SpyMaryland

This course takes attendees through a visual presentation of the spies and operational sites used by foreign intelligence services based in the Washington, DC area and operating in Maryland. Specific areas of Maryland became known as “Spy Country” to counterintelligence professionals because of the propensity of intelligence officers to use specific locations for clandestine operational acts.

Maryland is a target-rich environment for foreign intelligence officers intent on collecting information, plans and technology. Maryland receives 20 percent of all Department of Defense contracts. One of the largest industries in the state is the defense industry, and combined with the unusually large number of government agencies and military bases, the premier schools which attract foreign students from all over the world, and the growing high-tech corridors, Maryland is a prime target today for any foreign intelligence service.

The goal of the one-day SpyMaryland course is to enhance the awareness of this foreign intelligence threat and recognize and defend against these dangers.

Through innovative multimedia techniques, instructors show the audience where spy cases and events actually took place in Maryland and inevitably, many in the audience are shocked to recognize the sites. They begin to realize that spying activity takes place all around them—at restaurants, in neighborhood parks and alongside the road near a telephone pole or a tree trunk they drive by everyday.

Each SpyMaryland course has an instructor who is retired from the FBI, CIA or the Department of Defense as well as an instructor who was formerly with the KGB. The former KGB officer gives a stunning segment about recruitment of people in Maryland and ways foreign intelligence officers meet people and elicit information.

The course ends with powerful segment on the consequences of committing espionage and the unseen victims such as the impact of a person’s spying on family members. This one-day course is available to private sector companies, government organizations and military bases located in Maryland and the instructors can present the unclassified course at any facility or at our own training facility.

Did you know:

Foreign spies regularly read newspapers in Maryland such as the Baltimore Sun, but they especially focus on the small newspapers throughout the state. They even tried to buy subscriptions to these smaller newspapers but were thwarted by the FBI. KGB officers from the Soviet Embassy in Washington, DC would drive around Maryland gathering the newspapers and even a couple of times taking them from mailboxes along the side of the road! The officers would then pour over the papers looking for details about local high-tech companies, government agencies, military bases and federal contractors to collect information and targeting assessments on people who work at these places for possible targeting for recruitment either here or overseas. A wedding announcement, for example, might show that the groom is stationed at Andrews Air Force base in a certain unit. Calling classified ads such as a car for sale can be used as a way to meet someone who, if the officer is lucky, may be connected to a high-tech company or government organization. Clubs, social activities and community events listed in Maryland newspapers are also a way for foreign intelligence officers to meet with people with similar interests, such as chess. One former KGB officer tells of dog-eared stacks of Fort Meade newspapers in KGB libraries.

SpyMaryland is the perfect security awareness class that your employees are sure to remember AND is a great way to satisfy your yearly security awareness briefing requirement. [1 day]

Feedback

"This training has helped me to be more alert and know what sort of things to look for and remember it is my responsibility to report unusual incidents."

"This ranks as one of the most impressive CI presentations I have seen in my 34 years in this organization. The flow of information and the timing was masterful. The multimedia aids were especially powerful in driving home the points of the presentation. I learned that the best prevention against spying is to harden the target—me. I thank you for this eye-opening reminder that we need to keep our guard up."

"Excellent security awareness seminar. I will remember this information always—this information is valuable for a lifetime."

"This course helps renew awareness to the reality of espionage."

"This course has given me 100% more awareness."

"I found the briefing very interesting and informative. I never thought about some of the ways one can be approached and I learned a great deal. Thanks for sharing this with the workforce. I look forward to more informative events such as this."

"I wish I had something like this early in my career rather than at the very end."

"All the information was presented well, was interesting and a real eye-opener."

"Excellent!"

"The information shared provides insights and perspectives that should improve awareness to the threat."

"Everyone should have this presentation."

"Realistic!"

"Excellent. I believe this would be valuable for any employee to see."

"I could have listened to this course for a week."

"Well-planned, great speaker—super!"

"Five stars--Excellent!"

"This was highly recommended by coworkers."

"Great presentation and entertaining speakers."

"This course made me more sensitive to the pitfalls of treason and spying."

"I’ve had some of CI Centre’s other courses. I wish everyone here could attend at least one."

"Hearing the details of who, how and why of specific cases—it brings home the damage that can be done."

"Outstanding program—very important for younger government employees to understand the importance of COMSEC, OPSEC, etc; the responsibility we all have to protect the information to which we are granted access."

"Fantastic!"

"I will be more aware of the surrounding environment and the threat that is out there."

"High marks. Keep up the good work. Should be mandatory for all employees."

"Good and useful. Repeat course so others can have this experience."

"This made me more aware of the fact that operatives are active in Maryland and not just in the metropolitan areas."

"Extremely interesting. Very knowledgeable. This course will help me to take a different look at things around me."

"Terrific and I’ll recommend it to those who work for me. Sensitized me to the need for continuous vigilance."

"Outstanding. Makes you think about how attentive you are and should be."

"Very interesting. I’m glad I came."

"Very informative/great presentation. Should do more things like this."

"Dynamic presentation."

"The instructors are excellent speakers with total command of their subjects."

"I would highly recommend this course to others."

"Excellent training! The entire workforce should take this training."

"Very well done—kept me interested all day. I had heard through word of mouth that it was very good."

"Great! Any way to make this course an ongoing event would be greatly supported."

"Excellent presentation featuring real life situations and circumstances. This training illustrates and supports the requirements to sustain daily vigilance of good security awareness."

"This course should be mandatory training for everyone in our business. We tend to “not see.” I will make a point of being more vigilant."

"Outstanding! I liked the speakers presentations, knowledge, humor, relating first-hand experiences with so many cases. "

"The course was fast paced and full of immediate information. I felt that the information could be important to my life and career. The course should be required."

"It was all fascinating. Its authoritativeness was impressive."

"This course has taught me not to think that I could never be a target. It was very beneficial to me. I highly recommend it."

"Course was well put together and well presented. It was both informative and entertaining."

"Absolutely riveting and excellent!"

"Fast paced and at no time was it boring."

"The speakers enthusiasm along with the videos you could not help from being amazed."

"CI Centre presentations are always entertaining, informative, professional and pertinent."