AFIO
The Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization. AFIO was founded in 1975 and is incorporated in the State of Virginia. AFIO has over twenty chapters nation-wide.
MISSION
With the belief that American Intelligence Services are vital to the security of the nation, AFIO promotes public understanding of the role of intelligence through education and dissemination of facts to the public.
METHODS
AFIO accomplishes its mission through a variety of ongoing educational programs and activities including:
Responds daily to interview requests from TV, radio and print news media nation-wide and from abroad, and occasionally from documentary or entertainment TV shows and movie-makers.
Periscope, a newsletter published monthly, includes commentaries, topics and developments affecting the Intelligence Community.
Maintains in Mclean a meeting room and library open to the public. Regional chapters are centers for AFIO activities elsewhere.
A central Speakers Bureau and local chapters provide speakers to academic, civic, professional and fraternal groups.
"Intelligence Profession Series" publishes books that are member-authored monographs.
The Academic Exchange Program (AEP) promotes and assists teaching of Intelligence at American colleges and universities in a variety of ways.
Intelligencer is a newsletter encouraging communication between on-campus instructors and AFIO members.
Sponsors the National Leadership Forum (NLF) which sharpens American business competiveness in the global marketplace.
A national convention and four speaker luncheons a year, in the D.C. area, plus similar chapter functions, feature distinguished speakers and panelists.
Counsels youngsters interested in intelligence careers.
AFIO tries to help retirees find second careers or part-time work, and prospective private sector employers to find specially qualified candidates.
MEMBERSHIP
Full: Full members are U.S. citizens who were employees of any U.S. military or civilian intelligence or security agency.
Associates: U.S. citizen who have not served as intelligence personnel but do support AFIO aims.
Industrial Associates: United States corporations or institutions who support AFIO aims.
Dues and Contributions are tax-deductible.
Download membership application(s) here, write or call:
AFIO
6723 Whittier Ave. Suite 303A
McLean, Va. 22101-4533
1-703-790-0320
Robert M. Gates
Gates, Robert M. "The ABC's of Spying." New York Times, 14 Mar. 1999. [ http://www. nytimes.com]
This Op-Ed by the former DCI argues that "[t]he current furor in Washington over Chinese espionage at Los Alamos offers fresh evidence that finger-pointing and sound bites are a lousy way to protect and advance American security interests.... [B]oth the Clinton Administration and its critics neglect [a reality]: despite the bonhomie of countless summit meetings and press statements, the post-cold-war world is a very tough neighborhood in which nations still cynically and ruthlessly pursue their own interests."
[CIA/1990s/1999/ChinaFallout]
Gates, Robert M. "The Case for Confirming Anthony Lake." Wall Street Journal, 29 Jan. 1997, A10.
[CIA/1990s/1997/Lake]
Gates, Robert M. "The CIA and American Foreign Policy." Foreign Affairs 66, no. 2 (Winter 1987/88): 215-230.
This article describes broadly the role of intelligence analysis in the foreign policy process. Gates also addresses some of the issues with regard to "politicized" intelligence.
[Analysis/Gen; GenPostwar/Issues/Policy/To1990s]
Gates, Robert M. "The CIA and the University: An Address by Robert M. Gates, Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency, before the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, October 10, 1987." Periscope 12, no. 4 (1987): 17-19.
[CIA/Relations/Academe]
Gates, Robert M. "The C.I.A.'s Little-Known Résumé." New York Times, 29 Oct. 1998. [ http://www.nytimes.com]
In this Op-Ed piece, the former DCI argues that "[t]he C.I.A. has played a prominent, if discreet, role in international negotiations and in monitoring cease-fires and treaty compliance for decades." Examples mentioned include monitoring troop withdrawals following the 1973 Yom Kippur war, participating in arms control delegations, and Gates' own trip to the Indian subcontinent in May 1990 to avert war between Pakistan and India.
Gates acknowledges that there are organizational and other risks associated with the CIA's very visible involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Nevertheless, "it seems fitting in this new era of openness that the C.I.A.'s longstanding behind-the-scenes role in helping to wage peace should finally become public alongside its long history in waging covert war."
[CIA/1990s/1998/Mideast]
[Gates, Robert M.] "DCI Robert Gates Featured Speaker at 1992 AFIO Convention." Periscope 17, no. 10 (1992): 1-4.
Text of speech given 14 November 1992 at eighteenth convention of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers in Boston, MA.
[CIA/1990s/1990-1992]
Gates, Robert M. From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.
Selected quotes from the numerous reviews of this important and very readable book are available at REVIEWS of From the Shadows.
[CIA/Memoirs; GenPostwar/ColdWar/End]
Gates, Robert M. "Future Intelligence Challenges." Periscope 13, no. 4 (Fall 1988): 14-19.
[GenPostwar/1980s/Gen]
Gates, Robert M. "In War, Mistakes Happen." New York Times, 12 May 1999. [ http:// www.nytimes.com]
In this Op-Ed piece, the former DCI argues that "there was a system failure as well as mistakes by individuals. The source of all mapping information for United States military targeting is the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, a joint military and civilian intelligence organization. According to The New York Times, that agency was apparently the source of outdated maps. Then the C.I.A. analysts apparently misidentified the target. And finally, military databases in the United States and NATO used to check the accuracy of such information failed to catch the error.... Americans ... should understand that outdated maps and insufficient personnel are related to 12 years of budget cuts in both the military and intelligence."
[GenPostwar/1990s/ChineseEmbassy]
Gates, Robert M. "Is the CIA's Analysis Any Good?" Washington Post, 12 Dec. 1984, A25.
[Analysis/Gen]
Gates, Robert M. "An Opportunity Unfulfilled: The Use and Perceptions of Intelligence at the White House." The Washington Quarterly, Winter 1989, 35-44.
[GenPostwar/1980s/Gen]
Gates, Robert M. "Strengthening Congressional Oversight of Intelligence." National Security Law Report 15, no. 2 (Feb. 1993): 1-5.
Text of speech given 18 February 1993 at meeting organized by the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and NationalSecurity in Washington, DC. Associated coverage of question and answer session published as: National Security Law Report. Editors. "Gates Opposes CIA Role in Industrial Espionage or Active Law Enforcement." 15, no. 2 (Feb. 1993): 1, 5-6.
[Oversight/1990s]
Gates, Robert M. "Unauthorized Disclosures: Risks, Costs, and Responsibilities." American Intelligence Journal 9, no. 1 (1988): 6-8.
[GenPostwar/1980s/Gen]
e to the next AFIO National Luncheon
16 April 02 - Tyson's Corner, VA - AFIO National hosts
Lt Gen James R. Clapper, USAF (Ret), Director of NIMA,
speaking from 11:30 to 12:30
Second speaker [t.b.d.]. 1:30 - 2:30
Registration starts at 11:00 a.m..
CASH Bar 1100 - 1130 LUNCH 1230 - 1330
Credit Card Reservations to AFIO at afio@his.com
Holiday Inn - Tyson's Corner Virginia
$26.50 for Members and Guests
Seating Limited to 300 -- No Payment at Door
Generous Free Parking Available
Directions and Map
Latest AFIO Publications:
WIN #07-02: Weekly Intelligence Notes
18 February 2002
EBBN #02-02: Online Bulletin Board Announcements
Released 5 February 2002, updated daily
PERISCOPE, Fall/Winter 2001 PDF Version
Includes many Symposium Photos
Link above is for low-resolution version at 4.5 MB
Link below is High resolution:
Periscope Fall 2001 Hi-Res PDF at 16.7 MB
AFIO fosters -- through educational programs and publications -- public understanding of the role and importance of intelligence and the need for a strong and healthy U.S. Intelligence / Counter-intelligence capability to protect U.S. citizens, to serve U.S. national interests, and for world stability. AFIO provides a venue for applying independent, seasoned professional expertise and perspectives to historic, current, and future national, corporate and public security issues.
AFIO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-political educational Association. We welcome membership inquiries from (1) former U.S. intelligence personnel and (2) U.S. citizens and personnel, in or out of government, wishing to participate in furthering AFIO's educational mission.
Inquiries from individuals avocationally interested in the role of intelligence in U.S. affairs are welcomed and they, as well as interested institutions, are invited to become subscribers to AFIO's online Weekly Intelligence Notes and our printed publications. Check Membership for more details.
U.S. corporations are invited to become Corporate Partners, to join with us in enhancing our intelligence education programs and building an informed, knowledgeable public constituency who understands the complexities and important role of U.S. Intelligence. Check Corporate Membership.
Members and guests are urged to visit our Event Schedule for current or upcoming meetings, conferences and symposia, many of which are open to the public. Several offer an opportunity for U.S. citizens to tour various Intelligence Agencies.
Visit our Chapters and Chapter Activities section to see locations of AFIO chapters and to explore beginning your membership with them. Then explore our Events Schedule and Bulletin Board pages for current national and regional chapter luncheons, meetings and conference information.
College and University professors are encouraged to join others in the Academic community who participate in our decade-long survey: Academic Approaches to the Teaching of Intelligence and Intelligence-related Issues. Professors from recognized U.S. Institutions of Higher Learning, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, are urged to join our syllabi exchange/sharing program. See Academic Exchange section for full details and quick sign-up.
AFIO urges Students interested in the intelligence field to apply for one of AFIO's 2002 graduate, undergraduate, or post-grad scholarships, awards or prizes. Information is available on our Scholarship page. Explore it now to meet submission deadlines, and let us help offset some of your education costs. Potential donors are also urged to consider funding these, or new, awards to promote the study of intelligence.
AFIO online publications are available in Acrobat PDF or Adobe's eBook Reader [glassbook] format.
You will need free Acrobat Reader 5.0 or eBook Reader 2.2 to read all online AFIO publications.
The Literature of Intelligence:
A Bibliography of Materials,
with Essays, Reviews, and Comments
J. Ransom Clark
Vice President for Administration
Muskingum College
New Concord, Ohio 43762
