenda - Journal of Security, Intelligence, and Resilience Education, May 2023

This paper highlights the need for additional research concerning intelligence agency openness or transparency. Our literature review indicates that both qualitative and quantitative research are needed. Possible variables that may be used to collect data and evaluate the openness of intelligence agencies include information releases, declassification initiatives, documentaries, current and former intelligence agency employees’ media appearances, books, podcasts, and teaching assignments, published priorities, public apologies, LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) policies, and websites. Our research indicates that 225 (54.1%) of the 416 national security intelligence organizations we identified in 113 countries operate websites. We hypothesized that more democratic countries would have more intelligence organizations with websites as they proxy for transparency. We fitted a Poisson model to our count data and found that democracy is a statistically significant predictor of the number of intelligence organizations with websites in a country. We believe this is the first published research substantiating the effect of democracy on intelligence agency transparency. (Full report here.)

‘The enemy teaches us how to operate’: Palestinian Hamas use of open source intelligence (OSINT) in its intelligence warfare against Israel (1987-2012) - Journal of Intelligence and National Security, 16 May 23

This article explores a new aspect of Hamas’s exploitation of the media: open source intelligence (OSINT). Based mostly on primary sources from within Hamas, the article describes how, through OSINT, Hamas has obtained valuable information for its operations and has successfully learned about various military and civilian aspects of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces in a readily available, simple, and inexpensive manner. The article goes on to analyze the pitfalls for Hamas of relying exclusively on OSINT within its strategic assessment efforts. This analysis sheds new light on the academic literature regarding intelligence of violent non-state actors and asymmetric warfare. (Full report here.)

“If You Have a Hammer…”: Shaping the Armed Forces’ Discourse on Information Maneuver - International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, 11 May 2023

The dawn of cyberspace has been conducive to unlocking the potential of the information environment. As a result, armed forces embrace concepts of engagement in the information environment, in cyberspace, and especially in information maneuver—the concept of generating effects in the information environment. Unfortunately, some within the military remit perceive information maneuver as the “2.0 version” of existing intelligence capabilities emphasizing the digitization of the battlefield. While enhanced intelligence, understanding, and decisionmaking are essential, information maneuver is, above all, a means to act and generate effects in the cognitive, virtual, or physical dimension similar to deception, propaganda, or covert actions. The concept of information maneuver must not be seen as an “add on” to existing capabilities within the military instrument of power but instead as a way of exerting power and achieving effects within the remit of information as an instrument, away from the traditional physical military approach to conduct operations. (Full report here.)

A ‘Stronger, Faster’ Intelligence Community Is Possible With AI - Defense One, 15 May 23

Generative AI could make U.S. intelligence better, but only if done with caution, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s director says. “It definitely can make us better, faster, stronger. We have to go carefully,” Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier said during an INSA event Thursday night, adding that AI is something the agency has been slow to embrace but is working on. “We're trying to be faster, we're trying to be better.” Berrier said generative AI—which uses prompts to write text, create video, even produce music—could be a tremendous assistant to analysts and while it will affect the human workforce, it won’t completely replace it. “When I think about AI—pattern analysis and clustering of concepts, these things,” Berrier said. “It can do a lot of good; it can make our job easier with a lot of information put in. But it can’t determine intent. Now it can get you on the road to what you think might be intent, but this is where critical-thinking analysts really come in.” (Full report here.)

Australia’s intelligence community must adapt to stay ahead of the game - Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 22 May 23

The next independent review of Australia’s intelligence community received welcome funding in this month’s federal budget. That should put Canberra on track to meet the five- to seven-yearly schedule set by the post-Iraq Flood review in 2004, which established regular intelligence community assessments rather than relying on post-mortems. While there’s been no intelligence failure, the strategic context is shifting rapidly, with rising global instability, Moscow’s war in Europe and an increasingly aggressive Beijing. At the same time, we have the growing abuse of technology by authoritarian regimes and the spectre of Australia’s largest trading partner and closest ally seeking to technologically decouple. A general check-up geared to confirm the status quo will be insufficient. The review will need to grapple with some revolutionary changes already happening as well as those on the horizon, foremost among them technological game-changers such as generative artificial intelligence and the enormous growth in open-source opportunities beyond what was foreseen at the time of the last review in 2017. (Full report here.)

Infographic and Report: What Weapons Banned or Restricted in War? - Visual Capitalist, 20 May 22

For thousands of years, there have been rules to control the types of weapons in warfare—for instance, the use of poison in armed combat was forbidden in Ancient Greece. But it wasn’t until the 19th century that international agreements were made to legally regulate the types of weapons that are allowed (and banned) in wars around the world. This graphic outlines the weapons that are banned or limited in war, according to international humanitarian laws that are outlined in the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). (Access visual tool and full report here.)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recent Content

  • Article - The Controversial Phoenix Program Was Created to Obliterate the Viet Cong - War History Online, 17 May 23
  • Article - Donald Maclean: The Cambridge Five Spy Who Sold Out the Manhattan Project - Spy Scape, 15 May 23
  • Article - Spycatcher: Bringing Down Atomic Spy Klaus Fuchs - Spy Scape, 15 May 23
  • Article - Behind Enemy Lines: The US Spies Who Trained Moscow's Sleeper Agents - Spy Scape, 15 May 23
  • Article - The Boy Who Betrayed America: Ted Hall and the Secrets of an Atomic Spy - Spy Scape, 15 May 23
  • Article - Commuting to CIA... in a Canoe - CIA, 19 May 23
  • Article - Huntingdon exhibition shows Civil War spy cipher - BBC, 20 May 23
  • Article - The South Philly kid turned spy who passed atomic secrets to the Soviets and hastened the Rosenbergs’ executions - Billypenn.com, 20 May 23
  • Article - The Soldier-Statesman in the Secret World: George C. Marshall and Intelligence in War and Peace - CIA Center for Study of Intelligence, 20 May 23

True Intelligence Matters in Film - Breach - Billy Ray (2007)

In February, 2001, Robert Hanssen, a senior agent with 25 years in the FBI, was arrested for spying. Jump back two months: Eric O'Neill, a computer specialist who wants to be made an agent is assigned to clerk for Hanssen and to write down everything Hanssen does. O'Neill's told it's an investigation of Hanssen's sexual habits. Within weeks, the crusty Hanssen, a devout Catholic, has warmed to O'Neill, who grows to respect Hanssen. O'Neill's wife resents Hanssen's intrusiveness; the personal and professional stakes get higher. How they catch Hanssen and why he spies become the film's story. Can O'Neill help catch red-handed "the worst spy in history" and hold onto his personal life? Breach is a 2007 American spy thriller film directed by Billy Ray, who wrote the screenplay with Adam Mazer and William Rotko. The film is based on the true story of Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent convicted of spying for the Soviet Union and later Russia for more than two decades. It stars Chris Cooper as Hanssen and Ryan Phillippe as Eric O'Neill, the FBI Investigator who helped bring about his downfall. The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $41 million on a $23 million budget.

More information about this based-on-true-events production here.




Walking Tours - 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 - Books, Research Requests, Jobs, Obituaries


Books — Forthcoming, Newly Released, Overlooked


Soviet Defectors: Revelations of Renegade Intelligence Officers, 1924-1954
by Kevin P. Riehle
(Edinburgh University Press, 31 May 22)

An analysis of the insider information and insights that over eighty Soviet intelligence officer defectors revealed during the first half of the Soviet period. Identifies 88 Soviet intelligence officer defectors for the period 1917 to 1954, representing a variety of specializations; the most comprehensive list of Soviet intelligence officer defectors compiled to date. Shows the evolution of Soviet threat perceptions and the development of the "main enemy" concept in the Soviet national security system. Shows fluctuations in the Soviet recruitment and vetting of personnel for sensitive national security positions, corresponding with fluctuations in the stability of the Soviet government. Compiles for the first time corroborative primary sources in English, Russian, French, German, Finnish, Japanese, Latvian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. When intelligence officers defect, they take with them privileged information and often communicate it to the receiving state. This book identifies a group of those defectors from the Soviet elite - intelligence officers - and provides an aggregate analysis of their information to uncover Stalin’s strategic priorities and concerns, thus to open a window into Stalin’s impenetrable national security decision making. This book uses their information to define Soviet threat perceptions and national security anxieties during Stalin’s time as Soviet leader.

Order book here.


Spymaster: The Man Who Saved MI6
by Helen Fry
(Yale University Press, 30 Nov 21)

Thomas Kendrick (1881–1972) was central to the British Secret Service from its beginnings through to the Second World War. Under the guise of “British Passport Officer,” he ran spy networks across Europe, facilitated the escape of Austrian Jews, and later went on to set up the “M Room,” a listening operation which elicited information of the same significance and scope as Bletchley Park. Yet the work of Kendrick, and its full significance, remained largely unknown. Helen Fry draws on extensive original research to tell the story of this remarkable British intelligence officer. Kendrick’s life sheds light on the development of MI6 itself—he was one of the few men to serve Britain across three wars, two of which while working for the British Secret Service. Fry explores the private and public sides of Kendrick, revealing him to be the epitome of the “English gent”—easily able to charm those around him and scrupulously secretive.

Order book here.



Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West
by Calder Walton
(Simon and Schuster, 06 Jun 23)

Spies is the history of the secret war that Russia and the West have been waging for a century. Espionage, sabotage, and subversion were the Kremlin’s means to equalize the imbalance of resources between the East and West before, during, and after the Cold War. There was nothing “unprecedented” about Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. It was simply business as usual, new means used for old ends. The Cold War started long before 1945. But the West fought back after World War II, mounting its own shadow war, using disinformation, vast intelligence networks, and new technologies against the Soviet Union. Spies is an inspiring, engrossing story of the best and worst of mankind: bravery and honor, treachery and betrayal. The narrative shifts across continents and decades, from the freezing streets of St. Petersburg in 1917 to the bloody beaches of Normandy; from coups in faraway lands to present-day Moscow where troll farms, synthetic bots, and weaponized cyber-attacks being launched on the woefully unprepared West. It is about the rise and fall of eastern superpowers: Russia’s past and present and the global ascendance of China. Mining hitherto secret archives in multiple languages, Calder Walton shows that the Cold War started earlier than commonly assumed, that it continued even after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, and that Britain and America’s clandestine struggle with the Soviet government provides key lessons for countering China today. This fresh reading of history, combined with practical takeaways for our current great power struggles, make Spies a unique and essential addition to the history of the Cold War and the unrolling conflict between the United States and China that will dominate the 21st century.

Order book here.



Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

Survey for Members: Skill Sets Needed for Intelligence Analysis Degree Holders to See Success After Graduation

Northeastern University Security and Intelligence Studies professor researching the skill sets required for Intelligence Analysis degree holders to see success after graduation welcomes the participation of AFIO members in a 5-minute survey in support of the research. Access survey here.

Call for Information: 430th CIC in Salzburg in 1946

I am currently writing about 430th CIC in Salzburg in 1946. I have a (large) CIC file and am now trying to track down further details about two officers mentioned in this: (1) Bill Taylor. The sources do not make clear whether the officer was Major Bill G. Taylor, GSC, Head of the Counter-Intelligence Bureau of G-2 (Intelligence Section), US Forces Austria, or “Mil.Reg.” Captain Taylor of Salzburg. Any information on either/both of these officers would be most welcome. (2) Pace B Rose. Rose was a CIC Special Agent in Austria, later a CIA officer who continued to be attached to the Agency after retirement. He died on 3 January 2009. I would like to contact family and friends of Pace Rose. According to the internet, Rose had children, Donna R. Hilverts and Gary W. Rose, and five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Please contact S.Cody@westminster.ac.uk with any information.

Call for Sources: Intelligence Officers Who Lived in Spain in the 1970s

Spanish journalist Francisco Jiménez is preparing a documentary about the intelligence services in Spain in the 70s. He is looking for intelligence officers who worked in Spain in those years. If you are willing to assist Francisco, he can be reached at fjimenez@globomedia.es.

Call for Sources: Intelligence activities in Grenada and the southern Caribbean between 1979, Operation Urgent Fury, Leonard Barrett

The Washington Post is developing a multipart audio documentary series (i.e. podcast) chronicling the Grenadian revolution and the US intervention in 1983. They've interviewed nearly 100 people so far, ranging from the heads of state, former Grenadian officials, current and former US officials, veterans, and intelligence officers. They're looking for people who served at the time and may be knowledgeable about intelligence activities in Grenada and the southern Caribbean between 1979 and Operation Urgent Fury. They would also be interested in speaking with anyone who knew Leonard Barrett during the same period. If anyone is interested in participating, please reach out to Washington Post reporter Ted Muldoon via email at ted.muldoon@washpost.com or on Signal at 651-497-5449.

Call for papers: Intelligence and Post-War Reconstruction - International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence

History shows that without planning for post-war reconstruction, apparent victory in war can lead to long-term defeat. On the other hand, wise post-war planning can lead to friendly, peaceful, and profitable relations between victor and vanquished. For political, socio-economic and security-related planning, intelligence plays a crucial role in estimating capabilities, securing infrastructure, locating persons of interest, and rebuilding. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan) after the Second World War, the editors are particularly interested in papers dealing with intelligence concerning post-war reconstruction initiatives and planning connected to historical and recent conflicts. Both case studies and theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome. The studies may include, but do not have to be focused on, the following questions and issues:

  • The role of diplomatic and military intelligence during the conflict as preparation for post-war reconstruction, from the conceptual to the practical.
  • What intelligence needs to be collected to secure and boost reconstruction?
  • What contacts, networks, and infrastructure are necessary for intelligence to be effective?
  • Who has been or should be approached and/or recruited for reconstruction efforts based on intelligence?
  • When has intelligent post-war planning (or its opposite) been historically evident?
  • How should intelligence interact with formerly warring parties and international organizations to empower practical reconstruction efforts?
  • What intelligence collection challenges have services encountered in working for post-war peace?
  • How did intelligence factor in the European Recovery Program?
  • What was George C. Marshall's position on the role of intelligence in general or concrete examples related to "his" plan?

01 Nov 23 deadline. More information and submission instructions here.

Call For Articles: AFIO Journal, The Intelligencer

For the past four years, AFIO has included in The Intelligencer a series of articles on "when intelligence made a difference." Written by scholars, intelligence practitioners, students, and others, they cover events from ancient times to the modern world and in many countries. AFIO is soliciting articles for future issues. Most articles run between 2,000 and 3,000 words, although some are longer or shorter. If you have an idea for an article that fits the theme, email senior editor Peter Oleson at peter.oleson@afio.com.



Jobs

Retired Federal Government Employees Wanted - National Security Agency - Fort Meade, Maryland

The National Security Agency (NSA) may occasionally need skilled civilian retirees to augment the existing work force on high priority projects or programs. In order to fill these temporary positions quickly, we need to know who may be interested and available to return to work with us on a short notice basis as well as their skills. Retirees provide expertise and corporate knowledge to temporarily support mission requirements, manpower shortfalls, and/or mentor the next generation of Agency employees. Salary Range: $86,335 - $170,800.

Additional information and application here.

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.

Teaching Associate - Intelligence and National Security Studies - Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina

The Department of Intelligence and Security Studies ( ISS ) at Coastal Carolina University is accepting applications for a pool of Teaching Associates (part-time adjunct faculty) to teach introductory and undergraduate elective course offerings for the program beginning in August 2022. While the ad is open to any specialization within the field of study, courses in the areas of homeland security, law enforcement intelligence, counter-narcotics, and cybersecurity are of particular interest. Course offerings can be in a face-to-face or synchronous online modality. To be considered, candidates must have a masters or doctoral degree in a relevant subject area. Prior professional experience in the profession, as well as prior teaching experience are preferred.

Additional information and application here.



Obituaries

Bill Green — Navy Intelligence Officer and SOF Submariner

Longtime Coronado resident Captain William (Bill) Carbine Green set out on eternal patrol on December 1st surrounded by family at his home in Coronado. Born in San Diego into a military family, he grew up all over the United States as well as several years in Panama. After graduating from the University of Southern California’s NROTC program in 1952, he was assigned to the Cruiser USS Helena where he engaged in gunfire support missions for the next two years in the Korean War. Next came duty in various submarines engaged in Cold War Special Operations. His submarine duty culminated in command of the USS Tunny (APSS-282), which was specially configured to conduct unconventional warfare with UT and SEALs in Vietnam. In addition, Bill was an intelligence sub-specialist who served in many intelligence assignments including assistant naval attaché in Moscow, USSR from 1969 to 1971 and as defense attaché in Rome, Italy from 1976 until 1979. During his career he received many decorations for valor and superlative performance. He and his wife Marge enjoyed the experience of globetrotting while raising their three sons all over the world.

Howard Bond — NSA Officer

Howard A. Bond of Dresher, PA, passed away peacefully at his home on May 12, 2023, at the age of 99. Born in Oak Park, IL, Howard earned a degree in electrical engineering from Northwestern University in June 1944. Immediately thereafter, he entered the United States Army, graduating from Signal Corps Officer Candidate School at Fort Monmouth, NJ in March 1945. He served as a communications and electronics officer for three years before transitioning to service with the Naval Security Station and then the National Security Agency. Howard was proud of his military service, and attained the rank of Major in the United States Army Reserve before transferring to the Retired Reserve in August 1965. He spent 20 years in the private sector working for various engineering firms before retiring as senior vice president of Aydin Monitor Systems in 1978. Howard’s work took him all over the world, from being stationed in the Territory of Hawaii in 1946 to trips throughout Alaska, Europe, Southeast Asia, India, and Iran. He greatly enjoyed these travels, and welcomed the opportunities to meet new people in the places he visited. He was a former member of the Phoenix Society.

Judith Yaphe — Decorated CIA Analyst

Judith Share Yaphe, 79, died May 4 at her home in Vienna, VA. Judi graduated from Bangor High School in 1962. She graduated with honors and received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1966 from Moravian College and her master's and doctorate in Middle Eastern Affairs from the University of Illinois in 1972. Judi served 20 years at the Central Intelligence Agency where she was named senior analyst on Middle Eastern and Persian Gulf issues and was chief political officer for Iraq. She was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Commendation by President George Bush for her work on the 1990-91 Gulf War. During the second Gulf War she was the agency's expert on efforts to identify Saddam Hussein and was frequently interviewed by the national and international press. Following her tenure at the CIA, Judi was named Distinguished Research Professor at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. where she spent the next 17 years until her retirement in 2013. She also was a professor at the Institute for Middle East Studies for the Elliott School at George Washington University.

Michael Peters — NGA Officer

Lt. Col. Michael A. Peters, USAF (Ret.), 52, of Collinsville, Illinois passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at his home. Michael was born in Burlington, IA and grew up in Blandinsville, IL. He graduated from Northwestern High School in Sciota, IL in 1989. He attended the United States Military Academy and graduated with a degree in Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy in 1994. Upon graduation, he cross-commissioned to the US Air Force (USAF) as an Intelligence Officer. Michael left active-duty service in 2003, following duty stations in Texas, Virginia, and Illinois, transferring to the USAF Reserves until his retirement in 2017 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In his civilian capacity, Michael was a dedicated educator who served as a senior instructor, course manager, team lead, and branch chief for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in St. Louis beginning in 2001. In 2017, he graduated from the US Army War College in Pennsylvania with a master's in Strategic Studies. In 2021, he moved into a program manager position, leading the planning and execution of all NGA personnel moving to their future new campus. Over the course of his career, he traveled to five of the seven continents.

David Gries — Decorated Senior CIA Officer

David Dauby Gries, Asia expert at the CIA, died on April 4, 2023. He was 90. He was born in Akron, Ohio. Gries attended Hotchkiss and Yale. A 35-year veteran of the CIA, Gries served in the 1960s and 1970s in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Beijing, where he was station chief. In the 1980s, Gries served as National Intelligence Officer for East Asia, and as the CIA's Director of Congressional Affairs during the Iran-Contra Affair, earning praise from US Senator Sam Nunn for carrying out "difficult tasks with great professionalism." He later served as Vice President of the National Intelligence Council, writing the President's daily intelligence brief. Retiring from the CIA in 1994, he was honored with the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Gries later founded Asian Strategies Group, a China consultancy, and China Vitae, an online biographical database of Chinese VIPs.



Section VI - Events


19 Jun 23 (Monday), 1800 (PDT) - Virtual - Peter Warmka, on "Confessions of a CIA Spy - The Art of Human Hacking, the topic and title of his recent book. Hosted by the Columbia River Chapter of AFIO. Warmka is a former Senior Intelligence Officer with the CIA having over 20 years of experience in breaching the security of target organizations overseas. He is an Adjunct Professor at Webster University's Masters in Cybersecurity Program and Founder of Orlando based firm Counterintelligence Institute, LLC. All AFIO members are welcome to tune in. For additional information and for the links and password to join the Zoom Meeting, email Chapter President Carl Wege here or call on 912-222-8640.

See the AFIO Calendar of Events for scheduling further in the future.



Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others


23 May 23, 1200-1300 (ET) - Beverly Gage, "G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century" – NASIH - Virtual

Beverly Gage is professor of 20th-century American history at Yale. She is the author of The Day Wall Street Exploded, which examined the history of terrorism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She writes frequently for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker, among other publications. In this talk, she addresses J. Edgar Hoover, who we remember as a bulldog--squat frame, bulging wide-set eyes, fearsome jowls--but who in 1924, when he became director of the FBI, had been the trim, dazzling wunderkind of the administrative state, buzzing with energy and big ideas for reform. He transformed a failing law-enforcement backwater, riddled with scandal, into a modern machine. He believed in the power of the federal government to do great things for the nation and its citizens. He also believed that certain people--many of them communists or racial minorities or both-- did not deserve to be included in that American project. Hoover rose to power and then stayed there, decade after decade, using the tools of state to create a personal fiefdom unrivaled in U.S. history. Beverly Gage’s monumental work explores the full sweep of Hoover’s life and career, from his birth in 1895 to a modest Washington civil-service family through his death in 1972. In her nuanced and definitive portrait, Gage shows how Hoover was more than a one-dimensional tyrant and schemer who strong-armed the rest of the country into submission. As FBI director from 1924 through his death in 1972, he was a confidant, counselor, and adversary to eight U.S. presidents, four Republicans and four Democrats. Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson did the most to empower him, yet his closest friend among the eight was fellow anticommunist warrior Richard Nixon. Hoover was not above blackmail and intimidation, but he also embodied conservative values ranging from anticommunism to white supremacy to a crusading and politicized interpretation of Christianity. This garnered him the admiration of millions of Americans. He stayed in office for so long because many people, from the highest reaches of government down to the grassroots, wanted him there and supported what he was doing, thus creating the template that the political right has followed to transform its party. G-Man places Hoover back where he once stood in American political history--not at the fringes, but at the center--and uses his story to explain the trajectories of governance, policing, race, ideology, political culture, and federal power as they evolved over the course of the 20th century. More information and registration here.

23 May 23, 1400-1500 (ET) - SPY with Me: Memory Loss Program – International Spy Museum - Virtual

SPY with Me is an interactive virtual program for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Join SPY as we use music and artifacts to explore some of our favorite spy stories. Programs last one hour and are held virtually through Zoom. Every month the same program is offered on two different dates. To register, please email Shana Oltmans at soltmans@spymuseum.org Free but space is limited. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

25 May 23, 1200 (ET) - Spy Chat with Chris Costa ft. Special Guest: Dr. Joshua A. Geltzer – International Spy Museum - Virtual

Join us for an online discussion of the latest intelligence, national security, and terrorism issues in the news. Spy Museum Executive Director Chris Costa, a former intelligence officer of 34 years, will be joined by Dr. Joshua A. Geltzer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor for the White House National Security Council. Previously, Geltzer served as Special Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Homeland Security Advisor on Countering Domestic Violent Extremism, and in that role, he oversaw the development of the US Government's first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism. Before returning to government service, Geltzer was the founding Executive Director and Visiting Professor of Law at Georgetown Law's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. Additionally, he was an International Security Program Fellow at New America and an Executive Editor at Just Security. From 2015 to 2017, he served as the Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, having served previously as Deputy Legal Advisor to the National Security Council and as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the US Department of Justice. Previous to those roles, he served as a law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer of the US Supreme Court. Program is free of charge, but requires advanced registration. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

25 May 23, 1400-1500 (ET) - SPY with Me: Memory Loss Program – International Spy Museum - Virtual

SPY with Me is an interactive virtual program for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Join SPY as we use music and artifacts to explore some of our favorite spy stories. Programs last one hour and are held virtually through Zoom. Every month the same program is offered on two different dates. To register, please email Shana Oltmans at: soltmans@spymuseum.org. Free but space is limited. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

31 May 23, 1200 (ET) - Lost Son with Brett Forrest – International Spy Museum - Virtual

When a young American named Billy Reilly vanished into Russia's war with Ukraine, his parents embarked on a desperate search for answers. Was their son's disappearance connected to his mysterious work for the FBI, or was it a personal quest gone wrong? Wall Street Journal reporter Brett Forrest embarked on his own investigation revealing a secretive FBI intelligence program, a young man's lust for adventure within the world's conflicts, and the costs of a rising clash between Moscow and Washington. Join International Spy Museum Historian and Curator Dr. Andrew Hammond in conversation with Forrest about his new book Lost Son: An American Family Trapped Inside the FBI's Secret Wars. They'll discuss how Forrest applied years' worth of research, along with decades of extensive experience in Russia, illuminating the inner workings of the national-security machine that enmeshed Billy and his family, picking up the lost son's trail. It's a trail that brings Billy to the center of the story — a young man who yearns to matter, whose dream led him headlong into Russia's war with Ukraine. Program is free of charge and does not require advanced registration. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

06 Jun 23, 1700-1900 (ET) - The OSS Society Commemorates the 79th Anniversary of D-Day – OSS Society - In Person - Washington, DC

Join The OSS Society for a screening of its award-winning short documentary, "Operation Overlord: OSS and the Battle for France." This film tells the story of Allied special forces whose daring exploits for D-Day changed the course of World War II. This event is by invitation only and is non-transferable. More information here.

13 Jun 23, 1200-1300 (ET) - Amy Zegart, "How Technology Is Changing American Intelligence" – NASIH - Virtual

Dr. Amy Zegart is the Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Professor of Political Science (by courtesy) at Stanford University. She is also a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Chair of Stanford’s Artificial Intelligence and International Security Steering Committee, and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. She specializes in U.S. intelligence, emerging technologies and national security, grand strategy, and global political risk management. In this talk, Zegart examines the past, present, and future of American espionage, focusing on how emerging technologies are radically challenging every aspect of the intelligence enterprise. An illuminating case study is nuclear threat detection. Zegart will share her findings that nuclear intelligence is not just for superpower governments anymore thanks to Internet connectivity, automated analytics, and commercial satellites. This talk will focus on the characteristics, benefits, and risks of this democratization of intelligence for threat detection and crisis management. Zegart will also discuss how technology is not a panacea for the intelligence community, how it can exacerbate existing biases, and how it must be used strategically to provide critical insights to the military, policymakers, and the American public. More information and registration here.

13 Jun 23, 1800 (ET) - An "Oh So Social" Conversation - A discussion about Michael Vickers forthcoming book, "By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy" – OSS Society - Virtual

General Jim Mattis interviews Dr. Michael Vickers about his forthcoming book. In By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operation and Strategy, Vickers recounts his remarkable career, from his days as a Green Beret to his vision for victory in Afghanistan to his role in waging America’s war with al-Qa’ida at the highest levels of government. In captivating detail, he depicts his years in the Special Forces—including his training to parachute behind enemy lines with a backpack nuclear weapon in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe, and he reveals how those experiences directly influenced his approach to shaping policy. Vickers has played a significant role in most of the military and intelligence operations of the past four decades, and he offers a deeply informed analysis of the greatest challenges facing America today, and in the decades ahead. More information here.

14 Jun 23, 1200-1300 (ET) - The Making of Global Trends 2030 – Johns Hopkins University - Virtual

Join host Michael Ard for a discussion with strategic foresight and global trend expert Mathew Burrows. Mathew Burrows is the Program Lead of the Stimson Center’s Strategic Foresight Hub and a Distinguished Fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy program. Prior to joining Stimson, he served as the director of Foresight at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Strategy Initiative and as the co-director of the New American Engagement Initiative. Burrows is one of the leading experts on strategic foresight and global trend analysis. In 2013 he retired from a 28-year-long career in the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the last 10 years of which he spent at the National Intelligence Council (NIC), the premier analytic unit in the US Intelligence Community. In 2007, Burrows was appointed Counselor, the number three position in the NIC, and was the principal drafter for the NIC publication Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds, which received widespread recognition and praise in the international media. In 2005, he was asked to set up and direct the NIC’s new Long Range Analysis Unit, which is now known as the Strategic Futures Group. Other positions included assignments as deputy national security advisor to Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill (2001-02), special assistant to the UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke (1999-2001), and first holder of the intelligence community fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York (1998-1999). Burrows received a BA in American and European history from Wesleyan University and a PhD in European history from the University of Cambridge. Free registration here.

20 Jun 23, 0800-1000 (ET) - A Celebration of Excellence: Honoring Charlie Allen – INSA - In Person - Tysons Corner

Join colleagues from across the intelligence, homeland and national security communities on Tuesday, June 20, from 8:00-10:00 AM at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, as we celebrate Charlie Allen's 65th year (and counting!) of extraordinary service to our nation. Following a plated breakfast, INSA Chairwoman Tish Long will lead a moderated Q&A with Charlie, as he reflects on key accomplishments, regrets, current challenges and opportunities, and more! Plus, special guests and fun surprises will mark this festive event. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate an iconic intelligence professional and national treasure! Free for students and military. Register here.

29 Jun 23, 0900-0945 (ET) - Coffee and Conversation with The Hon. Michael Vickers – INSA - Virtual

Join intelligence and national security colleagues online on Thursday, June 29, from 9:00-9:45 am ET, for a special Coffee & Conversation with The Hon. Michael G. Vickers, former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. In a moderated conversation with Letitia A. Long, Chairwoman, INSA Board of Directors, Mr. Vickers will discuss his latest memoir, By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy, including: Key accomplishments during his time at CIA, specifically his role in the invasion of Grenada, operational response to the Beirut bombings, and the covert effort to drive the Red Army out of Afghanistan; Leading the comprehensive transformation of defense intelligence capabilities, while USD(I); Serving as the first ASD for Special Operations, Low-Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities...and much more! Plus, there will be ample time for audience Q&A! Register here.

13-14 Jul 23 – 2023 Intelligence and National Security Summit - AFCEA/INSA - In Person - National Harbor, MD

"The Nation's Premier Intel and National Security Event" - Save the date for the 10th Annual AFCEA/INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit! The powerful, two-day program, at the Gaylord National Resort, will feature five blockbuster plenaries, six engaging breakout sessions, and a jam-packed exhibit hall full of the latest IC technology innovations. Top leaders will discuss State of the Community, Military Intelligence Priorities, Strategic Intelligence, and Cybersecurity Challenges. Breakout sessions with senior leaders, technology experts, and thought leaders will examine some of the most pressing issues facing the community. Plus, powerful networking opportunities designed to foster partnerships and relationship building. Check for for full agenda and updates here.

20-22 Jul 2023 - NASIH Annual Conference 2023 – NASIH - In Person - University of Calgary, Canada

North American Society for Intelligence History's annual event. Registration is open and the registration fee will increase on 15 Jun 23. Full details on this two-day program, with extensive speaker line up and panels, here. Registration here.


Gifts for Friends, Colleagues, Self


Now available: 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.
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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.
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Duffel Bags - Royal Blue and Black with Full Color AFIO Logo This duffel has it all when it comes to value, style and organization.
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Sip your morning joe in style or use it to stash pens, cards, paperclips, or candy.

Order this and other store items online here.



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 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.


PUBLISHED IN 2023

Be informed on career opportunities in the U.S. Intelligence Community
Intelligence as a Career - with updated listings of colleges teaching intelligence courses, and Q&As on needed foreign languages, as well as the courses, grades, extracurricular activities, and behavioral characteristics and life experiences sought by modern U.S. intelligence agencies.

AFIO's popular 47-page booklet reaches thousands of high school, college students, university guidance offices, and distributed in classes teaching intelligence, to help those considering careers in the U.S. Intelligence Community.
This is the all new fifth edition.
The publication is also popular with University Career Guidance Centers, professors and academic departments specializing in national security, and parents assisting children or grandchildren in choosing meaningful, public service careers.
This booklet is provided online as a public service from the generosity of AFIO board, volunteer editors/writers, donors, and members.
We thank all for their support which makes this educational effort possible.
  Careers Booklet (new 2023 Fifth Edition) can be read or downloaded here
  



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

"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. More articles will be appear in future editions.



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