Longtime central intelligence agency operative and former chief of counterintelligence james jim olson released a book rooted in his experiences earlier this year, and on tuesday, he will host an. Olson shows in fair play that reality is much more complicated ethically when one gets down to cases. After a 31year career as a cia agent, professor james olson joined the bush. He is a professor of the practice at the bush school, where he teaches courses on intelligence and counterintelligence. James bartholomew olsen is a fictional character appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. After 31 years of chasing soviet kgb secrets and jumping out of moving cars for the central intelligence agency, james olson made the. His book, fair play, tries to introduce the american reading public to. His book, fair play, tries to introduce the american reading public to some of the moral qualms of the spy business. He brings his experiences to his writing to contemplate the moral problems of spying.
The assassination of james forrestal by david martin. A statue of hale stands outside cia headquarters, and the agency often cites. James olson is a 34 year veteran of the cia and a former director of counterintelligence. James olson faculty the bush school of government and public. He served for over thirty years in the directorate of operations of the central intelligence agency, mostly overseas in clandestine operations.
The art of counterintelligence former spy jim olson joins the george bush presidential library and museum for an issues forum over his new book, to catch a spy. Olson ranked high among the cia operatives tasked with pilfering secrets from the enemy in those days, chiefly the soviet union. Longtime central intelligence agency operative and former chief of counterintelligence james jim olson released a book rooted in his experiences earlier this year, and on tuesday, he will. The book to catch a spy offers a wakeup call for the american public and also a guide for how our country can do a better job of protecting its national security and trade secrets. The art of counterintelligence is an excellent book. Olsen looks up to his coworkers as role models and parent figures. Former cia operative and cia counterintelligence chief james olson talks about his book, to catch a spy.
He has first hand experience with his years in the cia. His book is an excellent resource for those serious about the practical and ethical challenges inherent in espionage. Although many americans may think that superutilitarian calculation has always lain at the heart of the intelligence enterprise, former cia counterintelligence officer james m. Jim olsons years of experience in counterintelligence at the cia have served him well to write this insightful book about the ci profession. From award winning author james olson comes his latest book how whole brain thinking can save the future. Well written, informative, and full of insights from multiple sectors. Jun 26, 2008 although many americans may think that superutilitarian calculation has always lain at the heart of the intelligence enterprise, former cia counterintelligence officer james m. He and his wife meredith met at the cia and raised three children during a dangerous 25year career as spies. The true story behind a cia scientists mysterious death. Olson was a chief for counter intelligence in the central intelligence agency with four videos in the c span video library. Olson, accomplished historian and highly regarded university administrator, died on august 17, 2005, at the age of 88.
The art of counterintelligence, in which he argued. Olson has written his own book on the subject, and former cia colleague. At a meeting in rural maryland, he was covertly dosed with lsd by his colleague sidney gottlieb head of the cia s mkultra program and. James olson is former cia chief of counterintelligence. James olson, former cia chief of counterintelligence, will describe his undercover career in the cia, including how he was recruited, the training he received, the risks he and his wife faced she was also a cia operative, and the effect of this undercover lifestyle on their marriage and children. June 27, 1943 is an american philosopher and author. Frank rudolph olson july 17, 1910 november 28, 1953 was an american bacteriologist, biological warfare scientist and an employee of the united states army biological warfare laboratories usbwl who worked at camp detrick now fort detrick in maryland. Olson, a veteran of the cia s clandestine service, takes readers inside the real world of intelligence to describe the difficult dilemmas that field officers face on a daily basis. This book is very engaging and accessible with its numerous case studies. Excia official olson warns of spy threats in annenberg.
The art of counterintelligence, in which he argued that foreign intelligence organizations are doing a. James olson is wellcredentialed, and his work in the agency seems to have put him in a lot of interesting situations. James olson faculty the bush school of government and. After a 31year career as a cia agent, professor james olson joined the bush school of government and public service in 1997. May 24, 2007 tough questions are at the heart of james m. Olson takes the listener into the arcane world of counterintelligence as he. The ten commandments of counterintelligence central. Olson served for over thirty years in the directorate of operations of the central intelligence agency, mostly overseas in clandestine operations. Reveals more concrete information about cia tradecraft than any book. Why left hemisphere dominance has brought humanity to the brink of disaster and how we can think our way to peace and healing. A generalist, his primary focus is on the effects of functional lateralization on consciousness and human behavior.
James olson spent his entire career in the directorate of operations of the central intelligence agency and is a former chief of cia counterintelligence. To catch a spy offers a wakeup call for the american public and also a guide for how our country can do a better job of protecting its national. Olson is the author of how whole brain thinking can save the future, a book that seeks to explain human behavior by focusing on functional differences in the brains hemispheres in terms of. The office of public affairs opa is the single point of contact for all inquiries about the central intelligence agency cia. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the daily planet. Dec 08, 2019 we want to thank you again for coming and thank you all for being part of this. Dec 14, 2017 in 1953, frank olson, a scientist working for the cia, died when he fell from a th floor window of the hotel statler on seventh avenue in what was originally ruled a suicide. Professor james olson received his law degree from the university of iowa. Olson served in the directorate of operations and is now on the faculty of the george bush school of. Former cia counterintelligence chief james olson talked about his book, to catch a spy.
In 1953, frank olson, a scientist working for the cia, died when he fell from a th floor window of the hotel statler on seventh avenue in what was originally ruled a. The book also analyzes twelve actual case studies to illustrate why people spy against their country. Olson takes the reader into the arcane world of counterintelligence as he lived it during his thirtyyear career in the cia. Revolutionary war officer nathan hale, one of americas first spies, said, any kind of service necessary to the public good becomes honorable by being necessary. Olson, a veteran of the cia s clandestine service, takes readers inside the real world of intelligence to describe the difficult dilemmas that field officers face on an almost daily basis. Olsons book is an excellent resource for those serious about the practical and ethical challenges inherent in espionage. Before becoming one of the top experts in counterintelligence for the cia, he served in the clandestine services. Nov 17, 2017 the death or possibly murder of frank olson was but a hint of the enormous secret cia program of research into techniques of mind alteration and control. Olson explains the continuing threat from foreign entities and. Olson ranked high among the cia operatives tasked with pilfering secrets from the enemy in those. The art of counterintelligence in new york journal of books. Crumpton, a 24 year veteran of the cia s clandestine service, author of the art of intelligence, and ceo of crumpton group llc.
November 28, 1953after having been surreptitiously given a dosage of lsd by colleagues from the cia and the death of grant stockdale, a friend of jfks who had become involved, and knew too much about, the. In addition to several foreign assignments, he was chief of counterintelligence at cia headquarters in langley, virginia. The death or possibly murder of frank olson was but a hint of the enormous secret cia program of research into techniques of mind alteration and. They contain a treasure trove for espionage writers and enthusiasts. They retired from the agency, but their work continues as mentors on life, love and the meaning of american patriotism.
Even in the post911 world, when the endsjustifythemeans. Besides announcing plans to sue the cia, the olson family also asked the new york police department to open a new investigation. James olson was just finishing law school after serving in the navy when he recieved a call from a cia recruiter, asking him to serve as an undercover operative. Olson, former chief of cia counterintelligence the first comprehensive look at the technical achievements of american espionage from. The united states is losing the counterintelligence war. Olson, a veteran of the cias clandestine service, takes readers inside the real world of intelligence to describe the difficult dilemmas that field officers face on an almost daily basis. A native of bradgate, iowa, olson earned his ab in history from morningside college in 1938, and his ma and phd from the university of nebraska in 1939 and 1942, respectively.
Former spy james olson now teaching the art of espionage. The spying 101 notes alone are worth the purchase price of the book. James olson was in his final weeks of law school when he received a mysterious phone call that changed the trajectory of his career. He said he loves being able to help teach and mold the next generation of public servants. Longtime central intelligence agency operative and former cia chief of counterintelligence james jim olson delivered a talk on his career experiences and challenges tuesday night to a near. The washington times this is a story i thought could never be told. The ten commandments of counterintelligence skip to content. Olson takes the reader into the arcane world of counterintelligence as he lived. Jim olsons book release to catch a spy midwest speakers. He is close friends with lois lane and superman, and has a good working relationship with his boss perry white. Foreign intelligence services, particularly those of china, russia, and cuba, are recruiting spies in our midst and stealing our secrets and cuttingedge technologies. Olson, former chief of cia counterintelligence, offers a wakeup call for the american public and also a guide for how our country can do a better job of protecting its national security and trade secrets.
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