CI CENTRE STAFF: Kenneth Crosby, Professor

CI Centre Professor Ken Crosby led an incredible life with, as some say, a James Bond-like persona because he caught Nazis spies in America before World War II, worked undercover for the FBI in South America during the war, had dealings with dictators and presidents, was a witness to pivotal revolutions in Argentina and Cuba, had a successful business career with Merrill Lynch for more than 40 years, and moved in international diplomatic and social circles in Washington, DC. His sister-in-law is the Aline, The Countess of Romanones, who wrote the very popular series of books about her experiences as an OSS spy in World War II beginning with the book, The Spy Wore Red. Crosby danced with Ginger Rogers and taught a young movie starlet, Cyd Charisse, a Latin dance while in South America! He met and dealt with many interesting figures in history and had many unique and fascinating stories to tell from his life.

Crosby was born in 1916 in Greeneville, Tennessee and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelors degree in 1937 and a law degree in 1939. He joined the FBI as a Special Agent and worked in New York catching Nazis spies in the city. In 1942, he was selected to be part of the secret, newly formed Special Intelligence Service (SIS) that the FBI had formed to collect intelligence in Latin America. He was assigned to Buenos Aires, Argentina, under the cover of a businessman where he kept tabs on pro-German activity and met the Perons (and yes, danced with Evita). When Peron discovered Crosby’s true purpose, Crosby left the country and served as the Civil Attaché at the American Embassy in Mexico City and also served as the Legal Attaché at the American Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Excerpt from FBI's History on SIS: "......While most FBI personnel during the war worked traditional war-related or criminal cases, one contingent of Agents was unique. Separated from Bureau rolls, these Agents, with the help of FBI Legal Attaches, composed the Special Intelligence Service (SIS) in Latin America. Established by President Roosevelt in 1940, the SIS was to provide information on Axis activities in South America and to destroy its intelligence and propaganda networks. Several hundred thousand Germans or German descendants and numerous Japanese lived in South America. They provided pro-Axis pressure and cover for Axis communications facilities. Nevertheless, in every South American country, the SIS was instrumental in bringing about a situation in which, by 1944, continued support for the Nazis became intolerable or impractical."

When the war ended, the FBI disbanded the SIS. In 1946, Crosby left the FBI to join Merrill Lynch and managed offices in Havana, Cuba for fourteen years. He witnessed Castro’s rise to power, and had to leave the country when the communists took over. Crosby also managed Merrill Lynch offices in Madrid, Spain and Paris, France. He was the Resident Vice President and Manager of the Washington, DC office for eleven years, became the Director of Merrill Lynch’s Office for International and Government Business Development, and since 1981, served as Diplomatic Liaison for Merrill Lynch.

Crosby received the Order of Civil Merit from the Spanish Government, the Order of Merit from the Argentine Government, and the Order of the Southern Cross from the Brazilian Government. He was a member and sat on the Board of Directors of numerous organizations and associations. Crosby passed away November 30, 2003.

Crosby taught in the CI Centre's flagship course, An Overview of Critical Counterintelligence Issues, and he was a star speaker on our first SpyCruise to the Caribbean. All who heard his talks felt privileged to listen to him and the CI Centre was honored to have him as a professor and work with him. Ken was a very dear man and we will always remember his enthusiasm, incredible energy, his positive attitude, his amazing stories, his warm heart and how he enjoyed life.

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