Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! Today, we are talking to John Atwell. John spent over twenty-three years of experience in operational and analysis roles at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Since leaving the agency, John has spent time as a consultant, become a columnist for the Haiwaii-Tribune Herald, became editor of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers and a college lecturer at Haiwaii Community College. We discussed the culture shift in CIA after 9/11, views on allied and adversarial agencies around the world, advice for a career in intelligence and much more.
Find John Atwell:
We Spoke About:
- 0:32 - John Atwell’s background
- 4:59 - What made John suitable for an operational role at CIA?
- 9:10 - The shift towards paramilitarism at CIA after 9/11
- 12:21 - Will CIA return to its pre-9/11 culture with its focus back to strategic targets?
- 15:04 - CIA and diversity
- 19:40 - Which international intelligence agencies was John impressed by during his career?
- 21:31 - Thoughts on adversarial intelligence agencies
- 23:44 - The growing use of intelligence and counter intelligence by non-state actors
- 26:56 - Is the swing to OSINT, geospatial and cyber at the detriment of HUMINT?
- 29:38 - Why John did not join the private sector after leaving the intelligence community
- 32:06 - John on working with his wife at CIA
- 33:08 - What advice would you give someone who wants a career in intelligence?
- 35:59 - Ahmed’s career journey
- 40:51 - Cultural Recommendations
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