But we are delighted to have jonna. Jonna began her career overseas in germany where she was working and was recruited by cia. In 1966. At that time they brought air into she became a technical operations officer. Tech ops, technical operations officers, often are crosstrained in a variety of things. In jonnas case she was trained in disguise, identity transformation, and clandestine imaging. I will let her explain that if any of you are interested in that. But her really top specialties were photography and disguise. She was assigned in the mid1980s, 1986 to what in the agency call denied area operations. They were called that because of the absolutely pervasive surveillance we had to deal with in russia, our principal adversary, and east europe. It was so persistently so pervasive we had to develop special techniques. We became very good at communicating with our agents or secret sources even under surveillance. And tony and jonna helped facilitate that. Jonna herself was made chief
Her photography work, which she now does every variety of places. It is on exhibit and at their home in maryland. She and tony have lectured in a variety of places, World Affair Councils colleges, and so forth. She is a regular appearer here on either a panel or as a single lecture. I will mention one book. I think this was your first book. Spy dust. It is about their years in moscow. Denied area operations. This is where you first hear the term moscow rules. It is used, this book, in, often with new intelligence personnel coming into the agency. Its that good, and it covers that many operations. So i have said enough. Jonna, it is delightful to have you here. Please help me welcome jonna mendez. [applause] good morning. There is no better way to start the day than to be introduced by peter. It is inspiring. In another life, in another time , i lived in d. C. And i was the smithsonian resident associate. I did so many programs with the smithsonian once we moved out of washington, d. C.
This is about an hour and half. Let me address our speaker today. Someone who i have known for a number of years. I should mention right off the bat, i see her quite regularly. She is on the board of advisors of the International Spy museum. And she and her husband, tony, whom many of you know from his fame in particular from argo. Tony could not be with us today but we are delighted to have jonna. Jonna began her career overseas in germany where she was working and was recruited by cia. In 1966. At that time they brought air into she became a technical operations officer. Tech ops, technical operations officers, often are crosstrained in a variety of things. In jonnas case she was trained in disguise, identity transformation, and clandestine imaging. I will let her explain that if any of you are interested in that. But her really top specialties were photography and disguise. She was assigned in the mid1980s, 1986 to what in the agency recall denied area we call denied area operations