5-Day Course   Instructors include:   Dr. Sue Adams Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and counterintelligence training and interviewing/ interrogation expert. Served 21 years with the Bureau.   David Major CI Centre President. First Director of Counterintelligence, Intelligence and Security Programs at the National Security Council in the White House. Senior FBI Supervisory Special Agent. Retired after 24 years with the FBI in the discipline of counterintelligence.   Connie Allen CI Centre Vice President for Training and Education. Senior Instructor and Counterintelligence Special Agent in the US Army. Retired with 25 years in the US Army.   John Martin, Esq. Chief of Internal Security for the US Justice Department. Supervised the prosecutions of 76 accused spies. Retired with 26 years with the Justice Department.   Dr. Vlad Nacev Dr. Nacev is a Psychologist with 30 years of clinical experience and 26 years as a university professor. He is also a retired Navy Commander and is currently working as an intelligence officer in the intelligence community.   Dr. Tawfik Hamid Former member of the extremist Islamic group Jamma’a Islameia, current Islamic thinker and reformer. Author of "The Roots of Jihad" and "Inside Jihad".

518

Espionage Investigations and

Interviewing Techniques

This seminar is designed to provide an introduction to the complexities of and the decision making processes associated with investigating and prosecuting espionage cases in the United States in the 21^st Century. 

The seminar examines the psychology of espionage and the basis for opening espionage investigations. It explains the evolution of key legal and policy decisions associated with prosecuting espionage cases.

The seminar provides insights into and tools for interviewing in the new millennium. These tools include a self assessment of the agent’s behavioral skills; interpersonal communication; interviewing techniques and detection of deception; interviewing uncooperative subjects; and some practical exercises in interviewing espionage suspects. 

This seminar provides espionage investigators in the US national security community a deeper understanding of the status of counterespionage today, and their individual roles in the protection of our nation’s most vital secrets, plans, and programs. (5 days)

Course Topics

© Copyright The Centre for Counterintelligence and Security Studies/

David G. Major Associates, Inc.

Overview of Why People Spy: Motivating Factors to Consider when Investigating Espionage Suspects

Anatomy of Espionage

Legal Issues

• Understanding past espionage cases which established case law for espionage violations

• How these individuals have been exposed:

  • Corroboration (Kampiles)

  • Agent of a foreign power (1941 case)

  • Pelton (how long can you talk with a suspect)

  • Walker case, etc and others.

• Failures and mistakes encountered during espionage investigations: Cook, Smith, Koecher cases

FISA: Magic Dragon Case (Humphrey/Troung)

MLAT (Overseas investigations, procedures & interaction with host nations)

Development of an investigative plan

Anatomy of a Sting: Sombolay and Ryan Anderson Cases

Insights into Interviewing and Interrogating Terrorists

Counterintelligence Interviewing:

• Self Assessment for Interviewers - DISC Behavioral Styles

• DISC Behavioral Styles and CI Interviewing Techniques

• Detecting Deception during Interviews

  • Nonverbal Clues to Deception

  • Verbal Clues to Deception

• Deception and Questioning Techniques

• Interviewing Suspects

  • Theme Development for Espionage Suspects

  • Interview Plans

• Interviewing Suspects – Practical Exercises

What did you learn in this course that will help you in your career and profession?

• "Interview techniques and psychology and basically I don’t have enough room in this area or the whole page to convey how helpful this class has been to enable a career, profession, or individual."

• "CI investigative techniques and relevant legal issues."

• "I learned something from all the instructors and sections of this course. It was great to have a class that was geared toward OSP."

• "Multiple tools for interviewing, increased understanding of legal issues, better insight into CI/CE history."

• "It has given me a new baseline to work from in my career."

• "Several flaws in my interviewing style. Helped to re-learn things I had forgotten."

• "Everything! #1—Always consult with your lawyer! #2—Interviewing: how to assess personalities."

• "Nuances of CI/espionage investigations."

What will you do differently as a result of this knowledge? 

• "I will be more proactive in establishing training for my section and myself in order to be a more effective interviewer. The investigative tools and the legal aspects will identify who I have to contact so that our support is more aware of our investigative authority rather than just our restrictions."

• "Use the DISC and ARC approaches."

• "Hopefully be a better overall investigator."

• "Approach interviews differently and hopefully be more effective."

• "Actually be able to accomplish the CI mission."

• "Work on detection of deception."

• "More tandem interviews."

• "I will approach my interviews differently now that I can tell when to push. I will work more closely with my Magistrate."

• "I will use these new skills and knowledge to enhance my communication and analysis skills as well as my interviewing techniques, i.e. rapport building, matching, etc."

• "I’ll take this back to the office for training. Also recommend for professional development."

• "Alter my investigative and interview approaches to CI/espionage investigations."

 What did you like best about this course and why?

• "I learned something new, not just every day, but almost every hour I was in this class."

• "Everything, particularly case study discussions and statement analysis."

• "Everything. Well taught and I learned an enormous amount throughout the week."

• "Mr. Major is an excellent presenter! By far the best course I’ve attended in government service."

• "The practical exercises and the different agencies."

• "Great refresher, something new all the time, interviewing portion was excellent."

• "Interview training. The training took an art form and provided a scientific approach."

• "The case studies—because it’s important to learn from past mistakes."

• "An understanding of CI from people that know so much I don’t think you can find that anywhere else."

• "The instructors because of the depth and wealth of knowledge shared."

• "All of the instructors were excellent and there was a lot of interaction with the students."

• "One thing that I truly appreciate on your website is the ‘Recommended Reading’. This has been very helpful when determining what to read and knowing that it was accurate."

• "New perspectives on familiar topics. The staff/facility—ultimate professionals. Thank you!"