The Team House 5 Tours Abroad as a CIA Officer | Michele Rigby Assad | Ep. 322
22 snips
Jan 15, 2025 
Michele Rigby Assad, a former CIA operations officer specializing in counterterrorism and lie detection, shares fascinating insights from her decade-long career in the CIA. She recounts the rigorous training for high-stakes deployments and the cultural challenges she faced in the Middle East. Michele discusses the unintended consequences of U.S. de-Ba'athification in Iraq and her harrowing experience facilitating an airlift for persecuted Iraqi Christians amid the ISIS crisis. She emphasizes the importance of language and cultural understanding in intelligence work.
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Missionary Beginnings
- Michelle Rigby-Assad's first mission trip was to Egypt at age 18, led by her future husband, Joseph.
- This experience sparked her interest in Arab culture and led her to pursue Arab studies at Georgetown.
Unexpected Surge to Iraq
- After their first tour, the couple was sent to a desirable location, but were soon surged to Iraq.
- This was disappointing as they had hoped for a break after a challenging two-year tour in a dangerous location.
Debriefing a Terrorist
- In Iraq, Michele had to debrief a terrorist who initially saw her as a sexual object due to her being an uncovered woman.
- By showcasing her expertise in Arabic and Middle Eastern affairs, she flipped the dynamic and gained respect.
