Podcasts
SpyCast
Ep 604
SpyCast 9.26.23
Ep 604 | 9.26.23

“First of Many…America’s First Female Intelligence Agency Chief” – with former NGA Director Letitia “Tish” Long

Show Notes
Transcript

Summary

Letitia “Tish” Long (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her time as the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Tish was the first woman to be appointed director of an American intelligence agency. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

  • GEOINT & its importance
  • Tish’s recollection of the Bin Laden raid
  • The differences between NGO and NGA
  • Information sharing between spy chiefs

Reflections

  • The value of mentorship 
  • Being the first, but certainly not the last

And much, much more …


Episode Notes

This week on SpyCast, Andrew is joined by Letitia Long, former director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Tish became the first female director of an American intelligence agency in 2010, paving the way for many more women in the years after her tenure. Prior to her career in NGA, Tish served as Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence. Tune in to learn more about the work of NGA and hear lessons in leadership from Tish’s extraordinary career in intelligence. 

This episode is the final installment of our five-part Spy Chiefs special series. If you haven’t yet, listen in to our episodes with former CIA Director David Petraeus, Former Director of Kenyan Intelligence Wilson Boinett, Irish Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn, and former R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran.  

And… 

Among many awards and recognitions from the United States, Tish has also been the recipient of numerous international decorations, including: The king of Norway’s Medal of Merit, the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, and has been appointed to the rank of Chevalier in the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France! 

Quotes of the Week

“Make sure that you are taking care of yourself, that you're getting that balance, you know, work life balance. And when I say that, I mean many different things because everybody is different. Whether it's family, friends, spiritual, physical, or working out, you’ve got to take care of all aspects of yourself so you're ready to give 110%. Because that's what the intelligence community takes.” – Tish Long.

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCasts*

*Beginner Resources*

DEEPER DIVE

Books

  • Geospatial Intelligence: Origins and Evolution, R. M. Clark (Georgetown University Press, 2020)
  • Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence, J. Clapper (Penguin Books, 2018)
  • Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad, P. L. Bergen (Crown, 2012)

Articles

Video

Primary Sources 

*Wildcard Resource*

SpyCast
Podcast Info
HOST(S):
Andrew Hammond
Erin Dietrick
Andrew Hammond, Ph.D. is Historian & Curator at the International Spy Museum, home of the world's preeminent collection of intelligence-related artifacts. Previous chapters have included seven years in the RAF, Public Humanities at the 9/11 Museum in NYC, Fellowships here, there, and everywhere, and academia. He is author of the forthcoming book: "Struggles for Freedom": Afghanistan & US Foreign Policy Since 1979. He loves bialys.
Erin Dietrick is the Programs & Podcast Assistant at the International Spy Museum. Erin is a Cleveland native and graduate of the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, where she studied history. She also holds an MA in Museum Studies from the George Washington University. Erin is passionate about storytelling, inspiring critical thinking, and inciting joy through museum programming. She has a special place in her heart for music history and named her orange cat Ringo after Ringo Starr.
Schedule: Tuesdays, 7am EST (weekly)
Credits: SPY: Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughn III, Co-Producers; Emily Rens and Emily Coletta, Graphics; Afua Anokwa and Ariel Samuel, Social Media; Erin Dietrick, Researcher, Scheduler, Editor, Co-Producer, Social Media; Andrew Hammond, Writer, Editor-in-Chief, Executive Producer. CYBERWIRE: Elliott Peltzman, Sound Design; Elliott Peltzman and Tré Hester, mixing; Jen Eiben, Co-producer, Social Media; SpyCast opening music: Wayne Jones, “Cypher” (2018).
Creator: International Spy Museum
SpyCast