Weekly Intelligence Notes

28 August - 03 September 2024
(Issue 33)

Readers who encounter problems with the email version of the WIN can
view the latest edition here.

Send submissions and comments to: winseditor@afio.com.

CONTENTS

Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)

General Interests

• Russia’s Military Fears for Its Secrets After Telegram Founder’s Arrest - Wall Street Journal, 29 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• CIA Says It Busted Teen Terror Cell Targeting Taylor Swift in Vienna - The Daily Beast, 29 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• A Fake Spy, Russian Oil and $1 Million Funneled to Democrats - Wall Street Journal, 27 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• Researchers propose a smaller, more noise-tolerant quantum factoring circuit for cryptography - Tech Explore, 28 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• NSA to debut podcast to boost public awareness of classified missions - Next Gov, 29 Aug 24
• Russian Espionage Center Operates at Mokoron Military Base in Managua - Confidencial, 27 Aug 24
• NIH cancels ‘Havana syndrome’ research, citing unethical coercion of participants - CNN, 01 Sep 24
• Chinese spy plane violates Japanese airspace first time since 1958 - The Times, 27 Aug 24
• Experts warn U.S. falling behind in satellite imaging race: ‘We’ve gone backwards’ - Space News, 27 Aug 24
• How Belarusian KGB uses OnlyFans and job ads to recruit spies - LRT News, 26 Aug 24

Special Collections

• Counterespionage - Recent arrests, convictions, expulsions, and more...
• Cyberespionage - Newly identified actors, collection and sabotage ops, countermeasures, policy, other...
• Covert Action - Influence ops, assassinations, sabotage, intel agency paramilitary action, countermeasures, and more...

• Covert Captures: Bringing Spies Back Alive (42 mins) - Spycraft 101 Podcast, 01 Sep 24
• FBI, CIA, and Military Officials Speak on National Security Challenges at Intelligence and National Security Summit (73 mins) - C-Span, 28 Aug 24
• SIDE: The New Intelligence Operators in Latin America - Grey Dynamics, 29 Aug 24
• On the Technology and AI Strategies of DIA: A Conversation with Ramesh Menon (60 mins) - Federal News Network, 30 Aug 24
• How US Intel Agencies Are Preparing for the Great Power Competition Era - Executive Biz, 28 Aug 24
• Is Israel preparing to carry out intelligence operations on US soil? - Intel News, 26 Aug 24
• Robert Booth on Underestimating Cuba's Spies (33 mins) - True Spies Podcast, 27 Aug 24
• Melissa Graves, Frank Emerson, and Pat Hendrix on OSINT (41 mins) - The Cognitive Crucible Podcast, 26 Aug 24

• The fight between Russia and Ukraine is taking on some new dimensions, but Putin seems to be ignoring the home front. — Former Acting CIA Dep. Dir. for Ops and Arkin Group President Jack Devine, In Other News
• Far-Right Extremism is Also a Growing Problem Throughout the Global South — Former FBI Special Agent and Soufan Group CEO Ali Soufan, Intel Brief
• A Window on Russia: Rolf Mowatt-Larssen — Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell and former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andy Makridis, Intelligence Matters: The Relaunch
• Former analyst decries CIA politicization of intelligence, new levels of activism under Biden with Former CIA Analyst John Gentry - Washington Times, 30 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• Double Agents and False Flags (70 mins) - with Former FBI Counterintelligence Agent John Quattrocki - IWP Podcast, 29 Aug 24
• Obama suppressed Iran nuclear intel to get deal, U.S. counterspy says with Former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler - Washington Times, 28 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• Why Political Change in the Philippines May Mean Trouble for the U.S. by former CIA Senior Analyst Rodney Faraon - Cipher Brief, 28 Aug 24
• How the Israeli intelligence community got its mojo back - by Former CIA Executive Marc Polymeropolous - Atlantic Council, 27 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• What Putin Wants (85 mins) - with Former CIA Executive Peter Clement - Lawfare's Chatter Podcast, 27 Aug 24

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

• Intelligence Practices in High-Trust Societies: Scandinavian Exceptionalism? edited by Kira Vrist Rønn, Adam Diderichsen, Mia Hartmann, Melanie Hartvigsen (13 Sep 24)
• The Birth of Psychological War: Propaganda, Espionage, and Military Violence from WWII to the Vietnam War by Dr. Jeffrey White (19 Oct 23)
• The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville by Clare Mulley (11 Jun 13)

True Intelligence Matters on Film: Declassified: The Untold Stories of American Spies, S2 E5 - The Myers: Fidel's Personal Spies - Domini Hofmann (2017)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

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

Obituaries

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

• Call for Articles and Book Reviews: The ODNI at 20 Years - Special Issue of the American Intelligence Journal, Fall 2024. 15 Oct 24 Deadline.
• Call for Papers: Gender in the Security Sectors of the Indo-Pacific Region - Special Issue of the Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. 31 Oct 24 Deadline.
• Call for Papers: African Intelligence in the Post-Colonial Era, 1960-present - Special Issue of the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. 01 Nov 24 Deadline.
• Call for Interviews: Documentary film executive seeking extraordinary, true story material.
• Call for Information: Farewell Dossier and the alleged explosion of the Siberian gas pipeline.
• Call for Papers: 2025 Cryptologic History Symposium - “Engage the Past, Educate the Future.” 05 Sep 24 Deadline.
• Call for Online Survey Participants: Institution Review Board approved research project from Northeastern University on critical thinking skills for national security intelligence analysts.
• Call for Information and Interview Subjects: In search of information on possible espionage activity in New York City in the WWII and post-war era.
• Call for information: Child of former CIA officers John and Mary Mae Roman seeks information about parents' careers.
• Call for information: Seeking input and suggestions for a chapter on Counterintelligence for the second edition of the Oxford University Handbook of National Security Intelligence.
• Call for information: Seeking information on Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit, OSS-CIA, 1941-1965.
• Call for information: Seeking information on Peruvian communist terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path).
• Seeking Interview Subjects: Seeking information on Czech-U.S. relations late 1970s and 1980s, StB's techniques and effectiveness, exposition and expulsion of U.S. staff in Prague, Czech intel operatives on U.S. soil.
• Seeking Interview Subjects: Current or former intelligence officers, analysts, and counterintelligence (CI) professionals with firsthand experience in dealing with Russian illegals to participate in confidential interview sessions as part of a PhD dissertation.
• Call for Information: Swiss photographer Bruno Zehnder and research activity/death in Mirny Antarctica 1997 / info on climate between Russia and the CIA in the 1980s/90s regarding adhering to the scientific treaty and the race to be the first to breach Lake Vostok.
• Call For Articles: AFIO Journal, The Intelligencer - Assorted Topics

Employment

• 2 Assistant Professors in Intelligence and Security - Institute of Security and Global Affairs, University of Leiden, Netherlands
• Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies - Mercyhurst University - Erie, Pennsylvania
• Associate Professor and Chair of National Security - University of New Haven, Connecticut
• Wanted: Former intelligence officers to lead spy-themed walking tours in Washington, D.C. - Spyher Tours
• Wanted: Retired Federal Government Employees - National Security Agency - Fort Meade, Maryland
• Assistant Professor - Intelligence Studies - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona

Upcoming AFIO Events

• Mon, 9 Sep 2024, noon (CT) - in-person San Antonio, TX - The AFIO San Antonio Chapter Meeting Will Review "Some CIA Secrets and Innovations," F-22 and F-35 Aircraft, and How 32 Soldiers Opened Omaha Beach, Normandy, in 1944
• 09 Sep 24, 1800-1830 (ET) - virtual - Q&A with Liza Mundy, award-winning journalist and New York Times-bestselling author of The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA (2023) - AFIO East Tennessee.
• Sat, 14 Sep 2024, 11:30am EDT - Indialantic, FL - AFIO Florida Satellite Chapter hosts Matthew Newgent on "DEI at U.S. Military Service Academies."
• Thursday, 19 Sep 2024, 11:30 AM MDT - Colorado Springs - The AFIO Rocky Mountain Chapter hosts Dr. Ryan Burke: “The Polar Vortex.”
• Thu 19 Sep 2024, 6 - 8 pm PDT - Virtual via Zoom - The AFIO LA Chapter meeting features Ricky Deutsch discussing "Hexagon - The History of Film-based Space Intelligence"
• 20 Sep 24, 1130 (PT) - San Francisco CA - In-Person - The AFIO San Francisco Chapter Lunch and Presentation by Dr. Matthew Brazil on "China's Ministry of State Security."
• 04 Oct 24, 11 am (ET) - McLean VA In-Person - AFIO National Fall Luncheon: JJ Green, WTOP, Morning Speaker; Afternoon Speaker TBA - Hold the date. Registration opens 1 August.

Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

• Thursday, 12 September 2024, 12:00-1:00pm – Washington, DC – Spy Chat with Chris Costa ft. Christine Abizaid – Virtual International Spy Museum Program.
• Saturday, 14 September 2024, 2:00-4:00pm – Washington, DC – In Store Book Signing Event for Sell Like A Spy with Author Jeremy Hurewitz – In Person International Spy Museum Book Signing
• 17-18 Sep 24 – In Person – Lessons Learned from America's Post-9/11 Irregular Wars - FPRI and DOD's Irregular Warfare Center, Annapolis, Maryland
• Friday, 20 September 2024, 6:00-9:00pm – Washington, DC – Educator Night Out 2024 – In-Person International Spy Museum Program
• Wednesday, 25 September 2024, 6:30-7:50pm – Washington, DC – Spies, Lies, and Robots: The Rise of AI Chatbots and the Counterintelligence Dilemma with H. Keith Melton – In-Person International Spy Museum Program
• 5 October 2024, 2p-4p: Vintage Espionage, a wine tasting with an espionage twist hosted by former CIA officers.
  
• Wednesday, 24 October 2024, 5 - 7 p.m. - In-Person Hanover, MD - NCF & INSF 3rd Annual Cocktails & Codebreakers event
• 30 Apr - 02 May 2025 – In Person – Cryptologic History Symposium - National Cryptological Foundation and NSA Center for Cryptologic History, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
• 30 Aug - 8 Sep 2025 - Mediterranean Cruise - Spies, Lies & Nukes announce Espionage on the High Seas! Plan NOW to join the late-summer 2025 cruise.

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

DISCLAIMER

The Weekly Intelligence Notes include a wide range of articles and commentary to inform our readers. It also includes several paid advertisements. Views expressed in articles and advertising are those of the authors and advertisers; they do not reflect AFIO's support or endorsement. Notices about non-AFIO events do not reflect AFIO endorsement or recommendation.

AFIO does not vet or endorse research inquiries, career announcements, or job offers. Reasonable-sounding inquiries and career offerings are published as a service to readers, who should exercise caution and good judgment when responding and independently verify the source before supplying resumes, career data, or personal information.

- RELEASED TODAY TO MEMBERS ONLY -

RADM Margaret "Peg" Klein
discusses her extraordinary career at NSA,
the US Cyber Command, and the US Navy

Interviewer: Everett Jordan, former Treasury Department Deputy Assistant for IC Integration and current AFIO Board Member

Host: James Hughes, former CIA Senior Operations Officer and AFIO President

Recorded: 28 May 2024
Duration: 25 mins

Access the video interview here or click image above.

Also released today...

WIN EXCLUSIVE
BOOK REVIEW OF THE MONTH
(September 2024)

Award-winning Intelligence and Military Historian Rose Mary Sheldon writes on:

Spies for the Sultan: Ottoman Intelligence in the Great Rivalry with Spain

by Emrah Safa Gürkan
(Georgetown University Press, 01 May 2024)

Access review here.

- AFIO NATIONAL FALL LUNCHEON -

- Registration Underway -

Friday, 4 Oct 2024, 1100-1400, Tysons, VA

FEATURING:

Mark Kelton Former National Clandestine Service Deputy Director for Counterintelligence (DDNCS/CI)		J.J. Green WTOP National Security Correspondent

Schedule:

1030 Check-in for preregistered attendees (no walk-ins)
1100 J.J. Green, WTOP National Security Correspondent
12-1300 Lunch
1300 Mark Kelton, Former National Clandestine Service Deputy Director for Counterintelligence (DDNCS/CI)
1400 Event ends

Registration and Cost:
Registration and credit card payment required before event. Lunch is $60 (members) or $75 (guests, Subscribers).

Register now while space remains. Registration closes 1700 hours, Friday, 27 Sep 2024 or earlier when all seats taken.

Cancellations: No refund for cancellations after 21 Sep 2024. Payment for reservations canceled 21 to 27 Sep 2024 will be converted to donations to AFIO. Payments for reservations canceled after 27 Sep 2024 are forfeit; the meal will have been guaranteed at the hotel, per the contract.
Attendees must be AFIO members or accompanied by a member. For security reasons, no late or last-minute substitutions.

Please direct any questions to events@afio.com

- CALL FOR ARTICLES -

AFIO seeks authors for "When Intelligence Made a Difference," a feature in the semi-annual Intelligencer journal. Whether contemporary or historical, proposed articles should explain an event in which the application of actionable intelligence made a difference. For professors, this can make a good assignment for students. AFIO welcomes student papers as potential articles, which can be brief or up to 3,000 words. Interested authors can contact senior editor, Peter Oleson, at peter.oleson@afio.com

COMING in 2025...

We hope you will join us for this celebration.

Army OSINT Office's New Strategy"

OSINT Defense Intelligence Senior Leader Dennis Eger and Director of Army OSINT Office Shawn Nilius discuss the Army Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Strategy. The Army defines OSINT as a foundational intelligence discipline that plays a central role in the support of operations. Interviewed by Jennifer Daniel, former senior officer of NGA and ODNI, and hosted by AFIO President James Hughes.

The audio-only version of AFIO Now, great for listening to in your car or while accomplishing other tasks, can be downloaded or streamed on any of the following podcast platforms by searching for "AFIO":

AFIO Now interviews, video and audio-only forms, in 2023 and 2024, are sponsored by
Northwest Financial Advisors

Click here to watch interviews in the AFIO Now series released in 2024.
View interviews from 2020 to 2023 here.
Watch public-release interviews on our YouTube channel or listen to them in podcast form at the links in the section above.

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

Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)

General Interests

Russia’s Military Fears for Its Secrets After Telegram Founder’s Arrest - Wall Street Journal, 29 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)

Russian authorities have reacted with unusual fury to the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French authorities. Telegram is more than a mere social-media app to Moscow. Russian soldiers and spies depend on it for battlefield communications, including the guidance of artillery, the coordination of movements and intelligence gathering. “Many are joking that the arrest of Pavel Durov is essentially the arrest of the chief signals officer of the Russian armed forces,” said Aleksey Rogozin, a Russian parliament adviser and former senior military industry executive. The Russian military found out quickly after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine that its units had a hard time communicating with each other and that its unencrypted radio traffic was easily intercepted by Ukrainians. Modern communications capabilities were scarce, and remain so, given the rapid expansion of the Russian armed forces since then. (Read more here.)

CIA Says It Busted Teen Terror Cell Targeting Taylor Swift in Vienna - The Daily Beast, 29 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency tipped Austrian authorities to information that helped them arrest suspects who planned a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna earlier this month. “Within my agency and others there were people who thought that was a really good day for Langley and not just the Swifties in my workforce,” David Cohen, the CIA’s deputy director, said at the Insa intelligence conference on Wednesday. Cohen didn’t offer specific details about what intelligence the CIA shared concerning the plot against Swift’s Vienna concerts, but it marked the first time a U.S. official confirmed the country’s involvement in breaking up the terrorist plot. Earlier this month, Austrian interior minister Gerhard Karner said foreign intelligence agencies were helping with the investigation because Austrian law prohibits the surveillance of text messages. “The situation is serious, but we can also say a tragedy has been prevented,” he said. (Full article here.)

A Fake Spy, Russian Oil and $1 Million Funneled to Democrats - Wall Street Journal, 27 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)

Gaurav Srivastava dreamed of being a player in the murky world of clandestine operations. His goal was to build a private military and intelligence operation, funded by natural resources, he told business partners. It would be akin to the notorious Wagner Group, only with the blessing of the U.S. instead of Russia. Leaving associates with the impression he had high-level contacts in the intelligence community, he said he wanted to do business in difficult places and muscle bad guys out of strategic markets. He joined forces with an oil trader, a former senior CIA agent and veterans of the U.S. and Australian special forces. Gen. Wesley Clark, a former NATO commander, served as a paid adviser. Srivastava donated more than $1 million to Democratic causes, scored a photo op with President Biden and met lawmakers from both parties. A star-studded event he hosted with the prestigious Atlantic Council think tank featured the singer John Legend. (Full article here.)

Researchers propose a smaller, more noise-tolerant quantum factoring circuit for cryptography - Tech Explore, 28 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)

The most recent email you sent was likely encrypted using a tried-and-true method that relies on the idea that even the fastest computer would be unable to efficiently break a gigantic number into factors. Quantum computers, on the other hand, promise to rapidly crack complex cryptographic systems that a classical computer might never be able to unravel. This promise is based on a quantum factoring algorithm proposed in 1994 by Peter Shor, who is now a professor at MIT. But while researchers have taken great strides in the last 30 years, scientists have yet to build a quantum computer powerful enough to run Shor's algorithm. As some researchers work to build larger quantum computers, others have been trying to improve Shor's algorithm so it could run on a smaller quantum circuit. About a year ago, New York University computer scientist Oded Regev proposed a major theoretical improvement. His algorithm could run faster, but the circuit would require more memory. (Full article here.)

NSA to debut podcast to boost public awareness of classified missions - Next Gov, 29 Aug 24

The U.S. government’s lead signals intelligence titan is launching a podcast series in an effort to better inform the public about how it conducts clandestine activities that have supported American armed forces, tracked terrorists and stopped cyberattacks. The National Security Agency’s podcast — dubbed “No Such Podcast” to play off its No Such Agency nickname that stems from the secretive nature of its work — is coming soon, according to a trailer made available for reporting on Thursday. It will host experts across NSA to discuss the agency’s role in combat support, signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions, according to a spokesperson. “NSA is known as home to the world’s greatest codemakers and codebreakers — their stories are now being decoded,” the spokesperson said. An exact release date for the series was not made publicly available by press time. (Read here.)

Russian Espionage Center Operates at Mokoron Military Base in Managua - Confidencial, 27 Aug 24

In recent years, a Nicaraguan Army base located on the Mokoron hill just south of Managua, has become one of Russia's main espionage centers, according to sources linked to the military. Sources who have had access to the military installation claim that Russian officials are the only ones who can operate the equipment and access the information gathered. Nicaraguan officers are limited to providing “security” at the base. The Army's Directorate of Military Intelligence and Counterintelligence (DICIM) operates at the Mokoron base, known as Unit 502. As part of Nicaragua’s national defense strategy, this unit has for years processed the information received via the direction finding system, which geographically locates telephone, television or radio signals generated in the radioelectric spectrum. According to a source currently outside the country who is linked to the Army, the Russian antennas and equipment were installed in several Nicaraguan military bases in mid-2017. The process was directed by four Russian officers, who were the only ones who knew how the devices worked. Nicaraguan officers and soldiers were limited to carrying out construction work. (Full article here.)

NIH cancels ‘Havana syndrome’ research, citing unethical coercion of participants - CNN, 01 Sep 24

The National Institutes of Health said Friday that it is stopping its research of what’s commonly known as Havana syndrome, a mysterious illness experienced by a number of spies, soldiers and diplomats who have reported sudden debilitating symptoms of unknown origin. The NIH said it would end the work “out of an abundance of caution” after an internal investigation found that people had been coerced into to being part of the research. The coercion, the agency specified, was not on its own part, but the NIH did not elaborate as to who may have forced the participation. However, it noted that voluntary consent is a fundamental pillar of the ethical conduct of research. Some of the people who reported being sick previously claimed that the CIA made them join the research as a prerequisite for getting health care. (Full article here.)

Chinese spy plane violates Japanese airspace first time since 1958 - The Times, 27 Aug 24

Japan scrambled fighter jets after a Chinese military plane entered its airspace near Nagasaki in the first known incursion of its kind. The flight by the Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft on Monday prompted the launch of “fighter jets on an emergency basis”, according to the Japanese Defence Ministry. Warnings were issued to the Chinese aircraft but no weapons were fired, it said. Yoshimasa Hayashi, chief spokesman for the Japanese government, said on Tuesday: “The violation of our airspace by Chinese military aircraft is not only a serious violation of our sovereignty but also a threat to our security, and is totally unacceptable. “We understand that this is the first confirmed and announced airspace incursion by a Chinese military aircraft since we started the anti-airspace incursion measures [in 1958]. I will refrain from giving a definite answer as to the intended purpose of the Chinese aircraft’s action. However, China’s recent military activities near Japan have a tendency to expand and escalate.” (Full article here.)

Experts warn U.S. falling behind in satellite imaging race: ‘We’ve gone backwards’ - Space News, 27 Aug 24

The U.S. government’s support for the commercial remote sensing satellite industry is at a critical juncture amid growing military demand for real-time intelligence, industry experts said Aug. 27. The commercial remote sensing satellite industry is expanding, but it’s still not equipped to meet evolving U.S. military needs for tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), said David Gauthier, former head of commercial operations at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Tactical ISR refers to the immediate collection and analysis of data to inform military operations on the battlefield. This intelligence is crucial for decision making during to dynamic situations. Speaking at the AFCEA-INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit, Gauthier, who is chief strategy officer of the consulting firm GXO Inc., said the Pentagon could find itself at a disadvantage against adversaries unless it has access to satellites capable of real-time monitoring. (Full article here.)

How Belarusian KGB uses OnlyFans and job ads to recruit spies - LRT News, 26 Aug 24

The Belarusian KGB is casting its net on the thousands of activists living in exile in Lithuania and Poland. A recent defection by a Belarusian opposition politician shows that their efforts are not always in vain. In an exclusive interview with LRT.lt., Andrei Ostapobich, former Belarusian criminal investigator and a founder of BELPOL, a network of former officers who have joined the opposition, reveals the recruiting strategies of the regime. How do Belarusian secret services try to recruit members of the diaspora? The threat is quite serious. If we take two years from [the beginning of the protests in] 2020, the Belarusian security forces were busy with domestic problems and could not be so active abroad. Now, especially after the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the situation has changed. The more resistance and freedom of speech are suppressed in Belarus, the more the regime has its hands free to act outside the country. Because the protests have now moved [from the streets] to online social networks, security services have also reorientated their approach. (Full article here.)

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

• Iran operated fake human-resources firm to root out unfriendly spies, researchers say - Reuters, 28 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• Taiwan sentences father-son duo to eight years for espionage in China Spy Case - Organiser, 31 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• Intel official behind military secrets leak recruited by Chinese in 2017: military prosecutors - Yonhap News Agency, 28 Aug 24
• Croatian Spy Nemanja Beric Arrested in Belgrade Amid Heightened Tension Between Serbia-Croatia - Regtech Times, 26 Aug 24
• Former Indian Army Signalman Saurabh Sharma Sentenced for Espionage Linked to Pakistan - Regtech Times, 29 Aug 24
• Guilty plea entered by ex-Verizon employee for spying for China - SC Media, 28 Aug 24
• Two Wagnerites to be tried in Krakow on espionage charges - Ukrainska Pravda, 27 Aug 24
• South Korean and Taiwanese tech workers arrested for leaking trade secrets for China - The Spy Hunter, 27 Aug 24
• Tang Yuanjun, Covert Action (2018 – 2023) - Shinobei Enterprises, 26 Aug 24

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

• NSA’s China specialist: US at a loss to deter Chinese hackers - Breaking Defense, 29 Aug 24
• Australia’s new chief cyber spy inherits a massive $10 billion war chest – and an urgent mission - The Conversation, 27 Aug 24
• Iran Counterintelligence Operation Uses Fake HR Companies to Phish Information - Tech Nadu, 29 Aug 24
• Chinese hackers break into US government and military accounts - Daily Mail, 27 Aug 24
• Top military, White House and intelligence officials to gather at major cyber summit next week - Washington Times, 29 Aug 24

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

• China is likely to step up influence operations in Palau - Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 02 Sep 24
• Sweden warns of heightened risk of Russian sabotage - The Guardian, 29 Aug 24
• How the covert Ukrainian resistance movement is operating behind Russian lines - Sky News, 26 Aug 24
• Just How Much Support Is Iran Giving to Campus Protesters? - National Review, 26 Aug 24
• Russian sabotage threat behind alert at German NATO base, reports say - Politico, 26 Aug 24
• Active Measures: Russian Shadow Games in the Digital Age - Grey Dynamics, 28 Aug 24
• Lethal Action: Understanding Poison with Neil Bradbury (72 mins) - SpyCast, 27 Aug 24

Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

Covert Captures: Bringing Spies Back Alive (42 mins) - Spycraft 101 Podcast, 01 Sep 24

In this solo episode, Justin discusses how the world's intelligence agencies have captured foreign case officers, spies, and even their own defectors alive after they've already escaped to other countries. Killing a target in another country is difficult enough, especially when they are enjoying the security of the host nation that welcomed them in, but it's often even more difficult than that to get them back alive. Different methods have been used over the years, and despite all the planning and preparation that goes into it, it often goes wrong at the critical moment—sometimes the target escapes, and other times they are inadvertently killed during the operation. Today, Justin shares five instances from the Cold War and beyond where these kidnappings or renditions occurred. (Full article here.)

FBI, CIA, and Military Officials Speak on National Security Challenges at Intelligence and National Security Summit (73 mins) - C-Span, 28 Aug 24

FBI, CIA, and intelligence leaders, including FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate and CIA Deputy Director David Cohen, discussed national security challenges at an intelligence conference in Bethesda, Maryland. Topics included counterterrorism, election security, and global challenges in Europe and the Middle East. In addition, they discussed great power competition in space, cybersecurity, and the importance of public-private partnerships. (Access here.)

SIDE: The New Intelligence Operators in Latin America - Grey Dynamics, 29 Aug 24

Latin America’s latest agency in the intelligence community has entered the operations field under a name change and an expanded organisation. The Secretaria de Inteligencia del Estado (The Secretariat of State Intelligence) is the Argentinian Presidency’s new attempt to reorganize a historically troubled, political secret police into an efficient and objective national security service. The Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (National Security Agency) and the Servicio de Inteligencia Argentino (Argentina Intelligence Service) are the recently created divisions of the secretariat that will replace this same year the heavily criticized and politically compromised Agencia Federal de Información (Federal Information Bureau). Argentinian intelligence is now faced with the opportunity and challenges of evolving its information services to an international standard. Barriers to success range from political interference from the national opposition to previously damaged relations with other international agencies. (Access here.)

On the Technology and AI Strategies of DIA: A Conversation with Ramesh Menon (60 mins) - Federal News Network, 30 Aug 24

What is the technology strategy for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency? How is it leveraging emerging technologies like AI and GenAI to meet its mission? What technology advances DIA’s decision advantage? Join host Michael J. Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Ramesh Menon, chief technology officer and chief artificial intelligence officer at the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. (Full report here.)

How US Intel Agencies Are Preparing for the Great Power Competition Era - Executive Biz, 28 Aug 24

Geopolitical tensions are on the rise, and the Great Power Competition era is here. According to a report by U.S. intelligence agencies, the increasingly strained global landscape can be attributed to “accelerating strategic competition among major powers, more intense and unpredictable transnational challenges, and multiple regional conflicts with far-reaching implications.” In response to these factors, the U.S. Intelligence Community is shifting its strategies, prioritizing new technologies and working to identify emerging threats, especially with the looming presidential election in November. How is the GovCon industry collaborating with the IC to bolster the nation’s defenses in preparation for the Great Power Competition? Learn more at the 2024 Intel Summit hosted by the Potomac Officers Club on Sep. 19. Join the Intel Summit to be a part of the conversation with IC decision makers, industry leaders and intelligence experts. (Access here.)

Is Israel preparing to carry out intelligence operations on US soil? - Intel News, 26 Aug 24

Several weeks ago, Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, reportedly met with the chief executive officer (CEO) of Israeli private intelligence company Black Cube. According to Israeli newspaper The Marker, the purpose of the alleged meeting was to propose an intelligence operation to be carried out on American soil by Black Cube, on behalf of the Israeli government. The intelligence operation would allegedly target a United States-based organization that stands at the forefront of demonstrations against Israel on university campuses in the United States —demonstrations that the state of Israel views as anti-Semitic. According to The Marker report, the alleged meeting between Minister Chikli and the CEO of Black Cube, Dan Zorla, took place in a private residence in Herzliya near Tel Aviv. Minister Chikli was personally involved in the discussions with Black Cube, with the understanding that intelligence operations carried out by the firm on American soil would not be officially attributed to the State of Israel. However, it is unclear whether such intelligence operations were indeed authorized to proceed. (Access here.)

Robert Booth on Underestimating Cuba's Spies (33 mins) - True Spies Podcast, 27 Aug 24

Does the U.S continue to underestimate the threat the Cuban intelligence services carry? Robert Booth, an ex-State Department counterintelligence officer and self described spycatcher, details how penetrative modern Cuban agents are within the United States' highest echelons of power. What information are they looking for? And what do they do with it? (Access here.)

Melissa Graves, Frank Emerson, and Pat Hendrix on OSINT (41 mins) - The Cognitive Crucible Podcast, 26 Aug 24

During this episode, Melissa Graves, Frank Emerson, and Pat Hendrix discuss the history of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), how publicly available information (PAI) is being analyzed by students in the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies at The Citadel, and The Citadel’s Open Source Intelligence Conference which will be held October 23-25, 2024. (Access here.)

Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

(Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives
and Recent Endeavors)

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.

30 Aug | The fight between Russia and Ukraine is taking on some new dimensions, but Putin seems to be ignoring the home front. Over the past several weeks, the seemingly entrenched conflict has escalated further- with Ukraine capturing a significant stretch of Russian territory, Russia launching a devastating attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Poland scrambling fighter jets after alleged Russian drones entered its airspace, and Belarus positioning thousands of troops along its border with Ukraine. But as Putin grapples with how to achieve victory, the implications of the war shifting and continuing could start to impact his own country in a way that’s not sustainable. (Full report here.)

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.

30 Aug | Far-Right Extremism is Also a Growing Problem Throughout the Global South

Adorned with neo-Nazi symbols and bulletproof tactical gear, a masked attacker stabbed at least five people in an open-air cafe near a mosque in Eskisehir, Türkiye in mid-August. Five victims were hospitalized and two in serious condition in the aftermath of the attack, according to the state-run news outlet Anadolu Agency. The 18-year-old suspect livestreamed the knife attack on social media, with footage showing him running around the area and stabbing people at random before he was apprehended by police. A photograph published by the Istanbul-based news outlet Oksijen appeared to show the attacker’s weapons and protective gear, including an axe, a knife embellished with swastikas and other Nazi symbols, a mask with a neo-Nazi-linked skull, and a vest featuring the neo-Nazi “black sun” insignia. Mirroring other so-called “lone wolf” attacks, archived versions of a Kick account, a gaming and livestreaming platform, were shared via Telegram, indicating the attack likely was originally livestreamed there. Some Turkish outlets have claimed the attack was streamed via X, and videos of the attack quickly circulated on both X and Telegram in the aftermath. A 17-page Turkish language document reported to be the perpetrator’s “manifesto” was allegedly shared by the teenager in a Telegram chat, with another Telegram user resharing the links to the manifesto and a post from the suspect with the planned time of the attack.

Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell and former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andy Makridis on critical security challenges.

Intelligence Matters: The Relaunch is a Beacon Global Strategies podcast.

27 Aug | A Window on Russia: Rolf Mowatt-Larssen Michael reintroduces this episode featuring his conversation with former CIA officer Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, who shares unique anecdotes that reveal the Russian mindset, from a puppet show to a symbolic Bolshoi performance. His firsthand experiences in the country explore how history, culture, and psychology shape Russia's worldview—and foreshadow its actions in geopolitics today.

Former analyst decries CIA politicization of intelligence, new levels of activism under Biden with Former CIA Analyst John Gentry - Washington Times, 30 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)

Politicization of intelligence at the CIA reached new levels of activism under President Biden, according to an academic analysis of recent political influence within the agency. John A. Gentry, a former CIA analyst who has written extensively on the topic, stated in a recent journal article that the problem accelerated during the Trump administration when current and former intelligence officials worked to undermine Mr. Trump and his presidency through leaks and public statements. Mr. Gentry compared current politicization at the CIA to three past periods: the debate over the Vietnam War, the Reagan administration in the 1980s and the George W. Bush administration in 2003 and 2004. (Access here.)

Double Agents and False Flags (70 mins) - with Former FBI Counterintelligence Agent John Quattrocki - IWP Podcast, 29 Aug 24

Professor John Quattrocki--distinguished background in the FBI, DNI, the NSC, and the private sector, as well as being one of the most popular IWP professors for 13 years--discusses the history and evolution of counterintelligence policy in the U.S. government, covering the origins of the counterintelligence review process in the early 2000s, impact of 9/11 on the counterintelligence review and the shift in focus to counterterrorism, lack of consensus among senior policymakers on the definition and role of counterintelligence, challenges of resourcing counterintelligence efforts compared to the scale of the threat, the importance of offensive and strategic counterintelligence, beyond just counterespionage, the distinction between recruitment of foreign agents and the use of double agents (Access here.)

Obama suppressed Iran nuclear intel to get deal, U.S. counterspy says with Former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler - Washington Times, 28 Aug 24

The CIA suppressed secrets from inside Iran during the Obama administration showing efforts by Tehran to build a nuclear weapon were more advanced than suspected, according to a former National Security Agency counterintelligence official. The intelligence, however, was blocked to avoid upsetting efforts by the administration and a group of world powers to reach the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aka the nuclear deal with Iran, said John Schindler, the former NSA counterspy. Mr. Schindler revealed in a report published this week that a pro-U.S. intelligence service more than a decade ago recruited a defector in place with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who had obtained startling secrets regarding the nuclear program. (Access here.)

Why Political Change in the Philippines May Mean Trouble for the U.S. by former CIA Senior Analyst Rodney Faraon - Cipher Brief, 28 Aug 24

Domestic geopolitics matters. The recent departure of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio from President Bongbong Marcos’s cabinet, though unexplained, reveals a policy schism with major ramifications for U.S. defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Since winning the Presidency in 2022, Marcos has unambiguously aligned himself with Washington on security, expanding and enhancing the ability of U.S. forces to defend Taiwan, the Philippines, and the South China Sea from Chinese coercion. Duterte-Carpio, not so much. Under Marcos, the Philippines and the United States established new Bilateral Defense Guidelines that expanded the right of access by U.S. forces to nine Philippine naval and air bases. The reestablishment of the Philippines’ “unsinkable aircraft carrier” on the south flank of the Indo-Pacific enables the U.S. to project force into the disputed South China Sea—a shipping lane through which one-third of global trade flows. It also enables air superiority over the strategic Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the north Philippines—a narrow, 90-mile-wide passageway deep enough for submarines which offers access to Taiwan’s largest port and its eastern shore. (This channel, incidentally, is also the location of undersea cables that form the backbone of Internet and other communications data that are critical to East Asia and the world.) Renegade Duterte-Carpio is a top candidate to succeed Marcos, who is term-limited to leave office in 2028. She enjoys higher public approval ratings than Marcos; June polls, which preceded her break from the administration, put her at 69 percent (approval) and 71 percent (trust) and rising, as compared to Marcos’s 53 percent and 52 percent, respectively. (Access here.)

How the Israeli intelligence community got its mojo back - by Former CIA Executive Marc Polymeropolous - Atlantic Council, 27 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)

In my twenty-six-year career at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), I found that there were many misnomers in the intelligence business that were shared by the public and even policymakers. One is the notion that the CIA should be able to foresee world events, a concept that I termed (with some derision) “predictive certainty.” Policymakers would quite naturally welcome—and likely push—the US intelligence community to tell them precisely what will happen on any given subject. That of course rarely occurs; it is a notion derived from espionage books and movies. Instead, I always believed as an operations officer that we must strive to collect intelligence that ultimately can provide a warning to policymakers. That warning function was—and still is—key in any CIA station’s job description. The CIA performed admirably if we sent up the bat signal, so that policymakers can decide on various courses of action if or when something went down. An event may seem likely to occur (with signs, never definitive, that an invasion or a coup was planned, for example), so the intelligence collected must spur on policymakers to consider several options. “No surprises” was the mantra I would follow. During management stints in Washington, and while serving abroad as an operations officer, I would tell my State Department, White House, and Department of Defense colleagues that my collection missions should be judged as successful if they were never blindsided. (Access here.)

What Putin Wants (85 mins) - with Former CIA Executive Peter Clement - Lawfare's Chatter Podcast, 27 Aug 24

For more than 40 years, Peter Clement has studied Russian political culture and leaders--serving for most of that time as an analyst, manager, and executive at the CIA before his retirement in 2018. He has PhD in Russian history, teaches at Columbia University, and has thought long and hard about what makes Vladimir Putin tick. He joined David Priess to discuss his road to studying Russia as a career, the art of Kremlinology, Putin's rise, Putin's feelings about Ukraine across the decades, the images of himself Putin projects to the West and within Russia, why FDR would be great to have around right now, and more. (Access here.)

Section IV - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Intelligence Practices in High-Trust Societies: Scandinavian Exceptionalism?
edited by Kira Vrist Rønn, Adam Diderichsen, Mia Hartmann, Melanie Hartvigsen
(Routledge, 13 Sep 24)

This book examines the dynamics of intelligence practices in the Scandinavian culture of high social cohesion and high trust. Situated within the new body of scholarly literature, the book emphasizes critical empirical investigations of intelligence practices, highlighting the specific cultural settings of such practices. By providing Scandinavian perspectives on intelligence studies, the work distinguishes Scandinavian intelligence studies from the predominant Anglo-American perspectives. Throughout the Western world, the past two decades have generated a rapid expansion of the legal mandate, funding, and capabilities of intelligence agencies which, simultaneously, have been pushed to renegotiate and renew their legitimacy and democratic mandate in response to a recurrent pattern of scandals, leaks, and failures. While these tendencies are also evident in Scandinavia, the book argues that it is important to emphasize the unique context of cohesion and trust in state agencies that differentiates Scandinavian welfare states from the American (and to a lesser extent British) contexts. This book brings together scholars from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to address the continuous renegotiation of the legitimacy of state intelligence as it plays out in a Scandinavian setting. This book will be of interest to students of intelligence studies, Nordic politics, security studies, and International Relations.

Order book here.

The Birth of Psychological War: Propaganda, Espionage, and Military Violence from WWII to the Vietnam War
by Dr. Jeffrey White
(British Academy, 19 Oct 23)

The Birth of Psychological War explores the history, politics, and geography of United States psychological warfare in the 20th century against the backdrop of the contemporary 'post-truth era'. From its origins in the Second World War, to the United States' counterinsurgency campaigns in Vietnam, Whyte traces how the theory and practice of psychological warfare transformed the relationship between the home front and theatres of war. Whyte interrogates the broader political mythologies that animate popular conceptions of psychological war, such as its claim to make war more humane and less violent. On the contrary, The Birth of Psychological War demonstrates the role of psychological warfare in expanding the scope and scale of military violence amidst ostensible efforts to 'win hearts and minds'. While casting a critical eye on psychological warfare, Whyte establishes its continued significance for the contemporary student of international relations.

Order book here.

The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville
by Clare Mulley
(Saint Martins Press, 11 Jun 13)

The Untold Story of Britain's First Female Special Agent of World War II. In June 1952, a woman was murdered by an obsessed colleague in a hotel in the South Kensington district of London. Her name was Christine Granville. That she died young was perhaps unsurprising; that she had survived the Second World War was remarkable. The daughter of a feckless Polish aristocrat and his wealthy Jewish wife, Granville would become one of Britain's most daring and highly decorated special agents. Having fled to Britain on the outbreak of war, she was recruited by the intelligence services and took on mission after mission. She skied over the hazardous High Tatras into occupied Poland, served in Egypt and North Africa, and was later parachuted behind enemy lines into France, where an agent's life expectancy was only six weeks. Her courage, quick wit, and determination won her release from arrest more than once, and saved the lives of several fellow officers―including one of her many lovers―just hours before their execution by the Gestapo. More importantly, the intelligence she gathered in her espionage was a significant contribution to the Allied war effort, and she was awarded the George Medal, the OBE, and the Croix de Guerre. Granville exercised a mesmeric power on those who knew her. In The Spy Who Loved, acclaimed biographer Clare Mulley tells the extraordinary history of this charismatic, difficult, fearless, and altogether extraordinary woman.

Order book here.

True Intelligence Matters on Film - Declassified: The Untold Stories of American Spies, S2 E5 - The Myers: Fidel's Personal Spies - Domini Hofmann (2017)

After arresting the most notorious Cuban spy of all time, the intelligence community is shocked to learn that classified information is still being transmitted to Cuba. A new investigation focused on The State Department uncovers a husband and wife team engaged in a sophisticated web of espionage.

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

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

• The CIA’s Phoenix Program: Mercy of the Wicked - Grey Dynamics, 01 Sep 24
• Inside Hut 6 (89 mins) - Bletchley Park Podcast, 28 Aug 24
• How The CIA Stole a Soviet Submarine - Lessons from History, 27 Aug 24
• The ISI chief who never was: Untangling the Commonwealth connection in Pakistani intelligence - Tom Griffin on Intelligence History, 31 Aug 24

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

Former intelligence officers guide visitors on two morning and afternoon espionage-themed walking tours: "Spies of Embassy Row" and "Spies of Georgetown." For more information and booking, click here or contact rosanna@spyher.co

Section V - Obituaries and Classifieds

(Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

Obituaries

Frank Newton — Former NSA Inspector General

Francis E. Newton passed on 26 August 2024 in Easton MD at 89 years old. His early years growing up in Kansas City, Missouri were filled with colorful characters, exotic animals and mobsters as he helped his mother with her hotel on Washington Street and then her farm nearby. His teen and early adult years were just as interesting as he was taught by Jesuit Priests earning his BA degree in Philosophy at Rockhurst College, escorted a President, competed in boxing matches for the Golden Gloves and played with a band at a burlesque showplace. Frank had an illustrious and meaningful work life that started in the Army at the language school at Monterey Bay. It spanned decades, continents and critical issues in the defense of the United States as he rose to the senior executive ranks of the federal government. His persistent drive, discipline and success made him an icon. He was a leading expert on a high value problem and trained an extensive group of analysts to cover this target. As he reached senior levels, he held significant positions in several operations organizations and later became the inspector general of NSA.

John Ratkiewicz — Decorated Former CIA Officer

John Ratkiewicz of Falls Church, VA, peacefully passed away on August 23, 2024, at the age of 79. John grew up in Hillside, NJ, but spent most of his adult life based out of Virginia. After his honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, he joined the Central Intelligence Agency as an Intelligence Officer, serving at multiple locations abroad. John completed a distinguished 38 year career in 2005 and was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal upon retirement. In post-retirement, he worked as a technical consultant in the private sector. In his later years, John became passionate about researching his Ukrainian genealogy and was fortunate enough to travel to Ukraine multiple times to meet many family members. While building these relationships, he helped support many different causes through his Ukrainian family and friends.

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

• Call for Articles and Book Reviews: The ODNI at 20 Years - Special Issue of the American Intelligence Journal, Fall 2024. Addressing the theme directly will ensure a higher priority of acceptance, but manuscripts on other intelligence/national security-related topics will be considered. Please submit a simple Word Document, Times New Roman font (12-point text, 10-point notes). Citations can be footnotes or endnotes; double-spaced text; single spaced notes but double-spaced between entries; do not indent the first line of each paragraph of text, which should be formatted flush to the left margin. Articles should be 3,000-8,000 words, not counting notes; this can be waived only by permission of the editor and the criteria for waivers include the complexity of the topic, timeliness, and space available. For book reviews, publication dates should be no older than 2 years. Book reviews should be 800- 2,000 words; footnotes are not required or expected, but a few are acceptable. Longer reviews will be accepted if the reviewer can compare and contrast a new book with one or two other books on the same subject; these are considered “review essays,” and will be listed as such in the table of contents. The journal editor is Dr. Chris Bailey; if you have an interest in writing a review, he will forward to you more detailed guidance in an Editor’s Note titled “What Makes for a Great Book Review?” published in the “In My View” section of AIJ, Vol. 37, No. 2, 2020. For questions and the full Author’s Guidelines, please contact Dr. Christopher Bailey at christopher.e.bailey@odni.gov or christopherbailey286@yahoo.com. 15 Oct 24 Deadline.
• Call for Papers: Gender in the Security Sectors of the Indo-Pacific Region - Special Issue of the Journal Policing, Intelligence, and Counterterrorism. Sexism, misogyny and gender bias remain pervasive issues within the security sectors throughout the Indo-Pacific, undermining the effectiveness and equity of policing, intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts. Recent studies on women's roles in the security sector have concluded that women face barriers due to institutional sexism and gender biases. Despite the critical roles women play, their contributions often go unrecognized, and they continue to be underrepresented in decision-making roles while facing systemic barriers that limit their participation and advancement. This special issue will highlight the need to investigate how gender impacts the logic and structures of thinking that shape practices, policymaking and knowledge-production within the security sector. We encourage the submission of scholarly research papers, as well as forum pieces (i.e., notes from the field, reviews, autobiographies, collective accounts and other forms of contemplation) on issues surrounding the preservation of gendered stereotypes, biases, and sexism within the security industries. We particularly encourage submissions from female early career researchers, established scholars and practitioners within the security sector from across the Indo-Pacific region that analyse these issues. Works submitted can have a theoretical, empirical, or practical focus. More information and submission instructions here. 31 Oct 24 Deadline.
• Call for Papers: African Intelligence in the Post-Colonial Era, 1960-present - Special Issue of the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. Africa is the second most populous continent. Unfortunately, this continent’s intelligence community is one of the most underexamined. To fill this gap, this issue will explore any country within the continent’s intelligence service and its relationship to the military, society, and external relations with partnerships with foreign governments, non-government organizations, and international organizations. The editors are particularly interested in submissions that focus on the intentionality of African governments and their security and intelligence services’ efforts to redefine the nature and functions of institutions and the environment in which they operate. They are also interested in the nature and dynamics of non-state actor intelligence, including the role of sub-state actors and private security and intelligence entities. Submissions should focus on African governments, non-state actors, individuals, and institutions as the drivers of continuity, change, and innovation within specific historical, social, political, and/or economic contexts. More information and submission instructions here. 01 Nov 24 Deadline.
• Call for Interviews: Kingston Trinder is a Los Angeles-based nonfiction author and documentary film and television executive who is seeking extraordinary true, untold, stories featuring unforgettable characters, and unbelievable narrative arcs. He develops compelling factual storytelling with a variety of international publishing houses and television networks, and is in search of primary source material from former intelligence officers about their lives, specific cases or projects that they can get cleared for discussion, or other aspects of working in the shadows that would be informative and entertaining for readers who live outside of that world. Please email hello@kingstontrinder.com or call (323) 570-5715.
• Call for Information: Farewell Dossier. As noted in Peter Oleson's article (The Intelligencer, Vol. 29, No. 1, Winter/Spring 2024) on the Farewell Dossier case, there is controversy about the alleged explosion of the Siberian gas pipeline. One AFIO member is investigating the issue and would like to hear from anyone who was involved in the affair and willing to comment. Please email peter.oleson@afio.com.
• Call for Papers: The Center for Cryptologic History (CCH) and the National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF) invite proposals for papers and posters to be presented at the 19th Cryptologic History Symposium on April 30-May 2, 2025. The Symposium will be held in-person at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Kossiakoff Center in Laurel, Maryland on Wednesday, April 30 - Thursday - May 1, 2025. Following the Symposium, attendees will be given an opportunity to tour the recently renovated National Cryptologic Museum on Friday, May 2, 2025 and learn about resources available through the National Cryptologic Museum Library. Attendees may also want to consider attending the 2025 NCF General Membership Meeting (GMM) which will precede the Symposium at the Kossiakoff Center on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. More information and submission instructions here. 05 Sep 24 Deadline.
• Call for Online Survey Participants: Northeastern University is conducting an Institution Review Board approved research project on critical thinking skills for national security intelligence analysts and welcomes the input, via online survey, of AFIO members. Access survey here.
• Call for Information and Interview Subjects: In search of information on possible espionage activity in New York City in the WWII and post-war era to help a family investigating their heritage. Specifically looking at The Plaza (1955), Hotel Pierre (1935 through 1970), and Hotel Delmonico (1945) (now Trump Park Avenue) as well as "Office of 39" Room 3603, and the OWI (Office of War Information) (1945). Details on the Grand Central Station underground and Waldorf Astoria Secret Elevator are also of interest. Other areas of interest for any information on the following people or more generally who may be able to speak to the climate include Swiss involvement in the Abwehr, The Nestle Company 1935-1945, Reinhard Gehlen, German Soldier Thilo Von Trotha in Addis Ababa in 1948-53, Michael Wardell in London, John B. McNair, Canada, Lord Beaverbrook in Cromarty 1948-49. Contact Rosanna Minchew at Rosanna@spyher.co.
• Call for information: Child of former CIA officers John and Mary Mae Roman seeks information about parents' careers. John Roman, Jr. (6 Feb 1924 - 20 Nov 1997) served in Munich (1953), Saipan (1955-1959), and Addis Ababa (1959-1960). He and his family returned to the US in 1960 and settled in Vienna, VA. He retired in 1969. Mary "Mae" P. Roman's (8 August 1926 - 12 December 2013) career probably started in Saipan (1955-1959). She served mostly at CIA Hqs, but also served in Accra and Kingston before retiring in 1986. If you have any information, please contact Susan Roman Bailey at suzen27@gmail.com.
• Call for information: Paul Redmond requests members' input and suggestions for a chapter that he will be writing on Counterintelligence for the second edition of the Oxford University Handbook of National Security Intelligence (last edition published in 2010). Tentative Title: Challenges to Counterintelligence in 21st Century United States. Some examples of possible topics: Post- Ames reforms in CIA; DNI's NCIX/NCSC and its expansion into security role; leakers as a new threat; post-Cold-War cultural changes in the United States relating to USG CI and Security; post-911 concentration on terrorism perhaps at expense of CI; cyber threat from outside, cyber threat from inside (systems administrators); impacts of policy changes, such as transfer of some of CIA personnel data to OPM; impact/implications of DNI-imposed policy of "obligation to provide;" lessons learned and implemented from espionage/leak cases; impact/implementation of DNI promulgated "Insider Threat" policy; implementation by succeeding administrations of Presidential Decision Directives; effect of Congressional oversight on USG counterintelligence; impact of enhanced reporting requirements on contractors and contract employees; overall impact of the Internet and digital technologies on the CI craft; and impact of post-Cold war geopolitics on counterintelligence; impact of CIA involvement in military activities on CI; Attitudes of senior national security agencies management on CI. Published materials will be precleared with CIA's PCRB. Contact Paul Redmond at pjr@redmondfamily.net or 202-288-0671.
• Call for information: In search of information on the career of my grandmother, Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit, at OSS-CIA, 1941-1965. She worked mostly in the Washington, DC office except for 1963-1965 in Miami during the Cuban crisis. Believed to have been forging documents during WWII and did some anti-communist research in the 1950s regarding Albania. She also worked on clothing disguises and "pocket litter". I have seen her personnel file for OSS, which has only the first 10 months of her employment beginning as a gs4 assistant in the security office doing applicant background checks. She started at OSS at the age of 50 and worked 7 years past the automatic retirement age of 65. As she was multi-lingual and knew Germanic script she moved early on into forging passports for agents. Any assistance would be appreciated. Contact Sharon C. Park at sharoncpark@gmail.com.
• Call for information: AFIO member, author, and former CIA officer Michael Ard is researching the Peruvian communist terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) and how intelligence made a difference in capturing its leaders. Anyone with information that would help with his research is asked to contact Michael at mard@jhu.edu.
• Seeking Interview Subjects: Seeking information on Czech-U.S. relationship in the late 1970s and 1980s, including StB's techniques and effectiveness, exposition and expulsion of U.S. staff in Prague; conversely frequency of U.S. finding Czech intelligence operatives on U.S. soil. Have any former StB personnel spoken publicly about their previous work? Please email viveca.novak@gmail.com.
• Seeking Interview Subjects:Current or former intelligence officers, analysts, and counterintelligence (CI) professionals with firsthand experience in dealing with Russian illegals to participate in confidential interview sessions as part of a PhD dissertation. Research Topic: The research investigates the impact of technological advancements on the operations and effectiveness of the Russian illegals program. Your insights will be invaluable in understanding the evolving landscape of espionage and informing potential countermeasures. Confidentiality: Your anonymity will be strictly protected. No identifying information will be used in the dissertation or any subsequent publications unless otherwise agreed to. However, written transcripts of the interviews will be retained for academic purposes. Eligibility: If you possess relevant experience and are willing to share your expertise in a confidential setting, please email omid.townsend@kcl.ac.uk.
• Call for Information: A documentary on the life and death of Swiss photographer Bruno Zehnder needs some help. His family members received information that Bruno may have been approached by the CIA in the 1990s to help inform on Russian research activity in Antarctica. Bruno died whilst on a 1997 expedition there at Mirny under questionable circumstances as he was dubbed ' the western spy' on board. We are looking for anyone who may have any information in Bruno or more generally who may be able to speak to the climate between Russia and the CIA in the 1980s/90s regarding adhering to the scientific treaty and the race to be the first to breach Lake Vostok. Contact Thomas Whitmore at Naomi.harvey@clockworkfilms.tv.
• Call For Articles: AFIO's Journal, The Intelligencer. AFIO seeks authors for its section on "When Intelligence Made a Difference" in the semi-annual Intelligencer journal. Topics of interest for which we are seeking authors include:
  
  - The breaking of the Nazi U-boat SHARK encryption system.
  - How A.Q. Khan's nuclear proliferation efforts were uncovered and stopped.
  - How US intelligence found Usama Bin Laden in Abbottobad, Pakistan.
  - How US intelligence discovered the Soviet's high speed Shkval torpedo.
  - Intelligence and the rescue of Scott O'Grady.
  - The hunt for Pablo Escobar.
  - How National Technical Means (NTM) have been used for environmental purposes (MEDEA Program).
  - Other topics are also welcome.
  
  Interested authors can contact The Intelligencer's senior editor, Peter Oleson, at peter.oleson@afio.com

Jobs

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

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

• Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies - Mercyhurst University - Erie, Pennsylvania

Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA, invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies in the School of Intelligence, Computing and Global Politics. The position is at the Erie campus and begins Fall Semester 2024. Successful candidates will teach introductory and applied courses in Crime and Law Enforcement intelligence analysis at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in addition to the ability to teach undergraduate or graduate courses in: Leadership in Intelligence; Advanced Analytic Techniques; Intelligence Collection and Analysis. Additional information and application instructions here.

• Associate Professor and Chair of National Security - University of New Haven, Connecticut

The Department of National Security invites nominations and applications for a tenured Full/Associate Professor and Chair of National Security. The department includes a dynamic undergraduate program encompassing four distinct bachelor's degrees (Security & Defense Policy, Intelligence Analysis, Homeland Security, and International Affairs), a robust master's degree program, and several practitioner-oriented certificates. Qualifications: A terminal degree in national security, public policy, political science, or related field is required; Ph.D. preferred. The successful applicant will have a record of teaching excellence at the university level, established catalog of academic publications, and an innovative research agenda. Applicants should also possess experience in university-level service and leadership. The department is particularly interested in candidates with policymaking experience in national security at either the federal, state, or local level. Tenurable Assistant Professors may also be considered in accordance with the aforementioned qualifications. Application Instructions: Please submit a brief cover letter explaining teaching experience and philosophy, publication record, practitioner-oriented experience (if applicable), CV, and the name and contact information for three references. Applicants may also include up to 3 artifacts of teaching ability (examples include syllabi, student evaluations, learning exercises, assignments, or other feedback) that illustrate teaching experience. All materials should be submitted online via interfolio link: https://apply.interfolio.com/138857 and indicate position search #24-26F in the subject line. For additional information, feel free to contact Search Committee Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Treistman at jtreistman@newhaven.edu.

• Wanted: Former intelligence officers to lead spy-themed walking tours in Washington D.C. - Spyher Tours

These are 90-120 minute historical tours with an interactive "operational" component. Most tours start at 10am on select Thursdays-Sundays. The immediate opportunity is for dates in March, but additional opportunities are available through June, and new opportunities are likely to become available throughout the year. This is a fun way to get back out on the streets, engage/educate the public on the world of espionage, and make some extra cash. The next opportunities to see a tour in action (and train before the Spring rush) are Sunday 2/18 and Sunday 3/3. Please contact Rosanna at 571-236-9052 or rosanna@spyher.co. Visit https://spyher.co.

• Wanted: Retired Federal Government Employees - NSA - 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. Retired federal government employees at NSA provide expertise and corporate knowledge to temporarily support mission requirements, manpower shortfalls, and/or mentor the next generation of Agency employees. Applications accepted until 30 September 2024.

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.

Section VI - Events

AFIO Events

Mon, 9 Sep 2024, noon (CT) - in-person San Antonio, TX - The AFIO San Antonio Chapter Meeting Will Review "Some CIA Secrets and Innovations," F-22 and F-35 Aircraft, and How 32 Soldiers Opened Omaha Beach, Normandy, in 1944. This month's program reviews the differences between the F-22 and F-35 aircraft; "Some CIA Secrets" dealing with past CIA innovations; and a video analyzing how 32 soldiers opened up the Omaha Beach in Normandy, 6 June 1944.
Event will be at Road Runner Lounge, The Towers at Blue Skies Texas West Complex, 5100 John D Ryan Blvd, San Antonio TX 78245
AFIO Members attending should identify themselves to the Blue Skies gate guard as "coming for the intelligence meeting in the Roadrunner Lounge at The Towers." Blue Skies Texas West is located at 5100 John D Ryan Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78245. Members attending should park in front of The Towers. Come early and have lunch in the dining room adjacent to the Roadrunner Lounge. Please pay with a credit card. Questions to John Franklin, President, AFIO San Antonio Chapter, or call 210 863-0430.

09 Sep 24, 1800-1830 (ET) - virtual - Q&A with Liza Mundy, award-winning journalist and New York Times-bestselling author of The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA (2023) - AFIO East Tennessee. Tune in and learn about the brave women espionage officers who helped build the world’s foremost spy agency. For more information and link to event, contact AFIO East Tennessee

Sat, 14 Sep 2024, 11:30am EDT - Indialantic, FL - AFIO Florida Satellite Chapter hosts Matthew Newgent on "DEI at U.S. Military Service Academies." The AFIO Florida Satellite Chapter is hosting Matthew Newgent, a 1996 West Point graduate, who will speak on "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the Service Academies." The event will commence at 11:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel, 1665 N. Highway A1A, Indialantic, Florida, 32903. Mr. Newgent's speech will follow a sit-down lunch. Cost $35.
To register or more info, contact Larry Sanford.

Thursday, 19 Sep 2024, 11:30 AM MDT - Colorado Springs - The AFIO Rocky Mountain Chapter hosts Dr. Ryan Burke: “The Polar Vortex.” Abstract: The polar paradox began in the post-WWII era. The polar reaches of the Arctic and Antarctica were simultaneously valuable strategic locations for the United States and also sites of American vulnerability. The Polar Pivot reexamines this opportunity/vulnerability dichotomy, arguing that, today, more so than in the period following World War II, the polar regions should be a primary focus of American security discourse because they are among the most likely venues for 21st century competition and conflict.
Bio: Dr. Ryan Burke is a professor of military and strategic studies at the US Air Force Academy, an affiliate professor with the University of Alaska’s Center for Arctic Security and Resilience, and the Co-Director of Project 6633 at West Point’s Modern War Institute. Dr. Burke conducts field research in conflict zones and extreme climates, is a fellow with The Explorers Club, and is a veteran US Marine Corps officer.
For further information, contact Anthony Leto.

Thu 19 Sep 2024, 6 - 8 pm PDT - Virtual via Zoom - The AFIO LA Chapter meeting features Ricky Deutsch discussing "Hexagon - The History of Film-based Space Intelligence." AFIO-L.A. meeting will feature guest speaker Ricky Deutsch who will present "Hexagon - The History of Film Based Space Intelligence." This presentation will be conducted via zoom with many great visuals to support the presentation. We look forward to your attendance, please RSVP attendance via email. Ricky Deutsch, as a Captain in the Air Force, was Operations Director for a now declassified top-secret reconnaissance satellite program called Hexagon. From the Satellite Control Facility (aka the "Blue Cube") in Sunnyvale, CA, his team generated mission critical commands to be sent to the satellite. He was awarded a Commendation Medal for support of his program Questions? Contact chapter President Vincent Autiero.

20 Sep 24, 1130 (PT) - San Francisco CA - In-Person - The AFIO San Francisco Chapter Lunch and Presentation by Dr. Matthew Brazil on "China's Ministry of State Security." Dr. Matthew Brazil will offer his expert analysis of China's Ministry of State Security - it's organization, expanding activities and unique culture. Followed by Q&A moderated by Lt. Col. Roger S. Dong (USAF, ret.)
Time: 11:30am no-host cocktails; 12 noon meeting start. Location: Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco.
RSVP at Eventbrite here. Questions? Contact Mariko Kawaguchi, Board Secretary, AFIO SF Chapter at afiosf@aol.com.

04 Oct 24, 1100 (ET) - McLean VA In-Person - AFIO National Fall Luncheon: Speakers - J.J. Green, National Security Correspondent, WTOP; Mark Kelton, Former Deputy Director of the National Clandestine Service for Counterintelligence (DDNCS/CI) - Registration available here.
Morning speaker starts 11 a.m.: J.J. Green, National Security Correspondent, WTOP
Afternoon speaker starts 1 p.m.: Mark Kelton, Former Deputy Director of the National Clandestine Service for Counterintelligence (DDNCS/CI). Schedule: Lunch served noon to 1 p.m. Event ends at 2:00 p.m. Luncheon prices are $60 for Members; $75 for nonmember guests and all Subscribers. Payment by credit card required at time of registration. No mailed checks or "at door" payments accepted or permitted.
Register here. Registration closes 5 p.m., Friday, 27 September 2024 or when all seats taken.
Check-in and badge pickup for Registered Attendees begins 10:30 a.m. NO registrations or walk-ins at hotel. No payments by cash or check or onsite registrations at venue.
Cancellation Schedule: AFIO must commit to the hotel facilities and regrets it must charge a cancellation fee. No cancellations with refund after 21 September. Any cancellations 21 September to date of event will be converted to donation to AFIO. Cancellations after 27 September are not donations because your meal has been guaranteed at hotel per event contract. Thank you for your understanding. All attendees must be members of AFIO or accompanied by a current member. For security reasons, we are unable to accept late or last minute substitutions for non-attendance or changes in your guests.
Questions regarding this event to events@afio.com

Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

Thursday, 12 September 2024, 12:00-1:00pm – Washington, DC – Spy Chat with Chris Costa ft. Christine Abizaid – Virtual International Spy Museum Program. 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 Christine Abizaid, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Abizaid was Director of NCTC until July of 2024. She was the eighth Senate-confirmed Director and the first woman to lead NCTC, the United States Government's primary organization that integrates, analyzes, and shares counterterrorism information to address the persistent and evolving threat environment. During the Obama Administration, Abizaid was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. Prior to joining the Office of the Secretary of Defense, she served on the National Security Council Staff as both Director for Counterterrorism and Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. Abizaid began her government career at the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Joint Intelligence Task Force Combating Terrorism and served for seven years to include time as the Senior Intelligence Analyst in the Afghanistan-Pakistan Division and the Iraq/Middle East Division. She deployed several times throughout the Middle East, including a tour as the senior DIA counterterrorism representative in Iraq. Abizaid has received the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Award, the National Military Intelligence Association John T. Hughes Award, and the DIA Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Saturday, 14 September 2024, 2:00-4:00pm – Washington, DC – In Store Book Signing Event for Sell Like A Spy with Author Jeremy Hurewitz – In Person International Spy Museum Book Signing. Join the Museum for an in-store book signing with Jeremy Hurewitz, the author of Sell Like a Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage. Tapping into the history of intelligence-gathering and his work with former agents of the CIA, FBI, and other federal departments, Jeremy Hurewitz, a foremost corporate sales and security expert and former journalist, offers field-tested spycraft strategies and government-agency tactics anyone can use to build relationships, persuade, and sell anything. Hurewitz has built his career around CIA case officers, FBI agents, and government officials—people like Steve Romano, former Chief Negotiator of the FBI; Mark Sullivan, former Director of the Secret Service; General Stanley McChrystal (Ret.), former Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command; and John Sipher, former member of the CIA's Senior Intelligence Service. Drawing on in-depth interviews about their skillsets, stunning spy-world anecdotes, and science-backed principles of behavioral intelligence, Hurewitz has created a handbook of lessons and techniques that will strengthen your ability to connect, entice, and make deals—in business and everyday life. Though a spy's targets may be odious—terrorists, criminals, corrupt diplomats, and more—the agent's focus is on cultivating relationships and understanding motivations to gather information, free hostages, or procure money. Elicitation, Radical Empathy, and RPM (Rationalize, Project Blame, and Minimize Fault) are just a few methods in this persuasion playbook from the real world of international espionage. With a foreword by Robert Grenier, former Director of the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, Sell Like a Spy puts James Bond in its dust, making you a true agent of persuasion. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

17-18 Sep 24 – In Person – Lessons Learned from America's Post-9/11 Irregular Wars - FPRI and DOD's Irregular Warfare Center, Annapolis, Maryland

From September 17-18, FPRI and DoD's Irregular Warfare Center are co-sponsoring a conference to discuss lessons learned from America's post-9/11 irregular wars. It will take place at the U.S. Naval Institute's Jack C. Taylor Conference Center on the USNA grounds in Annapolis, MD. The conference will include paper presentations and panel discussions on seven main topics related to lessons learned from our various irregular warfare operations. These topics include intelligence and counterintelligence activities, human terrain operations, information operations, using police and militias in a counterinsurgency, working with foreign partner forces, medical operations and logistics/support operations. The conference will alternate between academic paper presentations and panel discussions on these topics. Some panel members will be former USD(I) Mike Vickers, Gen (Ret) John Allen USMC, MG (Ret) Ed Reeder Jr., CIA Jawbreaker deputy team leader and former COS Kabul Phil Reilly, CSIS Vice President Seth Jones, Dr. John Nagle, author of Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife, and a number of other distinguished persons. There will be a reception at 1630 on September 17 for panel members, paper presenters and the audience to meet and mingle. Each session will have a Q&A period to maximize audience participation. The conference and reception are free of charge and open to all. Registration ends on September 4, 2024. More information and registration here.

Friday, 20 September 2024, 6:00-9:00pm – Washington, DC – Educator Night Out 2024 – In-Person International Spy Museum Program. Enjoy an exclusive evening at the International Spy Museum where the red carpet will be rolled out just for teachers. Uncover the secret history of history and discover new and exciting resources to enrich your students' learning across all subjects! During this open-house event, teachers can explore SPY's permanent and special exhibits with fellow educators, meet SPY's youth education team, plan your students' next in-person or virtual SPY field trip, browse SPY's free curriculum and digital resources, and a special discount at the SPY Store. This event is open to current K-12 classroom and resource teachers only (21+) and 1 guest (21+, $25.00). This program is generously supported by Booz Allen Hamilton. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Wednesday, 25 September 2024, 6:30-7:50pm – Washington, DC – Spies, Lies, and Robots: The Rise of AI Chatbots and the Counterintelligence Dilemma with H. Keith Melton – In-Person International Spy Museum Program. AI chatbots have emerged as a significant challenge to national security, evolving from simple customer service tools to sophisticated entities capable of mimicking human behavior. This transformation poses a dilemma for counterintelligence efforts, as these chatbots infiltrate various communication channels, including social networks, dating sites, and even pornography platforms, to extract sensitive information or manipulate users. Tonight, intelligence historian and Spy Museum Board Member H. Keith Melton will explore the evolution of AI chatbots and the threats they pose across different communication channels, using advanced graphics to illustrate their capabilities. As these capabilities continue to advance, the risk of widespread disruption and compromise increases along established and emerging attack vectors. Melton will suggest ways that counterintelligence agencies can address this growing threat effectively—in particular, proactive measures such as enhancing vetting procedures and deploying advanced detection algorithms. He cautions that only through collective vigilance and concerted efforts can we effectively counter the evolving menace of AI-powered threats and hostile foreign intelligence activities. He'll also cover the pressing need to adapt national security policies to the dynamic landscape of technological espionage. Selected books by H. Keith Melton will be available for sale and signing after the event. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

5 October 2024, 2p-4p: Vintage Espionage, a wine tasting with an espionage twist hosted by former CIA officers. Enjoy two hours of spies, sips and stories, where secrets and wine collide. Your sommelier for the afternoon, known only as DECANTER/1 (C/1) lived and served around the world. She's an expert in relationship building and persuasion and guides you through a blind tasting of old-world and new-world wines - six wines total. Along the way enjoy stories from a life on the front lines of intelligence operations from C/1 and Spyher Founder Rosanna Minchew. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or simply love intrigue, Vintage Espionage promises an afternoon you won't want to miss. We're especially excited to host this event at a The Grange historic schoolhouse built in 1889, a perfect venue for a pop-up speakeasy! Book here and use promo code SPYHERWINEFRIENDS for a $15 discount. Use this Eventbrite link to sign up.
Location: 9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066.

Wednesday, 24 October 2024, 5 - 7 p.m. - In-Person Hanover, MD - NCF & INSF 3rd Annual Cocktails & Codebreakers event. Please join the NCF & INSF [National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF) & Intelligence and National Security Foundation (INSF)] for the 3rd Annual Cocktails & Codebreakers event
We are pleased to announce that this year's program will feature a Fireside Chat with Gen Timothy D. Haugh, USAF, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service and a special presentation by Mr. Montel Williams, military veteran/retired cryptologic officer (US Marines & Navy), actor, and motivational speaker. We are also grateful to welcome journalist Mr. Steve Scully as moderator for the Fireside Chat. Learn about our speakers & view the draft agenda or...
REGISTER HERE.
Location: The Hotel at Arundel Preserve, 7795 Arundel Mills Boulevard, Hanover, Maryland 21076
Registration Fee: $225. A selection of sponsorships are still available.
This October 24th event will celebrate Men & Women in Cryptology.
If you missed our previous Cocktails & Codebreakers programs - you can view recaps & photos of 2023 and 2022.
Questions? Email ncfinfo@cryptologicfoundation.org

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

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

30 Aug - 8 Sep 2025 - Mediterranean Cruise - Spies, Lies & Nukes announce Espionage on the High Seas! Plan NOW to join the late-summer 2025 cruise. Instead of their traditional Spies, Lies & Nukes conference in 2024, Valerie Plame and other intelligence colleagues are thrilled to introduce an exciting variation for 2025: Spies at Sea. A combined cruise and conference through the breathtaking Mediterranean, from August 30 to September 8, 2025! See brochure here.
What to Expect:
• Intimate Conference Setting: Enjoy the same close-knit, engaging environment you've come to expect, with unparalleled access to our expert speakers.
• Exclusive Shore Excursions: Explore clandestine meeting spots, delve into espionage history, and more on excursions EXCLUSIVE TO OUR GROUP.
• Seminars at Sea: Participate in lectures and presentations led by Valerie Plame and other top intelligence professionals, all the while cruising through some of the Mediterranean's most iconic destinations.
• Special Events: Enjoy exclusive cocktail receptions, surprise activities, and one-on-one conversation time.
Exclusive Spies, Lies & Nukes Itinerary Highlights:
• Barcelona, Spain: Begin your adventure in this vibrant city.
• Valletta, Malta: Walk through history with guided tours led by espionage experts who will lift the veil on area spy stories and meeting sites.
• Mykonos, Greece: Discover the charm and beauty of this picturesque island.
• Ephesus, Turkey: Explore ancient ruins with a private guide and enjoy a unique group lunch, all while learning about intelligence activities that took place at each spot.
• Santorini, Greece: Experience the iconic beauty of Santorini with endless photographic opportunities.
• Naples, Italy: Enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant and an exclusive walking tour with a private guide while learning a few spy secrets from Naples, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.
We've secured a discounted rate that includes your stateroom, meals, classic beverage package, wi-fi, exclusive excursions, and all conference activities. These cabins will get booked quickly, so don't wait—book now and get $100 off! This is your chance to combine professional enrichment with an unforgettable travel experience. Network with like-minded professionals, gain exclusive insights, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Secure Your Spot Today.

Gifts for Friends, Colleagues, Self

Gray long-sleeved polo shirts with embroidered AFIO logo. Men's sizes only.
Show your support for AFIO with our new Gray Long-sleeve Polo Shirts. Shirts are shrink and wrinkle resistant of fine cotton with a soft, "well-worn, comfy" yet substantial feel. They feature a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. Get a shirt for yourself and consider as gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. Only $60 each including shipping.
Sizes for men, only: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL.  $60 per shirt. Order this and other store items online here.

20 oz ceramic Mug with color glazed logo. Made in America. Check out our new tapered, sleek AFIO coffee mug!! This handsome 20 oz. ceramic mug is made in the USA, has a white matte exterior, sports a beautiful navy-blue interior, and is dishwasher safe.  Order yours today! $35 per mug includes shipping to a CONUS address. [includes shipping to U.S. based address, only. For foreign shipments, we will contact you with a quote.] SHIPPING: For shipment to a U.S.-based CONUS address, shipping is included in price. For purchases going to AK, HI, other US territories, Canada, or other foreign countries the shipping fees need to be calculated, so please call our office M-F 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET at 703-790-0320 or email afio@afio.com providing following information: 1) your name, 2) mailing address (or addresses where each gift item will be shipped), 3) name of the AFIO store items you wish to purchase, 4) quantity of each, 5) your credit card number and expiration date, 6) amount (except for additional of shipping fees) authorized to charge, and 7) your phone number and email should we have questions. Foreign shipments fees will be calculated and estimates emailed to you, awaiting your approval.  Order this and other store items online here.

Black short-sleeved polo shirts with Embroidered AFIO logo
Show your support for AFIO with our new Black Short-sleeve Polo Shirts. Shirts are shrink and wrinkle resistant of fine cotton with a soft, "well-worn, comfy" yet substantial feel. They feature a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. Get a shirt for yourself and consider as gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. Only $50 each including shipping.
Sizes for (M) men, only; Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL. $50 per shirt.
You may pay by check or credit card. Complete your order online here or mail an order along with payment to: AFIO, 7600 Leesburg Pike, Ste 470 East, Falls Church, VA 22043-2004. Phone orders at 703-790-0320. Questions? Contact Annette at: annettej@afio.com.

PopSocket for cellphones or tablets
Show your support to AFIO while enjoying the convenience offered by our AFIO Logo PopSocket. The PopSocket is most commonly used as a stand and as a grip for your mobile phone or tablet; handy for taking selfies, watching videos, and for texting. The PopSocket looks like a small button or sticker which, when closed, sticks flat to your mobile device. However, its accordion-like design enables it to pop open for use. The benefits of using a PopSocket make it a must-have accessory for your mobile phone or tablet. It also aids in keeping your phone from slipping off your hand during use, falling, or breaking.
Price: $15. Order this and other store items online here.

Duffel Bags - Royal Blue and Black with Full Color AFIO Logo This duffel has it all when it comes to value, style and organization.
600 denier polyester canvas with polyester double contrast; D-shaped zippered entry for easy access. Front pocket with hook and loop closure. End mesh pocket Easy-access end pockets. Four durable, protective feet and built-in bottom board for added strength. Web handles with padded grip. Detachable, adjustable shoulder strap.
Dimensions: 11"h x 19.75"w x 9.75"d; Approx. 2,118 cubic inches
Price: $50. Order this and other store items online here.

Caps - Dark Navy with Navy AFIO Logo
An authentic silhouette with the comfort of an unstructured, adjustable fit. Fabric: 100% cotton. Unstructured. Fabric strap closure with adjustable D-clip. Price: $30. Order this and other store items online here.

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

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

PUBLISHED IN 2023—Be informed on career opportunities in the U.S. Intelligence Community

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

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

Some features of the email version of the WIN do not work for readers who have chosen the Plaintext Edition, some AOL users, and readers who access their email using web mail. You may request to change from Plaintext to HTML format here afio@afio.com. For the best reading experience, the latest web edition can be found here: https://www.afio.com/pages/currentwin.htm

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