Weekly Intelligence Notes

14 -19 November 2024
(Issue 44)

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

• 'Spy dolphin' fled Russian army, but was not a spy after all - RTL News, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Russian spy ship warning as expert says 'this is how Putin seeks revenge on UK' - Express, 16 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Spy Agency Memo Sets Rules for Artificial Intelligence and Americans’ Private Data - New York Times, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• China Sought ex-Military Intelligence Officials’ Views on Foreign Spies in Myanmar: Report - Irrawaddy, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Trump skips FBI background checks for controversial cabinet picks - The Guardian, 15 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• 51 Biden laptop deniers in danger of losing security clearances - Washington Times, 13 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Trump has promised to overhaul U.S. intelligence, setting up collision course with spy agencies - PBS, 12 Nov 24
• ‘We Are Reeling’: Trump’s Pick of Tulsi Gabbard Alarms Intelligence Community - Time, 15 Nov 24
• Key Intelligence Watchdogs Resign in Wake of Trump’s Win - Project on Government Oversight, 18 Nov 24
• US signs long-sought intelligence sharing deal with the Philippines  - Defense News, 18 Nov 24

Special Collections

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

• Spies like them: The intelligence war between Iran, Israel - Aljazeera, 16 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Daniel Rogers: New CSIS Head Faces Foreign Meddling, Agency Reform - Grey Dynamics, 16 Nov 24
• Profiles in intelligence: an interview with the 17th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon - Intelligence and National Security, 12 Nov 24
• Ongoing staff shortages handicap Australia’s peak intelligence oversight body - Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 15 Nov 24
• Enabling CIA’s Global Reach: CIA’s Directorate of Support - CIA, 13 Nov 24
• Bureau of Intelligence and Research: David of the US Intelligence Community - Grey Dynamics, 14 Nov 24

• How Trump can fix the broken intelligence community - by Former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler, 14 Nov 24
• Trump Makes HUGE Decision On Future Of The CIA - with former CIA Officer Kevin Shipp - The First TV Podcast, 13 Nov 24
• The World Trump Will Face: No Stability Here by Former CIA Chief of East Asia Operations Joe DeTrani - Cipher Brief, 13 Nov 24
• Does the West Have ‘Red Lines’ In Ukraine? by former CIA Executive Glen Corn - Cipher Brief, 18 Nov 24
• What President Elect Donald Trump will mean for Global Security and Stability (27 mins) with Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service Officer Neil Bisson - Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap Up Podcast, 15 Nov 24

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

• Besieged Beachhead: The Cold War Battle for Cuba at the Bay of Pigs by J.J. Valdes (05 Nov 24)


• The Umbrella Murder: The Hunt for the Cold War's Most Notorious Killer by Ulrik Skotte (11 July 24)


• Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator Jung H. Pak (28 Apr 20)

True Intelligence Matters on Film: Declassified: The Untold Stories of American Spies, S3 E8 - Operation Firewall: The Takedown of Shadowcrew - Domini Hofmann (2017)

Intelligence in Pop Culture - Declassified US Spy Satellite Images Reveal Ancient Battle Site to Archaeologists - Newsweek, 11 Nov 24

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

• FREE: New Online Workshop "How to Write a Killer Intelligence Report" - Grey Dynamics, released 06 Nov 24
• Call for Collaboration: AFIO member seeks help establishing YouTube channel focused on Russian and Chinese influence operations.
• Internship Opportunity: International private intelligence company accepting applications for analyst internship program.
• Call for Information: Child of former CIA Commo Officer Walter E. MacLeod seeks information about father's life and work.
• Call for Intelligence Studies Course Syllabi: Florida International University adjunct professor tasked with creating a new course is in search of existing syllabi to help build new content.
• Call for Interviews: Documentary film executive seeking extraordinary, true story material.
• 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.

Employment

• Assistant Professor in Intelligence and National Security Studies - University of Texas, El Paso
• 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

• Thursday, 21 November 2024 11:30 AM MT – Colorado Springs - The AFIO Rocky Mountain Chapter hosts Dr. Jim Steiner, former CIA, on "Intelligence Support to the NSC in deciding to go to war: Kosovo, 9/11, and today"

Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

• 21 Nov 24, 1200-1300 (ET) – Online – Inside Intelligence presents "Russia's War Against the West" – Johns Hopkins University
• Saturday, 23 November 2024, 10 AM – Washington, DC – Members-Only Event: Virginia Hall Exhibit – In-Person International Spy Museum Program.
• 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.

- NO WIN NEXT WEEK -

The Weekly Intelligence Notes will be on break during the week of Thanksgiving. There will not be an issue published on 26 November. Publication will resume on 03 December. Happy Turkey Day, from the editorial team at AFIO.

- AFIO ON THE WEB -

The International Spy Museum on 17 October featured AFIO Board Member John Quatrrocki interviewing AFIO Member Raymond J. Batvinis about his latest book, Agent Link: The Spy Erased from History (Rowman and Littlefield, 15 Apr 24).
Access the 83 minute recorded video event here.

AFIO Exclusive Content

Barry Werth
discusses his book
Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War

Recorded: 01 Aug 2024
Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes
Duration: 28 minutes, including Q&A

Werth discusses the remarkable true story of the longest-held prisoner of war in American history, John Downey, Jr., a CIA officer who was captured in China during the Korean War and imprisoned for twenty-one years.

Purchase "Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey's Cold War" here.

Access the video interview here or click above image.

Book Review of the Month
(November 2024)

Baker Institute for Public Policy Non-Resident Scholar
Richard J. Killroy, Jr., PhD.
provides a comparative review of two works:

  

FBI Agent’s Insider Account of the Spy Who Evaded Detection for 17 Years (Peter J. Lapp, 2023)

Code Name Blue Wren:  The True Story of America’s Most Dangerous Female Spy and the Sister She Betrayed (Jim Popkin, 2023)

Access review here.

AFIO Now Podcasts Presents: Barry Broman
author, producer, photographer, former Marine,
CIA Clandestine Service Officer, Station Chief, Diplomat

Barry Broman, author, producer, photographer, former Marine, CIA Clandestine Service Officer, Station Chief, and Diplomat discusses his career with AFIO President, James Hughes. Broman details his experience as a Marine fighting in Vietnam, with Air America, joining the CIA, serving as Chief of Station, and supervising an international paramilitary project in support of the Cambodian resistance to Vietnamese invaders. Tune in today to listen to Barry Broman and James Hughes discuss the fascinating people he met, places he has been, and his visits to little-known and rarely seen places like the Naga Hills on the India-Burma border.

Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.

Interview: 11 July 2024.

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 2024 and 2023, 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.

Espionage-themed Walking Tours
in Washington D.C. and New York City
by Spyher Tours and Events

Spyher walking tours in Washington D.C. and New York City offered Wednesday - Sunday and available to book on Eventbrite: Georgetown Spy Tour, Embassy Row Spy Tour, Capitol Hill Spy Tour, Arlington National Cemetery CIA Memorial Wall Tour, SpyKids Mission Training, and The Spies of Wall Street. Visit Spyher to read more about our hosts and tours. Contact us to schedule a private event. Use promo code AFIOSPYTOUR for a 15% discount.

Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)

General Interests

'Spy dolphin' fled Russian army, but was not a spy after all - RTL News, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)

Hvaldimir, as he was affectionately known to Norwegians, first surfaced in Norwegian waters in 2019. At the time, he was wearing a harness that suggested Russia was using the beluga dolphin for espionage. The harness could be used to attach a camera and the equipment was marked in English as 'Equipment St Petersburg'. Zookeepers also pointed out that the beluga whale showed "atypical behavior": it was not shy of people, a sign that it was used to people and had probably lived in captivity for a long time. Now, scientist Olga Shpak claims that the white dolphin was indeed trained by the Russian military, but not as a spy. Shpak tells the BBC that Hvaldimir was probably trained to help secure a Russian naval base. But he allegedly fled the training because he was "like a hooligan." (Read more here.)

Russian spy ship warning as expert says 'this is how Putin seeks revenge on UK' - Express, 16 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)

Vladimir Putin has sent his spy ship into the seas around the UK to map vital undersea cables and other important infrastructure as a naval expert warns “this is how Russia will take revenge on the UK." Iain Ballantyne was speaking after Royal Navy vessels HMS Iron Duke and tanker RFA Tideforce shadowed a total of three Russian vessels, led by new frigate Admiral Golovko, through the English Channel. However, while two of the vessels continued heading south, the third, Yantar, then took a different course, north through the Irish Sea, briefly making her presence public by turning on her Automatic Identification System (AIS). Mr Ballantyne, the editor of Warships International Fleet Review magazine, told Express.co.uk: "Undersea sabotage and espionage is an area of Russian naval activity in which they currently have a considerable edge over the UK and likely NATO overall. (Full article here.)

Spy Agency Memo Sets Rules for Artificial Intelligence and Americans’ Private Data - New York Times, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)

A previously confidential directive by Biden administration lawyers lays out how military and spy agencies must handle personal information about Americans when using artificial intelligence, showing how the officials grappled with trade-offs between civil liberties and national security. The results of that internal debate also underscore the constraints and challenges the government faces in issuing rules that keep pace with rapid advances in technology, particularly in electronic surveillance and related areas of computer-assisted intelligence gathering and analysis. (Full article here.)

China Sought ex-Military Intelligence Officials’ Views on Foreign Spies in Myanmar: Report - Irrawaddy, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)

The reason behind an October meeting in Beijing between former intelligence officials from the previous Myanmar military regime and Chinese think tanks was that China wants to understand the extent of infiltration by anti-Chinese intelligence agencies, including the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Taiwanese agencies, within Myanmar, a former intelligence officer told the pro-junta weekly The Statesman. Ahead of Myanmar regime leader Min Aung Hlaing’s visit in early November, former Military Intelligence (MI) officials ex-Brigadier General Thein Swe and ex-Colonel Hla Min met members of the Charhar Institute and the Taihe Institute in Beijing. They met the think tanks in their respective capacities as chairman and special counsel to the chairman of the Paragon Institute. (Access here.)

Trump skips FBI background checks for controversial cabinet picks – report - The Guardian, 15 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)

Donald Trump’s transition team has bypassed standard background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on some of his controversial cabinet nominees, it has been reported, minimising the chances of them being rejected for Senate confirmation based on any past transgressions or conflicts of interest. Such background checks – a longstanding tradition for incoming presidential nominations dating back decades to the early cold war – have instead been outsourced to private investigators. The revelation, first reported by CNN, came as shock waves reverberate in Washington from at least three of Trump’s proposed appointees, Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr for attorney general, director of national intelligence and health secretary respectively. (Access here.)

51 Biden laptop deniers in danger of losing security clearances - Washington Times, 13 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)

Several Republican lawmakers want Congress to strip the security clearances of dozens of former U.S. intelligence officials who worked against President Trump in 2020 by asserting that information in the laptop of Hunter Biden was likely Russian disinformation. Republicans have called for accountability from the 51 intelligence officials who were accused of helping Democratic presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden, Mr. Trump’s opponent in 2020, by issuing a joint letter stating that the information in the laptop bore the hallmarks of an operation by Moscow. Hunter Biden is the president’s oft-troubled son, and the FBI later verified the authenticity of the scandalous material in the laptop. (Access here.)

Trump has promised to overhaul U.S. intelligence, setting up collision course with spy agencies - PBS, 12 Nov 24

Donald Trump has long viewed the nation’s spy services with suspicion, accusing them of trying to undermine his first term and campaigns. Now that he’s returning to the White House, Trump’s promises to overhaul the U.S. intelligence agencies put him on a collision course with one of most secretive and powerful parts of government. For the CIA and other intelligence agencies, the start of Trump’s second administration is a way to reset an often challenging relationship with a leader who has in the past dismissed them as the deepest of the deep state — Trump’s label for the thousands of career federal employees that carry out the work of government regardless of who is president. (Access here.)

‘We Are Reeling’: Trump’s Pick of Tulsi Gabbard Alarms Intelligence Community  - Time, 15 Nov 24

Robert F. Kennedy. Matt Gaetz. Pete Hegseth. The flurry of announcements this week from Donald Trump revealing his planned cabinet for a second term have drawn stunned responses across the federal government. In the intelligence community, the alarm has focused on Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick to be the next Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard, a former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, has no background in intelligence and a history of making statements about countries like Russia and Syria that have raised questions about her judgment. If Trump gets his way, Gabbard will be tasked with overseeing the country’s 16 other intelligence agencies, and some of the country’s most secret national security programs. “We are all reeling,” said a current intelligence official who’s worked through multiple administrations. (Access here.)

Key Intelligence Watchdogs Resign in Wake of Trump’s Win  - Project on Government Oversight, 18 Nov 24

The top watchdogs for the Central Intelligence Agency and Office of the Director of National Intelligence are leaving their roles in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s re-election, sources tell the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) and their agencies confirm. These departures come as unease has swept across the federal inspector general community, which anticipates the possibility of a purge of senior watchdog officials by the incoming Trump administration. Appointed by the president and housed within executive agencies, inspectors general investigate waste, fraud, and abuse of power and are responsible for reporting wrongdoing both to agency directors and to Congress. Oversight by inspectors general has long been considered to be more important when both the executive branch and Congress are under control of the same political party. One of the departing inspectors general, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s Thomas Monheim, first took his watchdog role after Trump fired his predecessor Michael Atkinson in the spring of 2020. Atkinson had transmitted a whistleblower complaint to Congress that sparked Trump’s first impeachment in 2019. (Access here.)

US signs long-sought intelligence sharing deal with the Philippines  - Defense News, 18 Nov 24

The U.S. and the Philippines finished an agreement on how to share classified information, firming the foundation for their militaries to operate together. The deal, known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, is in essence a leveling floor. It enforces a basic set of standards for how the two countries handle classified information, making it easier for America to share such data in times of need. “We see the Philippines as a full partner now,” a U.S. defense official said. Washington and Manila have been negotiating the deal for more than two years, as part of a larger effort to make their militaries closer partners. Until a few years ago, the Philippines had been drifting toward China, concerned that the U.S. was a haphazard ally. That changed in 2022 with the election of Ferdinand Marcos jr, the Philippines’ current, pro-American president. During his term Manila has granted the U.S. military access to new sites in the country’s north, expanded their yearly exercises and agreed to host equipment like Typhon, a missile launcher that’s caught the attention, and ire, of China. (Access here.)

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

• Ciolacu says that Simion is not a Russian spy, but sources from Moldova and Ukraine claim that he had contacts with FSB agents - Observator, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• CIA Official Arrested for Intelligence Leak on Israeli Plans to Strike Iran - Wall Street Journal, 13 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating Espionage Act - CBS News, 12 Oct 24
• France’s former intelligence chief accused of spying for Louis Vuitton billionaire - The Telegraph, 13 Nov 24
• Romania investigates presidential candidate for ties with Russian intelligence - New Voice of Ukraine, 14 Nov 24

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

• Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort, FBI says - Associated Press, 13 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• How Italy became an unexpected spyware hub - The Record, 14 Nov 24 (Member Contribution
• CISA no more? Rand Paul has a plan, and it’s not good for US cyber defenders - Cyber News, 15 Nov 24
• China's Hacker Army Outshines America - Newsweek, 12 Nov 24
• More Spyware, Fewer Rules: What Trump's Return Means for US Cybersecurity - Wired, 14 Nov 24

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

• The CIA and the elites: How political theory shaped covert action - Tom Griffin on Intelligence History, 17 Nov 24
• Russia suspected over damage to Baltic Sea telecoms cable - The Times, 18 Nov 24
• Famous Ballet Dancer And Putin Critic Vladimir Shklyarov Falls Out Of Building, Dies - Daily Caller, 18 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• The death of a Russian defector: Who failed Maxim Kuzminov? - Politico, 18 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Dutch Authorities Pass the Guilder on Antisemitic Violence at Amsterdam, as Attention Turns to Iran’s Role in the Riots - New York Sun, 12 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)
• Expect More Covert Action Under Trump - Lawfare, 15 Nov 24
• London Russian TV chef found dead in Belgrade hotel - BBC, 12 Nov 24
• Russia continues to subvert democracy in Moldova and Georgia - The Hill, 15 Nov 24
• Poland Arrests Belarusian Suspected Of Attempted Sabotage - Barrons, 13 Nov 24

Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

Spies like them: The intelligence war between Iran, Israel - Aljazeera, 16 Nov 24 (Member Contribution)

The charging of CIA official Asif Rahman for allegedly leaking US intelligence of Israeli preparations for retaliatory strikes on Iran in October has brought into open view the shadow war of espionage and counterespionage that has raged between actors locked in a regional conflict for decades. The Iran-based Telegram channel Rahman is accused of leaking to disavows any connection with Iran’s government, but that the affair has embarrassed a US administration reeling from an earlier conviction of another of its officers, Jack Teixeira, for leaking Pentagon papers is undeniable. The Rahman leak provides a glimpse into the murky interplay of Iranian, Israeli and US spy agencies that have helped shape the current conflict and, almost as importantly, our perception of it. (Access here.)

Daniel Rogers: New CSIS Head Faces Foreign Meddling, Agency Reform - Grey Dynamics, 16 Nov 24

Daniel Rogers took over as Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)* on 28 October 2024. Among the challenges facing him are an increase in foreign interference in Canadian affairs from both the Chinese and Indian governments, which critics blame on intelligence failures–and acts of violence inside Canada’s borders. Additionally, the spy agency has battled internal scandals, including ones involving harassment and sexual assault, which former CSIS Director David Vigneault failed to resolve before stepping down from his position in July. (Access here.)

Profiles in intelligence: an interview with the 17th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon - Intelligence and National Security, 12 Nov 24

During the summer of 2023, I conducted an interview with Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon, a veteran of over 30 years in key roles within the Israeli Defense Forces. As a leading authority on national security and intelligence, Ya’alon provided critical insights, particularly regarding the intelligence failures of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and how these failures inform present-day security dilemmas. Although this interview was conducted three months before the surprise Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, Ya’alon stressed the significance of lessons from previous conflicts and significant geopolitical developments. He also underscored the importance of cultural and emotional factors in intelligence failures and the dynamics of Israel’s relations with the Five Eyes alliance, offering insights that illuminate some of the challenges Israel would encounter three months later. This interview is part of an ongoing oral history project designed to gather diverse perspectives on intelligence and national security leadership in Israel, enhancing our understanding of the security dilemmas of the Middle East and the world of espionage. (Access here.)

Ongoing staff shortages handicap Australia’s peak intelligence oversight body - Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 15 Nov 24

Staffing levels at Australia’s peak intelligence oversight body are regressing, impeding its ability to ensure that national security agencies operate as intended within our democratic framework of institutions and laws. Without enough people, the organisation, the Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, cannot monitor the agencies and assure ministers, Parliament and the public of their effective and legal operation. Its 2023–24 annual report, released in September, revealed that staffing was below target and falling. The office has extensive powers of investigation and access, including conducting inquiries, undertaking inspections and investigating complaints and public interest disclosures. Its powers are legislated under the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 and are critical to oversight of Australia’s National Intelligence Community. (Full article here.)

Enabling CIA’s Global Reach: CIA’s Directorate of Support - CIA, 13 Nov 24

The backbone of CIA’s mission. The glue that binds the Agency. These are two apt descriptions for the Directorate of Support (DS) with its core responsibilities and vast networks. CIA support specialists carry out essential day-to-day functions, at Headquarters and abroad, from maintaining facilities to protecting officers and helping them navigate challenges. They are also relied upon to manage the Agency’s funds, provide medical services, and procure and deliver supplies and equipment – even for sensitive covert operations. Whenever a new crisis erupts somewhere in the world, support officers remain ready to react at a moment’s notice to make the mission possible. (Access here.)

Bureau of Intelligence and Research: David of the US Intelligence Community - Grey Dynamics, 14 Nov 24

With fewer than 500 employees, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) is the smallest member of the United States intelligence community (IC). As an element of the US State Department, its main mission is to provide all-source intelligence analysis to the Secretary of State and US diplomats in support US foreign policy. Due to its small size but the fact that it punches above its weight, the INR is comparable to the biblical figure of David who slays Goliath. Contrary to the mission of other US intelligence agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), INR is chiefly an analytical institution and does not engage in espionage (intelligence collection), counterintelligence, or covert action. It produces more than 2000 analytic products annually, including contributions to the President’s Daily Brief (PDB). Despite its size, INR has often stood out for the quality of its analysis. (Access here.)

Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

(Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives
and Recent Endeavors)

How Trump can fix the broken intelligence community - by Former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler, 14 Nov 24

On Jan. 20, President-elect Donald Trump will reenter the White House with a once-in-a-generation mandate to reform our bloated federal bureaucracy. No part of Washington needs reform more urgently than the Intelligence Community (IC). Today, the IC is broken. But if Trump wishes to remake the IC, rendering it more effective while getting it out of partisan politics, there’s a way to do so successfully. First, Trump should implement payback smartly. Trump, who holds grudges, wants to settle scores with the IC after its mistreatment of him during his last term in office. He’s right to feel as he does. In a manner that was unprecedented in American history, some intelligence bosses colluded with Democrats to smear Trump as a Russian pawn. This culminated in the infamous collaboration between IC bigwigs (mostly retired), Democrats, and tech moguls, to suppress discussion of Hunter Biden’s notorious laptop on the eve of the 2020 election. (Access here.)

Trump Makes HUGE Decision On Future Of The CIA - with former CIA Officer Kevin Shipp - The First TV Podcast, 13 Nov 24

President-elect Donald Trump has made a big decision regarding the future of the CIA. Jesse Kelly gets reaction from former CIA officer Kevin Shipp. (Access here.)

The World Trump Will Face: No Stability Here by Former CIA Chief of East Asia Operations Joe DeTrani - Cipher Brief, 13 Nov 24

The so-called “Axis of Authoritarian” states – Russia, China, Iran and North Korea – pose an immediate threat to the international world order. Each is a dictatorship fomenting unrest in East Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Each tried to influence our November 5th elections. They failed. How ironic, however, that the official Chinese Communist Party news wire service, Xinhua, ran a series of essays highlighting what it described as eight problems with the U.S. election cycle, according to the Washington Times Threat Status. There is no democracy in China; no elections permitting the people to elect their representatives and their leader, Xi Jinping. Nonetheless, their state-run news agency sees fit to criticize our democratic system, where the people make these leadership decisions. The same can be said for Russia, with their bogus elections, and Iran with its ruling theocracy and North Korea, with the ruling Kim dynasty. (Access here.)

Does the West Have ‘Red Lines’ In Ukraine? by former CIA Executive Glen Corn - Cipher Brief, 18 Nov 24

In September 2024, I was part of a small delegation that visited Ukraine to study the situation on the ground in that country, try to understand first-hand how Ukraine’s war to defend itself against Russia’s aggression was going, and gauge the will of the Ukrainian people to continue fighting this terrible conflict. On the eve of our arrival in Kyiv, there was a lot of talk among “Ukraine watchers” that the Biden administration was getting ready to lift the Washington-imposed restrictions on how Kyiv could use weapons provided by the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to defend itself. Many believed that a visit by Secretary of State Blinken to Kyiv would bring with it the much-awaited lifting of restrictions, something most Ukrainians were hoping for. But for every “action” there is a “reaction,” and in this case the Kremlin’s “action” was designed to turn Washington’s “action” into “inaction.” Now those restrictions have been lifted – but back then, before Blinken even arrived in Kyiv, Moscow started to fill the information space with threats. Vladimir Putin made it clear that any use of Western-weapons systems against Russian forces on Russian territory would cross the Kremlin’s “red line.” (Access here.)

What President Elect Donald Trump will mean for Global Security and Stability (27 mins) with Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service Officer Neil Bisson - Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap Up Podcast, 15 Nov 24

This special episode of Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap-Up delivers in-depth analysis of President-elect Donald Trump’s appointments and policies—and how they will reshape global security and stability when he takes office in January. Neil Bisson provides expert insights into the ripple effects that every country must prepare for in this pivotal moment.  (Access here.)

Section IV - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Besieged Beachhead: The Cold War Battle for Cuba at the Bay of Pigs
by J.J. Valdes
(Stackpole Books, 05 Nov 24)

On New Year’s Day 1959, Fidel Castro’s revolutionary movement overthrew the ruling regime in Cuba, bringing the Cold War to the United States’ doorstep and setting the island nation and its superpower neighbor on a collision course. The clash came in April 1961 on the southern coast of Cuba at the Bahía de Cochinos—the Bay of Pigs. In an hour-by-hour chronicle that is as even-handed as it is dramatic, J. J. Valdés gets to the heart of this Cold War battle, from the beaches and skies of Cuba to the corridors of power in Washington and Havana. Long entangled in Cuba’s economy and politics, the United States watched Castro’s revolution carefully and grew wary as Castro drew closer to the Soviet Union. Within a few months, the CIA, with President Dwight Eisenhower’s approval, was recruiting and training Cuban exiles for a paramilitary force to topple Castro. By early 1960, when John F. Kennedy became president after campaigning on a hard line on Cuba, policymakers believed the window for action was closing. Kennedy gave the go-ahead for the island’s invasion, but not before ordering changes, aimed at concealing American involvement, that weakened the operation. Early on April 17, 1961, 1,400 men of Brigade 2506—Cuban exiles trained by the CIA in Guatemala—began landing at the Bay of Pigs, just over 100 miles southeast of Havana. Nearly everything went wrong. Boat engines failed. Coral reefs snarled landing craft. Castro’s planes destroyed ships carrying vital ammunition and medical supplies. Expected popular support within Cuba did not materialize. Khrushchev rattled the nuclear saber, spooking Kennedy from ordering assistance he was reluctant to provide anyway. Over the course of three days, the Brigade obstinately defended a rapidly shrinking beachhead, but the exiles—outnumbered and under supported —were no match for the air and ground forces Castro threw against them. By April 19, the invasion had failed and 1,200 scattered survivors were captured over the ensuing days. What had been intended as a Cold War masterstroke ended in embarrassment for the U.S. The Bay of Pigs disaster would set the stage for the Cuban Missile Crisis eighteen months later and shape U.S.-Cuba relations up until the present. Decades in the making, Besieged Beachhead draws from English and Spanish sources in the United States and Cuba to tell the story of this conflict as it has never been told before. Along the way, the work sheds light on events that have been shrouded in secrecy, myth, and propaganda for six decades.

Order book here.

The Umbrella Murder: The Hunt for the Cold War's Most Notorious Killer
by Ulrik Skotee
(J.B. Lippincott, 24 May 24)

London, September 1978: exiled Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov is murdered in broad daylight on Waterloo Bridge with what appears to be a poison-tipped umbrella. It would become the most infamous unsolved killing of the Cold War. Many years later, young journalist Ulrik Skotte is approached with explosive new information about a man alleged to be responsible for Markov’s death – a spy code-named Piccadilly who worked for the Bulgarian secret service. This meeting launched Skotte into a hunt for the killer lasting more than a quarter of a century, bringing him face to face with eccentric conspiracy theorists, a washed-up former dictator, ageing Danish spooks – and, ultimately, with Agent Piccadilly himself. Drawing on an incredible cache of original documents, interviews and archive material, The Umbrella Murder provides jaw-dropping answers to questions that have persisted for nearly five decades: who killed Georgi Markov? And who has been protecting the assassin ever since?

Order book here.

Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator
by Jung H. Pak
(Balantine Books, 28 Apr 20)

When Kim Jong Un became the leader of North Korea following his father's death in 2011, predictions about his imminent fall were rife. North Korea was isolated, poor, unable to feed its people, and clinging to its nuclear program for legitimacy. Surely this twentysomething with a bizarre haircut and no leadership experience would soon be usurped by his elders. Instead, the opposite happened. Now in his midthirties, Kim Jong Un has solidified his grip on his country and brought the United States and the region to the brink of war. Still, we know so little about him—or how he rules. Enter former CIA analyst Jung Pak, whose brilliant Brookings Institution essay “The Education of Kim Jong Un” cemented her status as the go-to authority on the calculating young leader. From the beginning of Kim’s reign, Pak has been at the forefront of shaping U.S. policy on North Korea and providing strategic assessments for leadership at the highest levels in the government. Now, in this masterly book, she traces and explains Kim’s ascent on the world stage, from his brutal power-consolidating purges to his abrupt pivot toward diplomatic engagement that led to his historic—and still poorly understood—summits with President Trump. She also sheds light on how a top intelligence analyst assesses thorny national security problems: avoiding biases, questioning assumptions, and identifying risks as well as opportunities. In piecing together Kim’s wholly unique life, Pak argues that his personality, perceptions, and preferences are underestimated by Washington policy wonks, who assume he sees the world as they do. As the North Korean nuclear threat grows, Becoming Kim Jong Un gives readers the first authoritative, behind-the-scenes look at Kim’s character and motivations, creating an insightful biography of the enigmatic man who could rule the hermit kingdom for decades—and has already left an indelible imprint on world history.

Order book here.

True Intelligence Matters on Film - Declassified: The Untold Stories of American Spies, S3 E8 - Operation Firewall: The Takedown of Shadowcrew - Domini Hofmann (2017)

During the early years of the internet, the United States Secret Service conducts a groundbreaking mission to take down one of the first criminal hacker groups - Shadowcrew.

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

Intelligence in Pop Culture - Declassified US Spy Satellite Images Reveal Ancient Battle Site to Archaeologists - Newsweek, 11 Nov 24

Researchers have identified a "hugely significant" ancient battle site with the help of declassified U.S. spy satellite images. A team of archaeologists from the U.K.'s Durham University and Iraq's University of al-Qadisiyah have identified what they believe to be the location of the battle, which played an important role in Islamic and world history. The team places the likely location of the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, which took place in roughly A.D. 636/7, around 19 miles south of Kufa, a city in Iraq's Najaf governorate, a study published in the journal Antiquity reports. The battle saw the Arab Muslim forces of the Rashidun Caliphate decisively defeat the Sasanian Empire of ancient Persia. The early Arab conquests in the seventh and eighth centuries rapidly expanded Islamic rule across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as parts of Central Asia and Europe. Arab armies defeated the weakened Byzantine and Sasanian empires, bringing vast territories under the control of the Rashidun Caliphate and later the Umayyad Caliphate. (Read more here.)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

• An OSS Memoir Reborn with Jacek Waliszewski (63 mins) - Spycraft 101 Podcast, 16 Nov 24
• The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat (33 mins) - The Spy Who Podcast, 18 Nov 24
• How the Need for Direct Cryptologic Military Support Helped Establish NSA’s Cryptologic Centers - NSA, 15 Nov 24
• Greek Spy Agency Releases 50-year-old Cyprus Invasion Documents - Barrons, 13 Nov 24
• Virginia Hall - U.K. National Archives, 15 Nov 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

Bill Hardy — Former Army Security Agency and CIA Officer

Rennie William “Bill” Hardy of Jacksonville, FL was born August 3, 1942 in Valdosta, GA to Daniel Luther Hardy Sr and M Eunice Hardy. He passed peacefully on November 7, 2024 in Pittsboro, NC at the age of 82. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, as well as his brothers and sisters, Daniel Hardy Jr, John Wayne Hardy, Emma Laurie Smith, and Margaret Booth. He is survived by his daughter, Brandi Plants (Rick Plants) and two grandsons, Devin Plants (Breonna Plants) and Griffin Plants, as well as his nieces, Janet Scott and Ellen Hardy, and his nephew Terry Smith. He also leaves behind multiple generations of great-(and great-great-) nieces and nephews, who loved their Uncle Rennie dearly. Bill grew up in Valdosta and started working as a DJ at WJEM at age 16, after being recruited by JC Johnson. Once he graduated high school, he joined the army, where he served for 3 years in the Army Security Agency. Then upon returning stateside, he resumed his gig as a DJ—this time at WVLD—and it was through the airwaves that he met his first wife, Molly Huckaby Hardy, whom he married in November 1965. As soon as he completed his BA in History and Political Science studies at Valdosta State University (then Valdosta State College), they moved to McLean, VA and he joined the CIA, where he continued to work (at a variety of posts across Asia) until he retired to Jacksonville, FL in the early 1990s. He and Molly had one daughter, before later divorcing in 1978. Eventually he married his second wife, Alice Wong, in the early 1980s, though they also amicably parted ways by 1988. As someone who spent decades of his life in Asia, Bill started collecting Chinese and Japanese porcelain and in that time accumulated a vast knowledge on the subject, including the various porcelain marks. After retirement, he could often be found browsing antique shops up and down the east coast, making many new friends in the antiquing community while looking for his favorite patterns. He also spent time doing appraisals, regularly answering questions on Asian arts from collectors and sellers, and helping with translations and mark identification for several books on the subject.

Sy LeDoux, II — Lifetime AFIO Member

LeDoux II, Sylvester P. "Sy" passed on 08 November 2024. Beloved companion of Catherine Pobanz. Survived by three sisters. Dear Uncle of many nieces and nephews, especially Robert (Michelle) Schifferli. Also survived by many loving family members and friends. The family will receive friends at the C. Mertz and Son Funeral Home, Inc., 911 Englewood Ave. on Wednesday, November 13th from 4 to 7 PM. Where a Funeral Service will immediately follow at 7 PM. Please share condolences at www.mertzfh.com.

Ed Brumi — Arab Linguist and Phoenix Society Member

Edward H. Brumit, 89, died peacefully after battling a lengthy illness on June 3rd, 2024, in Crofton, Maryland. Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, Edward enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, which he served proudly for 20 years, including Vietnam War service, for which he earned a Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, and attained the rank of Master Seargent. He then did 30 years of service in the Department of Defense as an Arabic linguist, including many overseas tours. He retired in 1995. One of his proudest achievements was, as the first Marine to complete language professionalization on active duty, to later establish the Military Cryptologic Continuing Education Program (MCCEP), which continues today, having mentored many linguists. He was a former member of the Phoenix Society.

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

• FREE - New Online Intelligence Reports Workshop Grey Dynamics in November launched a free online workshop on writing intelligence reports. Led by a former DIA and J2 analyst. Advance Your Intelligence Skills? The Intelligence Cycle Fundamentals course equips you with the tools, techniques, and hands-on experience to turn raw data into meaningful insights. Whether you’re just starting out or advancing your expertise, this course gives you everything you need to produce solid finished intelligence products. More information and registration here.
• Call for Collaboration: AFIO member seeks a collaborator with YouTube technical expertise to launch a channel that will highlight specific examples of Russian and Chinese misinformation. Please contact Greg Rushford at gregrushford@gmail.com.
• Internship Opportunity: U.K.-based private intelligence company Grey Dynamics is accepting applications for its analyst internship program. Excellent resume building experience for aspiring intel analysts and, for intelligence studies students (and graduates) who are interested in analysis and writing, a great entry-level opportunity to exercise your skills in a real editorial and publication setting. See full details and application instructions here.


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


• Call for Intelligence Studies Course Syllabi: An adjunct professor in the criminology department at Florida International University in Miami is developing a course in intelligence studies for the school and would welcome the opportunity to review syllabi used by other intel studies teachers. If you have a syllabus that you are willing to share, contact Salvador Rivas at salvador.rivas@fiu.edu or (786) 547-0428.


• 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 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.

Jobs

• Assistant Professor in Intelligence and National Security Studies - University of Texas, El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies in the Department of Criminal Justice and Security Studies. We seek applicants with demonstrated research expertise in one or more of these areas: Open-Source Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Cyberwarfare, or Intelligence Analysis. Successful candidates will indicate how they can contribute to establishing and growing UTEP's Open-Source Intelligence Center. More information about our program and dynamic campus, as well as application materials, can be found here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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

Thursday, 21 November 2024 11:30 AM MT – Colorado Springs - The AFIO Rocky Mountain Chapter hosts Dr. Jim Steiner, former CIA, on "Intelligence Support to the NSC in deciding to go to war: Kosovo, 9/11, and today"
Abstract: A brief overview of the NSC process and the traditional approach to intelligence support to the President within this process. Kosovo case study. How 9/11 changed everything. The 9/15 NSC meeting at Camp David. Intelligence support to the NSC today. What current threats could lead us into combat and the role of intelligence.
Bio: Jim Steiner has over 50 years of experience conducting, leading, managing, evaluating, and teaching intelligence. Following an overseas tour as a naval intelligence officer, Dr. Steiner joined the CIA in 1972 and served there for more than 33 years. For the first two decades, he focused on Soviet defense and economic issues, rising through the analytic and management ranks. He was promoted into the Senior Intelligence Service in 1992.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Dr. Steiner moved to the Department of State as Special Advisor to the Ambassador at Large for Russia where he provided intelligence support and was the Ambassador's Deputy for defense conversion and crime and corruption.
Dr. Steiner then returned to CIA Headquarters where he took on a series of increasingly senior line and staff positions, including Deputy Director for Crime and Narcotics. In his final line position, he was Director of the Office of Transnational Issues which covers global energy and economic security, corruption, illicit migration, illicit financial activity, foreign denial and deception programs, societal and humanitarian conflicts, and the medical and psychiatric analysis of foreign leaders. His office also conducted long-term analyses on key issues including the future of warfare, globalization, terrorism, democracy, and demographics.
Dr. Steiner completed his CIA career as the Agency's Officer in Residence at Georgetown University. He was awarded the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal upon his retirement in 2006. Dr. Steiner taught intelligence analysis at the FBI Academy before moving to Albany and then taught graduate courses in intelligence at SUNY for fifteen years.
Jim attended Georgetown University from 1964-1968 earning a B.S. Foreign Service with a concentration in International Economics. He received an M.A. in Economics in 1969 and a Ph.D. in Economics in 1977. After college, Jim served as an intelligence officer in the US Navy at SOUTHCOM in Panama. For location and other information, contact Anthony Leto at rmcafio@gmail.com.

Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

21 Nov 24, 1200-1300 (ET) – Online – Inside Intelligence presents "Russia's War Against the West" – Johns Hopkins University. Join host Michael Ard for a curated discussion with Ambassador John J. Sullivan, former U.S. deputy secretary of state and former U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation, on “Russia’s War Against the West.” Ambassador John J. Sullivan is the former U.S. deputy secretary of state and former U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation. He is also a Distinguished Scholar at the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University and a Distinguished Fellow at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University. He serves as a contributor to CBS News, is quoted frequently in international media as a leading authority on foreign affairs, and has authored a book on his experiences as ambassador, Midnight in Moscow, which was published by Little, Brown and Company in August 2024. Ambassador Sullivan is a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace, after his nomination by President Biden and unanimous confirmation by the Senate. He is a congressional appointee who serves as a member of the bipartisan Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Department of State. Free registration www.spymuseum.org.

Saturday, 23 November 2024, 10 AM – Washington, DC – Members-Only Event: Virginia Hall Exhibit – In-Person International Spy Museum Program. Among the many women who served in the SOE & OSS, Virginia Hall stands out as one of the most distinguished. She not only created a sophisticated spy network but also organized and armed French commandos deep behind enemy lines. We've recently redesigned a key exhibit in our "Spies & Spymasters" gallery to showcase Hall's incredible story with compelling artifacts from our collection. Members can join for this exclusive look at Virginia Hall and the process of how updates are made to our permanent exhibit. Hannah Saloio, SPY's Exhibits Developer, will lead a formal discussion in the Museum's Theater from 10 to 10:30 AM that will then be followed by coffee and pastries and an opportunity to chat with members of the Spy Museum team. This event is free of charge and open exclusively to Spy Museum members. You can join SPY as a member online or by calling 202.654.2840. Visit www.spymuseum.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.