Previous Lectures

Being "Q": The Creative Design of Espionage Tradecraft

9:00–10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 14, 2005
Antonio Joseph Mendez & Jonna Hiestand Mendez,

TOPIC: How comprehensive planning and creative design principles are used in the field of espionage

KEYNOTE DESCRIPTION: Excellent operational tradecraft and spy gear are fundamental to the secure conduct of espionage operations. Effective spies have to know how to plan for and design these technical tradecraft solutions so that their human sources are able to remain for extended periods in hostile territory and are afforded secure and timely communications in order to pass vital intelligence. Two former members of the Office of Technical Services of the Central Intelligence Agency (the real-life "Q" branch) will describe how an elite group of artisans and engineers created innovative solutions to these problems during the Cold War, and how similar work is being done today in the war against terrorism. The cutting-edge technology used by the CIA and the intelligence community is born out of operational necessity, driven by real-time need. Tony and Jonna Mendez, two technical operations officers, will define and describe the makeup and mission of the Office of Technical Services and how this organization evolved out of need before and during the Cold War. They will present examples of the many types of tradecraft innovations that were designed and created during that time, including a detailed rundown on the CIA's operational disguise program using a Power Point presentation and a series of video clips. This will serve to illustrate some of the disguises and the practical uses that have been made of creative design and comprehensive planning techniques to conduct real espionage operations.

GRADE LEVEL/AUDIENCE: All ages

IMPLICATIONS FOR K-12 DESIGN EDUCATION: The processes of prototyping and modifying designs in intelligence technical operations are typically a function of operational schedules and real world restraints, similar to the design process in any high-pressure industry or situation.