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Weekly Intelligence Notes

About National AFIO
Page last modified: February 2, 2006

What is the Association For Intelligence Officers?

AFIO = Association For Intelligence Officers

Thousands of dedicated Americans served their country in the field of Intelligence. They served in the CIA,  Military Services or other Government Departments, the FBI or Law Enforcement. Many now belong to AFIO,  a nationwide organization that is dedicated to providing the American public with a better knowledge and understanding of intelligence and the need for it to serve our country and national leaders. For those who didn’t serve in the Intelligence field but have a strong interest in it, membership is available today with sponsorship by an active member. In addition, serving Government professionals may join as Associate Members.

Here are details about AFIO, much directly from their informative website (http://www.afio.com/) for accuracy.

AFIO is a non-profit, non-political, educational association of former intelligence professionals and supporters, incorporated in Virginia in 1975.  AFIO's mission is to  build a public constituency for a sound and healthy US intelligence system and capability. The organization’s educational focus is on fostering understanding of the vital importance and role of US intelligence for US National Security in historic, contemporary and future contexts. This includes the role of Intelligence supporting US policy, diplomacy, strategy, security and defense. In addition, AFIO focuses on understanding the critical need for effective counterintelligence and security against foreign, political, technological or economic espionage, as well as lawfully authorized covert, clandestine and overt counter-terrorist or criminal operations threatening US security, the national infrastructure, or corporate and individual safety. That goal has special significance today.

Since foreign intelligence, counterintelligence and covert activities are necessarily conducted in secrecy, an ever-present 'silent war,' education on the vital need for effective institutions conducting US intelligence and counterintelligence operations is a challenging, necessary and important mission. As Richard Deacon noted in his History of British Intelligence, "A great Power without an efficient intelligence service is doomed; that has been the lesson from the heyday of Troy to the present."

Today, AFIO is an association of people with active intellectual lives, many of whom have participated, or are participating, in events of historic significance and who have played roles of leadership and distinction, dedicated to worthy principles and objectives. AFIO members include primarily individuals from US Government Departments, but also State and local government, corporate or private professionals and supporters. Aside from a small professional staff and central office, the AFIO organization , and its chapters throughout the country,  is run by volunteers who donate their time and talents to the cause of furthering AFIO's objectives and enjoy the fellowship of professional colleagues and supporters.

HONORARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Co-Chairmen:
The Honorable George H. W. Bush
The Honorable Gerald R. Ford

The Hon. Shirley Temple Black
The Hon. Frank C. Carlucci
Dr. Ruth M. Davis
Adm. Bobby R. Inman, USN (Ret)
Professor Ernest R. May
John Anson Smith
The Hon. William H. Webster
The Hon. R. James Woolsey

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
E. Peter Earnest, Chairman
Dr. James H. Babcock, Vice Chairman

BOARD MEMBERS
Ralph W. Adams
Dr. James H. Babcock
Elizabeth Bancroft, ex officio
Sarah Botsai, Ph.D.
Keith Coggins
C. Emerson Cooper 
Christopher N. Darlington
Jack G. Downing
E. Peter Earnest
Martin C. Faga
Amado Gayol
Lt. Gen Edward J. Heinz, USAF (Ret)
Walter Jajko, Brig. Gen. USAF (Ret)
Brian Latell
Dr. John Lenczowski
David G. Major
John L. Martin, Esq.
RADM Donald H. McDowell, USN (Ret)
Valerie J. McNevin, Esq.
C. Carson Morris
Gary W. O'Shaughnessy, Maj. Gen., USAF (Ret)
James L. Pavitt
E. Alan Platt
Albano F. Ponte
S. Eugene Poteat, ex officio

BOARD MEMBERS EMERITI
Charles A. Briggs
RADM Donald P. Harvey, USN (Ret)
Maj. Gen. Jack E. Thomas, USAF (Ret)

OFFICERS

President
S. Eugene Poteat

Sr. Vice President
André Kesteloot

Executive Director/Secretary-Treasurer
Elizabeth Bancroft

Director of Membership
Mary Lynne McElroy
Janet Murphy

Legal Counsel
William Benteen Bailey, Esq

Financial Counsel
John W. Balch, CPA

Special Committees
C. Emerson Cooper - National-Chapter Liaison
RADM Don H. McDowell, USN (Ret) - Speaker Programs
Albano F. Ponte, Endowment Funds and Fund Raising

Editors and Managers of Special Assignments

Dwayne Anderson - Founding Co-Editor, Intelligencer; Contributing Editor / Intelligencer & Periscope
Richard Gay  - Special Historical Projects
Joseph C. Goulden - Contributing Editor / Intelligencer & Periscope
Dr. Susan Huck - Contributing Editor / Intelligencer & Periscope
Gary Harter - Academic & Community Outreach
Hayden Peake - Contributing Editor / Intelligencer & Periscope
Ward W. Warren - Contributing Editor / Intelligencer & Periscope

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Principles and Objectives

It is helpful to understand AFIO's Principles and Objectives.

AFIO members subscribe to the values of patriotism, excellence, integrity, dedication and loyalty represented by the active intelligence establishment of the United States engaged in the execution of national policies and the advancement and defense of the vital interests and security of the country, its citizens, and its allies. In their mission statement, AFIO's principal objective is to foster understanding, by intellectual, political and business community leaders and the general public,  of the continuing need for a strong and responsible national intelligence/counterintelligence establishment to deal with a variety of short and long-term threats and issues in the current world environment and the new Information Age. Within this context AFIO stresses education on the need for effective long-term intelligence strategies and capabilities to support national decision makers and to guard against surprise.

To achieve its goals, AFIO seeks to implement its objectives by conducting programs to:

Excellent and very informative publications support the organizations goals. Members benefit from the AFIO Weekly Intelligence Notes (WINs) , a weekly email that has commentaries on intelligence issues;  the monthly electronic Bulletin Board  Notes (eBBN),  with announcements of member interest;   the periodic AFIO Periscope newsletter that includes articles on intelligence, the membership and the organization;  the AFIO "Intelligencer," a major journal of intelligence studies, and the AFIO Homepage - including organizational material and updates, references to AFIO publications, and a data base resource.

A National Convention, Symposia and Seminars plus mini-symposia and chapter meetings provide members with ongoing updates in the field of intelligence and geopolitical impact. Scholarships are awarded to students interested in studying intelligence and other awards of recognition are made every year for students and instructors. In addition, AFIO supports more than 180 professors in their teaching of intelligence and intelligence-related courses. A Speakers Bureau is available where local organizations can obtain qualified speakers for their meetings.

AFIO chapters are autonomous extensions of AFIO, consisting of AFIO National members who have banded together to form a chapter chartered by AFIO National to conduct activities as authorized by, and in consonance with, its bylaws, principles and educational objectives. These chapters are located throughout the United States. AFIO Membership or Associate Membership at the National Level is a prerequisite for Chapter membership but may be done at the time one joins a local chapter

Local chapter programs are both collegial and promote the AFIO mission. Chapters generally conduct two kinds of activity:

Chapters conduct informative educational programs such as meetings, newsletters, etc. for their members. This helps to enable members to be effective "ambassadors of intelligence", promoting public understanding of the role and importance of US intelligence to the security and well-being of the nation. These meetings and publications also serve to maintain and strengthen professional and collegial bonds among those chapter members who are former members of the Intelligence community and other members who support the AFIO mission as Associate members.

Chapters also conduct civic outreach programs to support AFIO educational objectives, to accomplish the AFIO mission of building a public constituency for a sound and healthy US intelligence system and capability. This is done by such means as speaking to regional civic associations, guest lectures at local colleges, scholarship awards to high school or college students, or a variety of similar endeavors. Chapter members also serve as mentors for young people interested in an intelligence career.

AFIO is a non-profit professional educational association recognized as tax exempt under IRS Code section 501 (c)(3). AFIO also invites corporations or professional and entrepreneurial offices and organizations to partner with AFIO in support of the educational programs and outreach publications the Association issues.

For more details about AFIO you can contact the AFIO National Office, mailto:afio@afio.com?Subject=Corporate Partnerships.

The AFIO Weekly Intelligence Notes (WINs) are commentaries based on fresh, open source research of intelligence related topics. WINs also contain book reviews. Members receive these notes via email.

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Programs

AFIO seeks to implement its objectives by conducting programs to:

Specific programs are conducted within the following framework:

Publications

Conferences

Media Support

Academic Support & Outreach

Community Outreach

Corporate Support

Member Support

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