The 2012 Raleigh Spy Conference addressed the need to correct and amplify public knowledge of key events of the recent past that remain pertinent today: John Fox, Historian of the FBI, reviewed the role of the Agency's founder and long-time director J. Edgar Hoover as the chief of US domestic security and clarified misrepresentations in the popular culture that he was a homosexual as dramatized in the film J Edgar.
Author and editor of Washington Decoded website Max Holland presented the newly available evidence that Mark Felt created the persona of Deep Throat to enlist reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post to advance his goal to become FBI Director after the death of J Edgar Hoover in 1972.
Albert Grajales of INTERPOL reviewed the history of modern terrorism and provided profiles of today's terrorist.
David Waltrop of CIA revealed the first live presentation of the declassification of the search and recovery of a film canister dropped from a US Hexagon satellite from 16,400 feet beneath the sea in 1971 one of America's most closely guarded secrets.
Keynote speaker Brian Latell, the well known expert on Cuba and Fidel Castro beginning with his role as Latin America chief for CIA, revealed – via newly declassified information that 48 CIA/Cuban double agents continued to work for Castro while allegedly working for the US. Latell's new book Castro's Secrets, also exposes the revelation that Fidel Castro had foreknowledge of the assassination of John F Kennedy, making the Cuban leader complicit in the death of the US president.
Dan Mulvenna, former security officer of the RCMP, led a tribute to former CIA counterintelligence officer Brian Kelley, who conference founder Bernie Reeves says was co-founder of the event. Kelley's wife Trish McCarthy Kelley addressed the group and told the story of the humorous yet pivotal first meeting between Kelley and Reeves at the gala opening of the International Spy Museum in 2002.
CIA's Historical Collections Division was on hand to provide color booklets containing newly declassified data on key Cold War events, and Dr. Nicholas Gessler of Duke University displayed a selection of cipher machines used to send or decrypt secret messages.
Special guests included Michael Sulick, Director of CIA's National Clandestine Service from 2007 to 1010 and Cindy Web who recently stepped down as chief of counterintelligence of the CIA.
A DVD will be made available of the 8th Raleigh Spy Conference.
The Raleigh Spy Conference is held annually in Raleigh, NC, presented by Raleigh Metro Magazine and area sponsors. Go to www.raleighspyconference.com for summaries of past conferences, speaker biographies and information on upcoming events.
Tribute to Brian Kelley scheduled
Dramatic Revelations: Castro, J. Edgar Hoover, Deep Throat, CIA Secrets From the Deep and the New Profile of Today’s Terrorist
Fidel Castro had foreknowledge of the JFK assassination. Who was the real J Edgar Hoover? Deep Throat's motives were not what the public thought. How did the CIA scoop a satellite 12,000 below the sea? What is the new profile of today's terrorist?
These are the topics for the 8 Raleigh Spy Conference August 22-24 at the NC Museum of History, presented by top experts drawing on the latest in declassified information. And the public is invited to learn and ask question and get to know each speaker personally:
Brian Latell - Keynote speaker, formerly a Cuba hand for the CIA, has plowed through newly declassified documents - and interviewed secret Cuban agents who can now talk for the first time - for his new book Castro's Secrets, revealing that the Cuban intelligence services were highly sophisticated. Cuban operatives duped the CIA and planted nearly 50 double agents in the US intelligence services. Latell also reveals from secret sources that Castro had prior knowledge of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
John Fox - FBI Historian, on J. Edgar Hoover’s role as chief domestic intelligence officer of the United States - and as one of the most significant and controversial figures in American history - while serving as FBI Director from 1924 to his death in 1972. But who was the real Hoover?
Max Holland, editor of the insider web site Washington Decoded - and a prolific and respected author on key events of the modern era - has dug into newly declassified documents to reveal the true story of the motivation that compelled FBI assistant director Mark Felt to disguise himself as the infamous Deep Throat, the source that played a major role in bringing down a presidency and elevating two obscure journalists to super-star status. Watergate remains a watershed event in American history - and Mark Felt was the man who made it happen.
David Waltrop, a CIA officer currently serving as a Program Manager in the Agency's Historical Collections Division will share the recently declassified story of one of the most secret operations of the Cold War. Called An Underwater Ice Station Zebra, this little known undersea mission was hidden in rumor and speculation - until now.
Albert Grajales, INTERPOL Director of Puerto Rico and Coordinator of Intelligence / Antiterrorism Office of the Attorney General (Secretary of Justice) and the Special Investigations Bureau (SIB) of Puerto Rico will present an insider's assessment of the profile of the modern terrorist, beginning with Carlos the Jackal up to today's dangerous operatives.
Between sessions, spy conference attendees can visit with representatives of the Historical Collections Division of the CIA who will offer free attractive booklets containing recently declassified information on key Cold War events. The CIA presence at last year’s conference offered audiences a first-hand opportunity to talk directly with Agency staff and learn more about CIA and its operations.
According to conference founder Bernie Reeves, a very special person will be the subject of a tribute at the 8 Raleigh Spy Conference- Brian Kelley, the CIA officer who played a major role in the creation of the conference who passed away a month after last year’s event. Reeves says the tribute will be led by Dan Mulvenna, a former security officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a close friend of Kelley’s who has also served as a speaker at the conference.
“Brian was key in the success of the Raleigh Spy Conference”, adds Reeves. “He loved recruiting top experts to speak, and he loved being in Raleigh and the friends he made here. Dan is putting together a fitting tribute for Brian that will communicate his important role as an intelligence officer - and his unique ability to create lasting friendships”.
The Raleigh Spy Conference is recognized for its leading role in providing a dynamic environment to the general public for the discussion of declassified information released since the end of the Cold War. The roster of speakers since 2003 has included highly regarded intelligence officers, scholars and authors.
Go to www.raleighspyconference.com to register to review the line-up for 2012 and to learn about past conferences. You can also register by telephone by calling Carlie Sorosiak at Raleigh Metro Magazine, 919-831-0999.
Sponsors for the 8 Raleigh Spy Conference are the Association of Former Intelligence Officers; Dr. Robert Schaaf; Rosemary and Smedes York; and Raleigh Metro Magazine. Additional sponsors include 18 Seaboard Restaurant and Empire Eats.
Sponsored by:
Association of Former Intelligence Officers
Dr. Robert Schaaf
Rosemary and Smedes York
Raleigh Metro Magazine
18 Seaboard Restaurant
Empire Eats
Brenda and Larry Pollard