Lauren C. Anderson is an internationally recognized national security expert, global strategic advisor, and former senior FBI executive with nearly three decades of leadership in intelligence, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence.  While each change in US Administration has brought with it unique challenges and rewards, the FBI has always remained one of our closest partners.  Lauren provided a very honest and open insider’s view of the landscape under the current US government, its impact on the US national security community, and the implications for Canada and our 5-Eyes partners. 

Casablanca Bombings, LEGAT Paris - Lauren Anderson

Interview on a separate Intelligence Service

Phil Gurski and Ward Elcock Discussion 

Ward Elcock, former Director of CSIS, has lived through very interesting times. Originally a Cold War-focused agency seeking to disrupt Soviet and other intelligence dirty deeds in Canada, the end of the USSR and the tragic events of 9/11 pushed terrorism to the forefront.  Former CSIS Director Ward Elcock will reflect on his two terms at the helm of Canada's national security service which spanned the end of the Cold War and the post 9/11 period. 

Jon retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 2013 after 33 years of service.  His senior assignments included, Director, National Clandestine Service (NCS), Deputy Director NCS for Community Humint, Chief, Special Activities Division and Deputy Chief Africa Division.  He discussed the Dilemma of Democracy and Covert operations:  What do we Really Want? He will examine covert operations from the Cold War through the War on Terror and the recurrent efforts to assure accountability.

In True Face

Moscow Rules

Janna Mendez, starting as a secretary at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), eventually rose to the position of Chief of Disguise. In the best-selling author's latest book, In True Face, A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked , she inspires with tales of intrigue. 

Interview with Mark Fallon

In his more than twenty seven years as an NCIS special agent and counterintelligence officer, Mark Fallon has investigated some of the most significant terrorist operations in US history, including the first bombing of the World Trade Center and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole. Yet, his primary focus became the prevention of the US use of torture in its post 9/11 investigations.

Yudhijit discusses this case

Yudhijit Bhattacharjee’s book “The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell” discusses a case in an era before Edward Snowden’s intelligence thefts and leaks, the largest theft of government documents was committed by Brian Patrick Regan, a former master sergeant in the USAF who was working on assignment at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).  He was forced into retirement in August 2000 because he failed to accept an overseas deployment. Our speaker will describe how Regan downloaded 20,000 pages of classified documents, CD ROMs and video tapes from NRO and hid them in various forests. 

Interview with Phil Gurski

Canada has a long history of terrorism, dating back to the very first year of our existence as an independent nation (the 1868 assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee in Ottawa). Since that time we have witnessed acts of terrorism perpetrated in Canada by a wide variety of actors espousing a number of ideologies and causes as well as a number of Canadians who have joined terrorist groups abroad.  In his latest book, former CSE and CSIS analyst Phil Gurski looks at our experience with terrorism over the decades as seen through the eyes of the men and women who worked for CSIS.

Interview with Keith Melton

Keith Melton and Dan Mulvenna recounted how ten Russian illegal agents were arrested in the US in 2010.  They had been working in the US for the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service under assumed identities of dead citizens of other countries including Canada.  Operation Ghost stories is an exposé by Keith Melton and Dan Mulvenna.

Phil Gurski speaks to audiences around the world about homegrown Al Qaeda-inspired terrorism and is the author of four books on the topic: (i) The Threat from Within: Recognizing Al Qaeda-inspired Radicalization and Terrorism in the West, (ii) Western Foreign Fighters: The Threat to Homeland and International Security; (iii) The Lesser Jihads: Bringing the Islamist Fight to the World, and his most recent book, (iv) An End to the War on Terrorism.

Major-General (Ret’d) David Fraser, one of the most decorated generals in Canadian Armed Forces history, was the commander of Operation Medusa in Afghanistan, which was the largest combat engagement of Canadian Armed Forces in more than 50 years. His first-hand account of this furious and critical battle where the odds were solidly against Fraser’s forces. Fraser will also explain the role that intelligence played in the success of this operation.  His book “Operation Medusa” was available for sale and signing.

Major General David Fraser Interview - Operation Medusa