Weekly Intelligence Notes

04 - 10 September 2024
(Issue 34)

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

• Counterspies launch month to focus on the hunt for ‘insider leaks’ - Washington Times, 06 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• CIA and MI6 heads in unprecedented joint public appearance in London - CNN, 07 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• Inside the Ring: NSA document reveals Russians had microwave weapon suspected in attacks - Washington Times, 05 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• NGA deepens push into AI with country’s largest data-labeling effort - Defense One, 03 Sep 24
• "Russian spy" beluga whale that was found dead "had multiple bullet wounds," animal rights group says - CBS, 04 Sep 24
• Foreign intelligence units targeting New Zealand, tried to recruit Kiwis, spies warn - The New Zealand Herald, 02 Sep 24
• NCSC and Partners Focus on "Deter, Detect, Mitigate" During National Insider Threat Awareness Month 2024 - ODNI, 03 Sep 24
• Russian intelligence is becoming 'feral' and 'reckless', head of MI6 warns in rare appearance - Daily Mail, 07 Sep 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...

• Editorial: Without him, Putin wouldn't be at war - a fellow spy from his youth rose to become Russia's mysterious powerful man - Ilta Sanomat, 30 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)
• Signature Strikes and the Ethics of Targeted Killing - International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, 04 Sep 24
• The ODNI’s New and Disappointing Prepublication Review Process - Lawfare, 04 Sep 24
• Spying in South Asia: The Powerplay of CIA, ISI, MI6, and R&AW – Part-I | Dr. Paul McGarr (34 mins) - Space, Defense, and Security Podcast, 04 Sep 24
• International Law and Intelligence Gathering: Mind the Gaps - West Point's Lieber Center, 04 Sep 24
• The Japanese Intelligence Community: An Overview - Grey Dynamics, 03 Sep 24
• Russia's Espionage Base in Nicaragua Signals Expanding Influence and Intensifies Surveillance Capabilities - Semper Incolumem, 02 Sep 24
• Quantum-Safe Encryption: A Critical Frontier for U.S. National Security - OODA Loop, 04 Sep 24
• How We Found Bin Laden: The Basics of Foreign Signals Intelligence (49 mins) - NSA's No Such Podcast, 04 Sep 24
• The Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate with Rachel Noble (71 mins) - Spycast Podcast, 03 Sep 24
• Russia’s Espionage War in the Arctic - New Yorker, 09 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• Second Trump Term Likely to Bring New Friction With Spy Agencies - Wall Street Journal, 07 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• Spy’s release by higher court shows Austria is unable to find its intelligence footing - Intel News, 09 Sep 24

• Disinformation, long used as a weapon of influence by Russia, has been adopted by China and Iran in yet another example of their collective aim to weaken democratic societies. — Former Acting CIA Dep. Dir. for Ops and Arkin Group President Jack Devine, In Other News
• Irish Ethnonationalism and the Emergence of a Distinct Far-Right Movement — Former FBI Special Agent and Soufan Group CEO Ali Soufan, Intel Brief
• Israel's Intelligence Failures: Uri Bar-Jospeh — Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell and former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andy Makridis, Intelligence Matters: The Relaunch
• “Havana Syndrome” is the Greatest Scandal in the History of American Intelligence by former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler - Top Secret Umbra, 03 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• China is our only real Existential Threat - by Former CIA Deputy Director for Operations David Marlowe - The Cipher Brief, 04 Sep 24
• How US adversaries like China and Russia recruit, reward and punish spies — and which one is a cheapskate with Former CIA Chief of Counterintelligence James Olson - New York Post, 06 Sep 24
• Another China Spying Shocker (36 min) with former DIA Senior Officer Nicholas Eftimiades - Spy Talk Podcast, 05 Sep 24
• The Evolving and Complex Counterintelligence Landscape in 2024 (31 min) with former NCSC Director William Evanina - Above Average Intelligence Podcast, 09 Sep 24

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

• The CIA Intelligence Analyst: Views from the Inside Roger Z. George, et al. (02 Sep 24)
• Justice at the Margins of War: The Ethics of Espionage and Gray Zone Operations by Edward Barrett (15 Mar 23)
• National Security Mom: Why "Going Soft" Will Make America Strong by Gina M. Bennett (01 Oct 19)

True Intelligence Matters on Film: Declassified: The Untold Stories of American Spies, S2 E6 - Crack 99: Defense Secrets for Sale - 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 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

• 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.

- AFIO NATIONAL FALL LUNCHEON -

- Registration Underway -

Friday, 4 Oct 2024, 1100-1400
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, McLean-Tysons, VA
1960 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean VA 22102

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

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

Released: 03 September 2024
Recorded: 28 May 2024
Duration: 25 mins

Access the video interview here or click image above.

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.

Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami

AFIO Now Presents: Dr. Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs

Dr Vince Houghton and Eric Driggs discuss their new book: Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami (PublicAffairs Books, Apr 2024) with AFIO President James Hughes. The history of how the entire city of Miami was constructed in the image of the US-Cuba rivalry. From the Bay of Pigs invasion to the death of Fidel Castro. They discuss secret operations, corruption, crime, and a city teeming with spies and why Miami was as crucial to winning the Cold War as Washington, D.C., or Moscow.

Interview: Monday, 20 May 2024. Hosted by James Hughes, AFIO President.

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.

COMING in 2025...

We hope you will join us for this celebration.

Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)

General Interests

Counterspies launch month to focus on the hunt for ‘insider leaks’ - Washington Times, 06 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)

Those who leak classified information are the targets of a national Insider Threat Awareness Month, according to the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, which warns that counterspies are stepping up efforts to address the problem in government and private-sector workplaces. The center, part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, has announced it is joining the office of the Pentagon’s undersecretary for defense intelligence and security, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and the National Insider Threat Task Force for a month of training to identify problem leakers, whether they are spies for foreign powers or those leaking information to anti-secrecy groups and the media. The awareness effort seeks to educate government officials and industry employees on the risks of insider threats, or InT for short. (Read more here.)

CIA and MI6 heads in unprecedented joint public appearance in London - CNN, 07 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)

CIA chief Bill Burns said Saturday he hoped to have a “more detailed” hostage and ceasefire proposal to put before Israel and Hamas negotiators in the coming days, but stressed that its success would come down to “political will” on their part. He spoke at an unprecedented joint public event with Richard Moore of the UK’s foreign intelligence service, known as MI6, at the FT Weekend Festival. The pair stressed the importance of the two countries’ intelligence partnership at a time when the global order is under threat, particularly from Russian aggression. They also endorsed Ukraine’s invasion of Russia’s Kursk region, with Moore saying that it changed the narrative, and Burns that it was a significant tactical achievement. Speaking on the ongoing negotiations to secure a ceasefire-and-hostage deal in Gaza, Burns said that the US was working very hard with regional mediators to get both Israel and the militant group Hamas to agree on a peace plan. However, he said that despite all the work that needs to be done, an end to the war in Gaza is “ultimately a question of political will.” (Full article here.)

Inside the Ring: NSA document reveals Russians had microwave weapon suspected in attacks - Washington Times, 05 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)

Russia’s government since the 1990s has had the type of microwave weapons that are suspected in the covert attacks on U.S. intelligence officials and diplomats that have caused what has come to be known as “Havana syndrome.” A National Security Agency document dated Oct. 16, 2014, revealed the microwave weapon in an unclassified statement. The statement is related to an incident involving two NSA counterintelligence officials working in Russia in 1996 who later suffered debilitating brain-related injuries after a suspected microwave attack. The two officials, Chuck Gubete and Mike Beck, suffered from the now-familiar symptoms — dizziness and diminished cognition — that were later experienced by U.S. diplomatic personnel in Havana in 2015. Gubete died several years ago, and Mr. Beck has Parkinson’s disease, which he believes was caused by a brain attack in Russia. (Full article here.)

NGA deepens push into AI with country’s largest data-labeling effort - Defense One, 03 Sep 24

Two years ago, the entire world spent an estimated $800 million on data labeling: the painstaking process of annotating images and other information to train machine-learning and AI models. Now, the Pentagon’s mapping agency is prepping a data-labeling effort that will spend nearly that much all by itself. Within weeks, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency plans to release a call to industry for data-annotation services—more than $700 million worth, likely over several years—to help train AI-powered computer vision models to recognize objects and understand satellite images, the agency’s chief said Friday. The project will be the “largest data labeling request for proposal in the U.S. government” and “represents a significant investment in computer vision, machine learning, and AI. NGA will engage with commercial counterparts to navigate the challenges posed by increasing levels of GEOINT data,” NGA director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth told reporters Friday at a Defense Writers Group event. (Full article here.)

"Russian spy" beluga whale that was found dead "had multiple bullet wounds," animal rights group says - CBS, 04 Sep 24

Animal rights groups on Wednesday said gunfire killed a beluga whale that rose to fame in Norway after its unusual harness sparked suspicions the creature was trained by Russia as a spy. The organizations NOAH and One Whale said they had filed a complaint with Norwegian police asking them to open a "criminal investigation." Nicknamed "Hvaldimir" in a pun on the Norwegian word for whale, hval, and its purported ties to Moscow, the white beluga first appeared off the coast in Norway's far-northern Finnmark region in 2019. He was found dead on Saturday in a bay on the country's southwestern coast. (Read here.)

Foreign intelligence units targeting New Zealand, tried to recruit Kiwis, spies warn - The New Zealand Herald, 02 Sep 24

Units within an unnamed foreign intelligence service are targeting New Zealand and have attempted to secretly recruit Kiwis to secure intelligence “to support their geopolitical ambitions”. That’s one of the insights from a new assessment of the country’s threat environment by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) released on Tuesday. The security service disclosed that over the past two years, people affiliated with one of those units had been been coming to New Zealand “most likely to collect New Zealand political, foreign policy, and government information, and identify potential intelligence sources”. “To disrupt the activities of the unit and those who do its bidding, NZSIS delivered a message to one of its affiliates to pass on to the foreign intelligence service,” the report said. (Full article here.)

NCSC and Partners Focus on "Deter, Detect, Mitigate" During National Insider Threat Awareness Month 2024 - ODNI, 03 Sep 24

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), the National Insider Threat Task Force (NITTF), the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Intelligence and Security (OUSD (I&S), and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) launched National Insider Threat Awareness Month (NITAM) 2024. NITAM is an annual campaign during September to educate government and industry about the risks posed by insider threats and the role insider threat programs play in deterring, detecting, and mitigating such threats. Federal insider threat programs are comprised of multi-disciplinary teams that address insider threats while protecting workforce privacy and civil liberties. For additional information about the NITAM 2024 campaign and resources available to organizations, visit the NITAM 2024 website. (Full article here.)

Russian intelligence is becoming 'feral' and 'reckless', head of MI6 warns in rare appearance - Daily Mail, 07 Sep 24

Russia's intelligence services have become 'feral' and 'reckless' in the way they are plotting attacks in Britain and across Europe, the head of MI6 warned in a rare public appearance yesterday. In an historic joint interview with the head of the CIA, Richard Moore said Moscow is now using criminal gangs for state-sponsored terror attacks in Europe, which are endangering more lives as they are 'more amateurish'. His CIA counterpart William Burns said coordinated operations between UK and US intelligence services are thwarting the plots across the Continent and in mainland Britain. (Full article here.)

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

• 3 former military officers get jail time for China espionage - Focus Taiwan, 06 Sep 24
• Former Aide to Gov. Hochul Secretly Worked for Chinese Government, Prosecutors Say - Wall Street Journal, 03 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• Police nab Mossad financial network manager in Türkiye - Daily News, 03 Sep 24
• Taiwan lieutenant charged with selling military secrets to Chinese netizen - The Taiwan News, 03 Sep 24
• Recent Chinese Spy Cases in Taiwan: Knowns, Unknowns, and Implications - Global Taiwan Institute, 04 Sep 24
• US indicts Russian intelligence officials over cyberattacks targeting Ukraine - OODA Loop, 06 Sep 24
• 30 locations searched in Chinese corporate espionage probe - Focus Taiwan, 04 Sep 24
• Cyberindustrial espionage rises in Germany. Hyundai Motor researcher jailed for tech leak to China - The Spy Hunter, 03 Sep 24
• 'Chinese spy mayor' wanted by Philippines arrested - BBC, 03 Sep 24

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

• CIA Center for Cyber Intelligence Chief Peter Ranks on artifical intelligence and cybersecurity - C-Span, 04 Sep 24
• NSA, FBI, CISA, and Allies Issue Advisory about Russian Military Cyber Actors - NSA, 05 Sep 24
• Russia's Most Notorious Special Forces Unit Now Has Its Own Cyber Warfare Team - Wired, 05 Sep 24
• Estonia names Russia's military intelligence in a first-ever attribution of cyberattacks - Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 05 Sep 24
• ODNI Unveils Strategy To Combat Cyber Intelligence Threats - Signal, 08 Sep 24
• Iranian Cyber Espionage Group Collaborate with Ransomware Groups - Truesec, 04 Sep 24

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

• Poland neutralises sabotage group linked to Belarus and Russia - Reuters, 09 Sep 24
• Intel officials: Moscow built U.S. influencer networks, danger growing from Iran ahead of vote - Washington Times, 07 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• The Putin Propaganda Chief Who the U.S. Says Is Now After American Minds - Wall Street Journal, 06 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• FBI dossier reveals Putin’s secret psychological warfare in Europe - Politico, 05 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)
• Russian GRU Unit Tied to Assassinations Linked to Global Cyber Sabotage and Espionage - Security Week, 05 Sep 24
• DOJ: Russia Aimed Propaganda at Gamers, Minorities to Swing 2024 Election - Wired, 05 Sep 24
• Trial begins in Florida for activists accused of helping Russia sow division, chaos - Politico, 03 Sep 24
• Chinese 'Spamouflage' operatives are mimicking disillusioned Americans online - The Record, 03 Sep 24
• Exclusive: US sees increasing risk of Russian ‘sabotage’ of key undersea cables by secretive military unit - CNN, 06 Sep 24
• Foreign governments are increasing their attempts to influence US officials. Here are some recent examples. - Politico, 04 Sep 24

Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

Editorial: Without him, Putin wouldn't be at war - a fellow spy from his youth rose to become Russia's mysterious powerful man - Ilta Sanomat, 30 Aug 24 (Member Contribution)

The voice's name is Tshemezov – Sergei Viktorovitsh Tshemezov , 72. Sound at all familiar? You shouldn't be confused, even if it doesn't sound like it, because Tshemezov as a person is not known to the general public, even within Russia. Recently, however, Tshemezov's name has popped up in the public eye in several contexts, which have attracted the interest of modern-day Kremlinologists who follow Vladimir Putin's administration. When Ukraine had attacked the Russian side in the Kursk region, the news agency Reuters unexpectedly received comments related to the topic from Tshemezov ( 21.8. ). Reuters described the answers they received as "a rare glimpse into the thoughts of Putin's inner circle." Russia accuses the West of planning Ukraine's Kursk operation, and Tshemezov warned in written comments of a looming "global" war. At the same time, however, he boasted that Russia was feeling confident and announced that they had enough "cannons" for their next move. (Full article here.)

Signature Strikes and the Ethics of Targeted Killing - International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, 04 Sep 24

Targeted killings have been a polarizing political issue since the first lethal drone strike was conducted in 2002. In the last decade, literature has debated the merits of targeted killing in international conflicts. There has been significant legal and ethical controversy over the conduct of signature strikes, in which individuals are targeted for displaying behaviors or activities that are consistent with participation in hostilities. This study examines the ethics of signature strikes from the perspective of intelligence-based targeting, focusing on the ethical implications of targeting individuals based on behavioral patterns. It argues that the ethical conduct of signature strikes is contingent on the veracity of intelligence-based models that are used to identify and validate signature behaviors. It concludes that, although the practice of signature strikes has been mixed, signature strikes can be ethical when robust models of participation in hostilities are used. (Access here.)

The ODNI’s New and Disappointing Prepublication Review Process - Lawfare, 04 Sep 24

On July 12, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines signed Intelligence Community Directive 711, which establishes new requirements for intelligence community (IC) administration of prepublication reviews. It is the first IC-wide guidance on prepublication review, and it will lead to changes in the much-criticized (including by us) system of prior restraint on speech that applies to millions of current and former U.S. government employees. The directive includes a few of the reforms we have proposed and in some procedural respects represents small steps in the direction of fixing a badly broken system. But it also contains very disappointing speech-harming provisions, and even the potential improvements will depend on how individual intelligence elements implement the directive. On the whole, the directive is very disappointing. (Access here.)

Spying in South Asia: The Powerplay of CIA, ISI, MI6, and R&AW – Part-I | Dr. Paul McGarr (34 mins) - Space, Defense, and Security Podcast, 04 Sep 24

In this episode, we discuss the shadowy world of espionage in South Asia, where the CIA, ISI, MI6, and R&AW have been engaged in a high-stakes game of intelligence and power for decades. From the covert operations of the Cold War to the proxy battles in Afghanistan and the ongoing tensions in Kashmir, these intelligence agencies have played pivotal roles in shaping regional geopolitics. Join us as we uncover the clandestine missions, spy networks, and double agents that have defined the South Asian intelligence landscape. We also explore how these agencies have collaborated and clashed, their influence on diplomatic relations, and the impact of their actions on the political stability of the region. Whether it’s the CIA’s covert ops, the ISI’s strategic maneuvers, MI6’s historical espionage, or R&AW’s regional counterintelligence efforts, this episode unravels the complex web of intrigue and powerplay that continues to define South Asia today. (Full report here.)

International Law and Intelligence Gathering: Mind the Gaps - West Point's Lieber Center, 04 Sep 24

Intelligence gathering is a fundamental element of both statecraft and the conduct of hostilities. Its integral role in armed conflict is evident in the Israel intelligence service, the Shin Bet, having provided “surgical intelligence” for the July 2024 targeting of the Hamas military leader, Mohammed Dief. The reported Israeli killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the Iranian counterintelligence reaction also highlight the dominant role intelligence agencies play in shadow conflict. Both the Ukrainians and the Russians make extensive use of civilian agents located in enemy territory to provide targeting information for their strikes. In addition, States are increasingly recruiting and directing espionage agents through social media (see here, here, here, and here). As Lawrence Freedman noted in his 2022 book, Command, the collection and analysis of intelligence has taken on an oversized role in modern military operations, with one quarter of British General Nick Carter’s 800-person headquarters in Afghanistan (2009-2010) working “on the intelligence side” (p. 495). The wide range of modern intelligence categories for information collected by States and in some cases by non-State actors include SIGNIT (signals intelligence), HUMINT (human intelligence), IMINT (image intelligence), GEOINT (geospatial intelligence), MASINT (measurement and signature intelligence), open-source intelligence (OSINT), CULTINT (cultural intelligence), and even CRIMINT (criminal intelligence). (Access here.)

The Japanese Intelligence Community: An Overview - Grey Dynamics, 03 Sep 24

The Japanese Intelligence Community (JIC), with its origins among the oldest intelligence traditions in the world, has evolved significantly to address the complexities of modern security challenges. From its early informal operations to becoming a sophisticated entity that balances tradition with cutting-edge technology, the JIC has navigated through periods of expansion, reconfiguration, and strategic adjustments. This evolution reflects Japan’s commitment to safeguarding national interests while contributing to international peace and stability, all while maintaining a unique cultural and operational ethos. Additionally, the Japanese Intelligence Community’s long-standing partnership with the US intelligence community has been instrumental in enhancing its capabilities and ensuring a collaborative approach to global security challenges. (Access here.)

Russia's Espionage Base in Nicaragua Signals Expanding Influence and Intensifies Surveillance Capabilities - Semper Incolumem, 02 Sep 24

Key Judgment: The establishment of a Russian-operated espionage base in Nicaragua, with local personnel relegated to security roles, underscores Moscow’s expanding influence in Central America and reflects an alarming escalation in global surveillance activities targeting both external and internal threats. Supporting Evidence: 1) Russian Control Over Surveillance Operations: The espionage base on Mokoron Hill, south of Managua, has been identified as being under the control of Russian officials, with Nicaraguan officers limited to security duties. This base, known as Unit 502, is equipped with sophisticated Russian surveillance technology, which allows for the interception of a wide range of communications, including telephone, television, and radio signals within Nicaragua. 2) Integration of Advanced Surveillance Technology: Since 2017, Russian equipment has been installed at several Nicaraguan military bases, with exclusive operational knowledge held by Russian personnel. This includes a radio direction-finding system and software that enhances surveillance capabilities, allegedly targeting both external actors like foreign embassies and internal dissenters. 3) Expansion of Russian Influence: Russian involvement in Nicaraguan intelligence operations has been expanding since 2018, with the integration of Russian training and technology into Nicaraguan security forces. A recent acknowledgment by President Ortega of a Russian police training center in Managua indicates a deepening alliance, with the center aimed at training intelligence agents loyal to Russia. 4) Broader Implications for Regional Security: The presence of Russian-operated surveillance infrastructure in Nicaragua represents a strategic move by Moscow to solidify its influence in Central America. The base’s operations are not only aimed at monitoring international communications but also at consolidating control over internal dissent, thereby strengthening the Ortega regime’s authoritarian grip on power. (Access here.)

Quantum-Safe Encryption: A Critical Frontier for U.S. National Security - OODA Loop, 04 Sep 24

While their potential to revolutionize fields like medicine and finance is immense, so too is their potential to upend the very foundations of our digital security. The encryption that protects everything from our financial transactions to state secrets is at risk of being rendered obsolete by quantum computing. In response, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has taken crucial steps to safeguard our future, but the work has only just begun. Quantum computers have the potential to solve certain complex mathematical problems millions of times faster than today’s classical computers. This capability, while groundbreaking, poses a significant threat to the encryption algorithms that currently secure the internet. Public-key cryptography, which underpins the security of online banking, email, and secure communications, relies on the difficulty of factoring large numbers—a task that quantum computers could accomplish in mere minutes. Experts have warned that adversaries might already be harvesting encrypted data, biding their time until quantum computers are powerful enough to decrypt it. This “harvest now, decrypt later” strategy could lead to catastrophic breaches of sensitive information, from military communications to personal financial data. The implications are dire: without quantum-safe encryption, the digital infrastructure we rely on could become an open door for hackers, both state-sponsored and criminal. (Access here.)

How We Found Bin Laden: The Basics of Foreign Signals Intelligence (49 mins) - NSA's No Such Podcast, 04 Sep 24

Osama bin Laden helped plan the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 which killed nearly 3,000 Americans. To find him, the U.S. government had to put its best people on the job. Along with their counterparts across multiple agencies, experts at the National Security Agency answered the call. NSA generated foreign signals intelligence to help find, and ultimately eliminate, the terrorist leader. In the lead episode of No Such Podcast, learn how NSA helped find bin Laden through foreign signals intelligence (SIGINT), one of the Agency’s two core missions. NSA leaders demystify the foreign SIGINT cycle and how each step applied to the Osama bin Laden case. Learn from a counterterrorism expert who was in the room when the word came in that Osama bin Laden was Killed In Action. (Access here.)

The Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate with Rachel Noble (71 mins) - Spycast Podcast, 03 Sep 24

Rachel Noble joins International Spy Museum Director Hammond to discuss her role as Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate. Rachel is the first woman to hold this position. (Access here.)

Russia’s Espionage War in the Arctic - New Yorker, 09 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)

It was polar winter, one long night. The lakes had frozen in the Far North, and the foxes and the grouse had shed their brown fur and feathers in favor of Arctic white. To survive the months of snow and ice, predators resort to camouflage and deception. But so do their prey. In the small town of Kirkenes—in the northeastern corner of Norway, six miles from the Russian border—the regional counterintelligence chief, Johan Roaldsnes, peered out his office window at the fjord below. There were eight Russian fishing trawlers docked outside, housing at least six hundred Russian sailors. The phone rang. The caller was a government employee who worked at the local port. It was not uncommon for Russian trawlers to stop in Kirkenes, but some of these were not among the usual ships. One of them, a fish-processing vessel named Arka-33, had docked weeks earlier and hadn’t left. “Seems a bit much,” the caller said. “Might be,” Roaldsnes replied. Uncertainty was his profession. (Access here.)

Second Trump Term Likely to Bring New Friction With Spy Agencies - Wall Street Journal, 07 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)

When Donald Trump was indicted on a charge of mishandling classified documents, his lawyers said one of his defenses would be to demonstrate that the "intelligence community has operated with a bias against him," offering a litany of grievances dating back to the first impeachment inquiry while he was president. As the election enters its final sprint, current and former senior intelligence officials are warning that Trump during a second term might seek to retaliate and harness America's powerful spy agencies for his own political purposes. And the Republican former president could appoint skeptics of the intelligence community to lead some of its agencies, according to people familiar with his thinking. “President Trump is committed to returning the intelligence community to its proper constitutional and statutory limits,” said Brian Hughes, a senior Trump campaign adviser. Hughes added that Trump is “committed to break the hold that entrenched interests have over decision-making and exercising the will of the American people.” (Access here.)

Spy’s release by higher court shows Austria is unable to find its intelligence footing - Intel News, 09 Sep 24

On June 26, the longwinded case of Austria’s counter intelligence failure regarding a possible inside threat took yet another —quite surprising— turn: the state court of Vienna (Landesgericht Wien) released from pre-trial detention (Untersuchungshaft) Egisto Ott, a former member of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT) —Austria’s now-dissolved domestic intelligence agency. Ott, who was accused of spying against Austria, had been arrested (again) at the end of March on suspicion of obtaining classified information for which he could provide no reason, as well as for presumably selling it. Among the suspected recipients of the classified information were Russian assets and —more or less directly— Russian intelligence. (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.

06 Sep | Disinformation, long used as a weapon of influence by Russia, has been adopted by China and Iran in yet another example of their collective aim to weaken democratic societies. This week, disinformation was again in the headlines as the US departments of Justice, State, and Treasury announced coordinated efforts to thwart the latest disinformation threat from Russia. This included an incitement against two “RT” (formerly Russia Today) employees, seizing over 30 internet domains being leveraged by Russian state interests, and issuing sanctions and visa restrictions against Russian instigators. While some of the latest disinformation content aimed to influence voters during the upcoming US election, other material was designed to shape the way Americans perceive Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and more generally to sow internal divisions by targeting sensitive topics like religion and race. (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.

06 Sep | Irish Ethnonationalism and the Emergence of a Distinct Far-Right Movement

Over the past two years, Ireland has seen a significant rise in violent far-right mobilization, marked by the widespread "Irish Anti-Immigration Protests" and a series of arson attacks targeting government-provided housing for refugees and asylum seekers. This movement underscores the promotion of Irish ethnic nationalism, conferring legitimacy upon a singular ethnic identity while rejecting the concept of a multi-ethnic society. The protests began in November 2022 in response to the large-scale development of temporary housing accommodations for asylum seekers. During this time, Ireland accepted over 58,000 individuals who were displaced during Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine and the current number now totals over 100,000. The influx of migrants has occurred against the backdrop of a cost-of-living and a housing shortage crisis. This strained economic context has proven to be fertile ground for exclusionary politics to take hold, as frustration mounts over a perceived lack of resources.

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.

03 Sep | Israel's Intelligence Failures: Uri Bar-Jospeh Michael talks with Israeli intelligence expert Uri Bar-Joseph, who dissects the stunning failure of Israeli intelligence ahead of the October 7th Hamas attack—a “perfect failure” that shook the foundations of Israel’s vaunted security apparatus. Tracing the roots of this debacle back decades, Bar-Joseph discusses the fatal flaw in Israel’s national security strategy: prioritizing military might over diplomatic engagement. It’s part of Uri’s new book in Hebrew, 'Beyond the Iron Wall.'

“Havana Syndrome” is the Greatest Scandal in the History of American Intelligence by former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler - Top Secret Umbra, 03 Sep 24 (Member Contribution)

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" is one of those Philosophy 101 questions which many of us have endured as students. But is there still a scandal if the powers that be insist that there is no scandal? If people are just imagining a tree falling in a forest, how can there be any sound? Such is the strange place where American spooks find themselves these days thanks to the unprecedented saga surrounding the so-called Havana Syndrome. Per media lore, U.S. spies and diplomats in Cuba circa 2015 fell victim to strange medical symptoms, as did some of their Canadian counterparts who were posted to Havana. Hence the term describing what befell them, which included acute headaches, vision problems, dizziness, and general loss of mental acuity. Some, but not all, victims recalled experiencing strange noises and sensations, often in their residences. In many cases, sufferers became unable to do their jobs due to untreatable medical issues. (Access here.)

China is our only real Existential Threat - by Former CIA Deputy Director for Operations David Marlowe - The Cipher Brief, 04 Sep 24

The United States faces a direct existential threat today that has not been matched in severity since the war between our own states – the U.S. Civil War – threatened to kill this nation in its adolescence. The last time our very existence was at stake was 160 years ago, an experience well outside any living American’s personal memory. It is an important distinction to recognize, and that recognition must produce response. While the Third Reich and Empire of Japan both had ambitions for vast expansion, neither immediately and directly threatened the existence of the United States. The Cold War was a decades-long wrestling match largely between the United States and the Soviet Union, but the idea of “mutually assured destruction” was so unthinkable that it was not a practical option for either nation. As dark as it sometimes seemed, our existence was not really ever at stake, and it was inevitable that the economic resources produced by capitalism would outlast the lumbering Soviet state. Today, while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un each aspires to be the biggest bully in his own neighborhood, none aspires to supplant the United States as the preeminent global power. But Chinese President Xi Jinping and his PRC government do. And they have not been the least bit coy about it. They have declared it openly, and their actions have consistently reflected their intent. (Access here.)

How US adversaries like China and Russia recruit, reward and punish spies — and which one is a cheapskate with Former CIA Chief of Counterintelligence James Olson - New York Post, 06 Sep 24

The arrest of Linda Sun, a Chinese spy who worked her way into an influential position in the office of Governor Kathy Hochul shows how easily devious and well-hidden threats from adversaries can be hiding in plain sight. “New York City is alive with spies,” James Olson, former chief of counterintelligence at the Central Intelligence Agency and author of “To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence,” told The Post. “It is a spy hub. Many corporations are headquartered there and the United Nations, as well as the various consulates. They all provide good vehicles for planting spies.” (Access here.)

Another China Spying Shocker (36 min) with former DIA Senior Officer Nicholas Eftimiades - Spy Talk Podcast, 05 Sep 24

Over a period of roughly 14 years, according to the feds, Linda Sun rose through the ranks to become deputy chief of staff to Governor Hochul, before she was fired for unspecified reasons and became a target of federal investigators. But according to the DoJ, the 41-year-old was secretly using her position to advance Chinese political and business interests and steal relevant documents. In return, the feds say, Beijing’s spy service showered the couple with millions of dollars that afforded them lavish homes, a Ferrari Roma sports car, and—people had fun with this—special salted duck dishes prepared by a Chinese Embassy chef. In court on Tuesday the couple entered not guilty pleas to charges of acting as unregistered foreign agents. One person who is absolutely not surprised by all this is Nicholas Eftimiades who became a leading expert on Chinese espionage over his 34-year government career, which included work for the CIA, the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and as a Senior Intelligence Officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency. Today he teaches at Penn State and is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. He is also the author of “Chinese Intelligence Operations,” which will soon be reissued with an update. China’s MSS spy agency, of course, couldn’t care less about which party, or level of US government, it infiltrates. Its goal is to weaken the United States by any means necessary. (Access here.)

The Evolving and Complex Counterintelligence Landscape in 2024 (31 min) with former NCSC Director William Evanina - Above Average Intelligence Podcast, 09 Sep 24

Former Counterintelligence czar Bill Evanina joins Marc to discuss our nation’s greatest CI challenges, to include the staggering threat from an aggressive Chinese communist party, what motivates Americans to betray their country and how to defend against traitors in our midst, and his leadership growth, from SWAT team member, the JTTF post 9/11, a unique rotation to CIA, and then leading the USG’s entire CI efforts. (Access here.)

Section IV - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

The CIA Intelligence Analyst: Views from the Inside
Roger Z. George, et al.
(Georgetown University Press, 02 Sep 24)

The common perception of a CIA officer is someone who collects secret intelligence abroad―a spy. However, the critical link between secrets and policy is the intelligence analyst. The CIA Intelligence Analyst brings to light the vital, but often-unseen, work of these officers. Roger Z. George, Robert Levine, and the contributors to this book demystify the profession of intelligence analyst at the CIA and describe how the wide array of analytic specialties―or "disciplines" in the language of the CIA―function. The disciplines range from political, economic, leadership, and military matters to science and technology, cyber, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence. Each of the chapters―written by former or current CIA analysts―discusses how analysts interact with those who collect raw intelligence. Just as important, the chapters describe the relationships analysts develop with the diverse set of policymakers who use CIA analyses. The contributors reveal the key intelligence questions that analysts address, their methods, their products, and their challenges. This book will be an invaluable resource for scholars of national security and intelligence who want to develop a fuller picture of the internal workings of the CIA and for those who are considering a career as an analyst.

Order book here.

Justice at the Margins of War: The Ethics of Espionage and Gray Zone Operations
by Edward Barrett
(Naval Institute Press, 15 Mar 23)

Justice at the Margins of War fills two important gaps in the literature on the ethics of national security affairs. First, while thinking about the justice of warfare is highly developed, justifications of intelligence activities—which can involve lying, manipulation, coercion, stealing and even killing to obtain and defend information—are relatively limited and often conflicting. The authors explore relevant ethical principles and then apply them to specific activities—including agent recruitment, human and technical methods of espionage and counterintelligence, interrogational torture, analysis, covert action, sabotage, and assassination. Second, ethical work on interstate conflict occurring in a “gray zone” between war and peace has only just begun. Gray zone operations—the use of low-level lethal and sublethal means to weaken others—are not new. But technological developments have increased the forms, intensity, and significance of this realm of competition. This volume defines the gray zone and discusses moral challenges associated with various operations—including lethal, economic, information, election, legal, and cyber.

Order book here.

National Security Mom: Why "Going Soft" Will Make America Strong
by Gina M. Bennett
(01 Oct 19)

"National Security Mom" offers the basics of current terrorism trends and national security policymaking from a parent's perspective. Written by a mother of five and 20-year veteran of counterterrorism in the US Intelligence Community, this book de-mystifies the underworld of terrorism and offers a unique comparison of how the super-secret intelligence approach to securing our nation is surprisingly similar to how parents secure their homes and families. By comparing the expertise parents gain while running their households to the skills required to govern, "National Security Mom" empowers America's parents to engage with confidence in the public national security debate. The simple premise, that everything we need to know about securing our nation we have learned from our family life, offers hope that no matter what security challenges America faces, our nation will be proud and secure. We need only follow the guidance we give our children, such as "clean up your own mess," "tell the truth," and "don't give in to a bully," to ensure our nation's welfare. Moms know that the most important lessons they teach their children will last a lifetime. Who better to entrust the security of our nation than mothers?

Order book here.

True Intelligence Matters on Film - Declassified: The Untold Stories of American Spies, S2 E6 - Crack 99: Defense Secrets for Sale - Domini Hofmann (2017)

A group of Homeland Security Investigations special agents work together with the elite Defense Criminal Investigative Service to identify and capture a Chinese software pirate who threatens US national security.

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

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

• The CIA-in-Chile Scandal at 50 - National Security Archive, 09 Sep 24
• Russia’s First Secret Influence Campaign: Convincing the U.S. to Buy Alaska - Politico, 08 Sep 24
• To Trick the Nazis, This Master of Deception Invented Fake Fleets and Armies - Smithsonian Magazine, 03 Sep 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

Bob Brotzman — Former NSA Executive

On September 5, 2024, Robert (Bob) L. Brotzman, 86, passed peacefully at home surrounded by members of his loving family. He was a brilliant man who paved his own way by entering into the Air Force, going to Yale and becoming fluent in Mandarin. He used those experiences as a steppingstone to eventually graduate from Ohio State University with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. He then moved to Maryland, and he worked at NSA throughout his career. He held many key positions, including the first director of the National Computer Security Center and the head of the Advanced Research Organization, which was an essential organization providing a foundation for the technical future of NSA with a focus on advanced mathematics and emerging communication systems. He was Chief of Station at Menwith Hill England and Chief Liaison in Australia. He testified before Congress, and you may have seen him in Newsweek. While working toward all these professional accomplishments, he stayed true to his roots and loved the outdoors. He retired from the Agency in 1995 with 30 years of service and was a past member of the Phoenix Society.

Edward Johnson — Decorated CIA Technical Officer and Key Member of Operation Argo Team

Edward B. Johnson, who as a CIA officer traveled into Iran with a colleague to rescue six American diplomats who had fled the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran, died Aug. 27 at his home in Chantilly, Va. He was 81. The cause was complications from Alzheimer’s disease and pneumonia, said his son Harold Johnson. Mr. Johnson’s identity for decades had been hidden from the public; he was referred to only by the pseudonym “Julio” after fellow CIA officer Tony Mendez published a book recounting the operation. The 2012 Academy Award-winning film “Argo,” directed by and starring Ben Affleck, did not include the second man on the team. In 2023, the CIA revealed Mr. Johnson’s identity in a podcast highlighting the agency’s work to free the diplomats hiding at the Canadian ambassador’s residence in Tehran. “Working with the six — these are rookies,” Mr. Johnson recounted in an interview aired by the podcast. “They were people who were not trained to lie to authorities. They weren’t trained to be clandestine, elusive.” Many specifics about Mr. Johnson’s professional life as a spy remain vague, as much of what is publicly known about him comes from that CIA podcast, called “The Langley Files.” Edward Bernard Johnson was born in Brooklyn on July 29, 1943, and he grew up on Huntington Station, on Long Island. His mother was an elementary school teacher, and his father was an accountant. He received a bachelor’s degree in French at what is now Assumption University in Worcester, Mass., and then served in the Army based in the United States during the Vietnam War. With a lifelong interest in travel, history and culture, he briefly taught English in Saudi Arabia and received a master’s degree in French at the Sorbonne in 1971 before being hired by the CIA. Mr. Johnson was serving in the CIA’s Office of Technical Service overseas at the time of the hostage crisis. It began when Islamist students came over the fence at the sprawling U.S. Embassy compound in downtown Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979. While the storming was initially planned to end in a sit-in, as a previous one did, it soon became a 444-day hostage crisis. Six U.S. Embassy employees, however, slipped away amid the chaos. They ended up in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Several plans came and went before President Jimmy Carter agreed to what became known as the “Canadian Caper” — in which the officials posed as part of a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a fake, knockoff “Star Wars” film called “Argo.” Armed with Canadian passports, Mendez pretended to be a Canadian while Mr. Johnson was “an associate producer representing our production company’s ostensible South American backers,” Mendez later recounted in an internal CIA document. He described Mr. Johnson as having “considerable exfiltration experience” during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, without elaborating. Landing in Tehran on Jan. 25, 1980, the men ended up using a local map to try to find the Canadian Embassy. They ended up at the Swedish Embassy — just across the street from the U.S. Embassy, patrolled by armed students. A local embassy guard did not understand them, as neither man spoke Iran’s Farsi language — a conscious decision made by the CIA not to raise suspicions as its Farsi-language experts might be recognized. Then one of the student revolutionaries walked over. As a conversation progressed, the men realized the student spoke German after studying abroad for a year. Mr. Johnson ended up getting written directions from the student, who even hailed a taxi for them and refused a tip. “I have to thank the Iranians for being the beacon who got us to the right place,” Mr. Johnson said. The men ended up with the six Americans, providing them scripts, props, fake histories and training on how to pretend to be a film crew. Mr. Johnson and Mendez worked on final preparations on the passports and exit slips. “The biggest thing I think we did was to was to convince them that you can, you can do it — as simple as that,” Mr. Johnson remembered. On Jan. 28, 1980, the CIA officers and the six Americans flew safely out of Tehran on a Swissair flight. Both Mr. Johnson and Mendez received the CIA’s Intelligence Star, its second-highest award for valor, for the operation. Mr. Johnson retired from the CIA in 1995. He was stationed in West Germany and Northern Virginia for long stretches of his career.

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 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

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.