The CI-Press Podcast

CI Press, Episode 61: Jedi Masters of Counterintelligence Fireside Chat, Part 2

In part 2 of our fireside chat, co-hosts Dave Turner and Jeremy Clark continue their engaging conversation with retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5s (CW5) Glenn Jones, Mike Dye, and Shawn Michaud, true Counterintelligence Jedi Masters, answering your most pressing questions.
The panel dives into careers, legacy moments, the challenges of transitioning out of uniform, the impact of the SECURE Act, the evolving role of the Command Chief Warrant Officer, doctrine updates, the use of modern tools like AI, and practical advice for current and future counterintelligence professionals.
Whether you are a CI practitioner, leader, or mentor, this episode offers valuable insights on people-centered leadership, responsible technology integration, and staying ahead in today’s intelligence landscape.

CI Press, Episode 60: Jedi Masters of Counterintelligence Fireside Chat, Part 1

In this episode of CI Press, co-hosts Dave Turner and Jeremy Clark sit down with retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) Glenn Jones, Mike Dye, and Shawn Michaud, true Counterintelligence Jedi Masters, to tackle your most pressing questions.
The panel dives into common misconceptions commanders have about counterintelligence versus human intelligence, shares leadership and mentorship strategies (including how to "mentor up"), and explores real-world tactics for building trust with commanders.
They also explore the evolving role of human-machine teaming and how AI is already accelerating analysis and decision-making in counterintelligence operations, delivering actionable intelligence to commanders faster.
Whether you're a CI practitioner, leader, or mentor, this conversation delivers practical insights on people-centered leadership, integrating technology responsibly, and staying ahead in the modern intelligence landscape.
Stay tuned for Part 2!

CI Press, Episode 59: From Barracks to Cyberfront: Larry Moss on Building Military CI in the Digital Age

This episode of the CI Press Podcast features special guest, Larry Moss, a veteran counterintelligence and cyber specialist, who recounts his career from Army CI beginnings to building Cyber-CI programs, setting up communications in Afghanistan, and transitioning to leadership coaching.
He discusses training challenges, integrating cyber into CI, AI’s future impact, and leadership development in the intelligence community.
Hosts Joe Sheridan and Ryan Rambo explore practical lessons, trade-offs in Cyber-CI pedagogy, and the importance of continuous leadership growth, while directing listeners to resources and ways to connect with Larry.

CI Press, Episode 58: Demystifying Counterintelligence Series Part 1

In an effort to catch our new listeners up, we will be replaying our Demystifying series over the coming weeks.  Please let us know your thoughts on bringing these episodes to the top of the list.
Welcome back to CI Press, the counterintelligence podcast hosted by Jeremy Clark and Ryan Rambo. In this episode, we embark on a journey to demystify the realm of counterintelligence, unraveling the fabric of tradecraft, espionage, and the complexities that define this intriguing discipline. Jeremy and Ryan, devoid of any guests, engage in an in-depth discussion sparked by insightful feedback from listeners.
 
Join us as we explore the diverse definitions of counterintelligence and its multifaceted nature. The hosts dive into historical and modern applications, referencing renowned books and cases, including the infamous stories of Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. From the foundational understanding of CI to its expansive coverage involving human, physical, and cyber domains, they lay out the roadmap for this enlightening series.
 
Throughout, they dissect motivations behind espionage, discuss acts of sabotage, and highlight the pivotal roles CI plays in safeguarding people, infrastructure, and technology. Enrich your understanding of counterintelligence and stay tuned for upcoming episodes that promise to further delve into why CI matters and how it can be effectively implemented. Stay safe, secure, and informed with CI Press.

CI Press, Episode 57: JT Mendoza's Counterintelligence Journey

In this episode, co-hosts Jeremy Clark and Scott Sparks sit down with JT Mendoza, a lifelong counterintelligence (CI) professional whose career spans decades of service across government and private sector landscapes. From his early days conducting field operations to his current role as a corporate director leading enterprise-level threat mitigation strategies, JT walks us through his counterintelligence journey and its critical role in both national security and business resilience.
Listeners will hear firsthand how JT transitioned from government service into the private sector, the challenges he faced adapting CI principles to various assignments, and the lessons he’s learned about insider threat, supply chain risk, and organizational culture. He also shares insights into what makes a successful CI program today and how leaders can build a proactive, intelligence-driven security posture in any industry.
This episode offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the human side of CI, as well as actionable advice for security professionals, executives, and anyone interested in the intersection of national defense and business security.

CI Press, Episode 56: Spycatcher: The Danny Lewis Conversation

In this gripping episode of the CI Press Podcast, hosts Jeremy Clark and Ryan Rambo sit down with Danny Lewis, a seasoned Army Counterintelligence Special Agent turned Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Leader, to explore his decades-long career combating espionage. Lewis shares riveting stories from the 1980s and 1990s, detailing his role in leading dozens of high-stakes investigations, including the Trofimov arrest, that thwarted foreign intelligence threats to U.S. national security. With a wealth of experience, he provides a firsthand look at the tradecraft, challenges, and ethical dilemmas of counterintelligence work, offering insights into how he tracked and neutralized sophisticated adversaries during a pivotal era of global tensions.
The conversation takes a deep dive into Lewis’s role as an expert witness in the Bradley Manning trial, where he provided critical testimony on the counterintelligence implications of Manning’s massive leak of classified documents to WikiLeaks. Lewis reflects on the complexities of the case, the impact of the leaks on national security, and the lessons learned for modern insider threat programs. Through personal anecdotes and expert analysis, this episode illuminates the critical role of counterintelligence in safeguarding sensitive information and the evolving landscape of espionage in the digital age.

CI Press, Episode 55: Traitor in the Ranks: The Monica Witt Espionage Case

In this episode, hosts Jeremy Clark, Scott Sparks, and Joseph Sheridan discuss the Monica Witt spy case.  In the shadowy world of counterintelligence, few stories rival the jaw-dropping betrayal of Monica Elfriede Witt. Once a member of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), this Texas-born Farsi-speaking specialist served from 1997 to 2008, deploying on classified missions across the Middle East and gaining top-secret access to the identities of U.S. agents and sources.
After leaving the military, she continued as a defense contractor until 2010, consulting on Iranian matters for firms like Booz Allen Hamilton.  But in 2012, Witt's path took a radical turn. She traveled to Iran for the IRGC-sponsored "Hollywoodism" conference – a hotbed of anti-American propaganda – where she converted to Islam and began praising the regime.  Despite an FBI warning that Iranian intelligence was targeting her for recruitment, she defected in August 2013, fleeing to Tehran and vowing to "put [her] training to good use instead of evil."
From there, the allegations explode: Witt allegedly handed over the code name and details of a highly classified U.S. intelligence program, exposed the true identity of a fellow agent (endangering lives), and compiled dossiers on at least eight former colleagues to aid Iranian hackers in spear-phishing attacks via Facebook and email.  Four Iranian operatives were indicted alongside her for the cyber plot, which aimed to implant malware on American systems.
Was it ideology, resentment from her military exit, or something deeper? Join us as we unpack this real-life spy thriller, the U.S. sanctions on Iranian fronts like the New Horizon Organization, and what her case reveals about the vulnerabilities in our intelligence community. Tune in – you won't believe the twists.

CI Press, Episode 54: NFL Season Kickoff Show - Espionage on the Gridiron

In this fun episode of CI Press, Jeremy Clark and Ryan Rambo dive into the shadowy world of espionage in the NFL, college football, and other professional sports, highlighting where competitive advantage meets clandestine tactics.
 
We unpack key incidents, like the 2007 Spygate controversy, where the Patriots were caught filming opponents’ signals, and other rumored tactics such as bugging locker rooms or hacking communications.
 
Our discussion examines the impact on the game, the NFL’s response, and whether such practices still lurk in the league today. We’ll reveal how far teams go to outsmart their rivals and what it means for the integrity of professional football while referencing a great book on this topic by Kevin Bryant, Spies on the Sidelines.
 
And finally, we make recommendations on how NFL teams can protect themselves from espionage!
 
We look forward to your feedback and hope you enjoy the NFL Season! 

CI Press, Episode 53: ODNI ATA 2025: Iran’s Many-Headed Threat — Proxies, Cyber & Academia

In this episode of CI Press, The Counterintelligence Podcast, Ryan Rambo and guests Brian Velasquez and Bryce Peterson analyze the 2025 ODNI Annual Threat Assessment on Iran. The episode covers Iran’s intelligence apparatus (MOIS, IRGC, Quds Force), proxy networks, cyber operations, and efforts to target U.S. infrastructure, academia, and the defense industrial base.
The hosts discuss historical context, risks to Iranian diaspora, and students, notable espionage cases and assassination plots, and emphasize the need for improved counterintelligence outreach, security integration, and protections for vulnerable communities and research programs.

CI Press, Episode 52: The Walker Files: Inside the Cold War Spy Ring with Dave Snell

In this episode, cohosts Jeremy Clark and Ryan Rambo are joined by Dave Snell (aka Doug) who returns to walk through the John A. Walker Jr. espionage case.  Walker was a Navy radioman who handed over cryptographic key material to the Soviets starting in 1967, built a family-and-friend spy ring, and compromised U.S. naval communications for years.
Jeremy, Ryan, and Dave cover the motivations, tradecraft (dead drops, Vienna meetings), the arrest, and the long-lasting impact on counterintelligence practice, plus practical lessons about insider threat indicators, vetting, and reporting.