Online Registration

What It's Really Like to Work in the CIA

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is one of the most powerful and mysterious organizations in the world; but because it is a secret and controversial institution, it is widely misunderstood. This course will cover, among other things: the nature of intelligence, daily life of an intelligence officer, the member organizations of the US Intelligence Community, changing targets of intelligence, and foreign intelligence services. There will be a number of detailed case studies showing intelligence in action, including the takedown of Osama Bin Laden. Plenty of time will be allowed for questions and comments. Tim Walton attended the College of William & Mary, then did a tour in the US Navy, serving on shore and at sea in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. After that, he got a PhD in history from the University of Virginia, which included being a Fulbright Scholar in Paris. For 24 years he served as a political analyst at the CIA, covering European politics, counterterrorism, the collapse of Yugoslavia, and finally being an instructor at the CIA’s in-house analytic training academy. From 2011-2023 he was a professor of intelligence analysis at JMU, and is the author of several books on intelligence.

Please contact our office regarding availability of this course:


540-568-4253
pce@jmu.edu