The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
The United States has long faced critical threats from its adversaries, but the scale, impact and trajectory of current espionage activity is unprecedented. Disinformation, cyber operations, theft of intellectual property, and efforts to penetrate the US agencies, institutions and companies pose vital challenges for US democracy, security, and prosperity.
Please join the Intelligence Project for a Webinar discussion with Mark Kelton, former Director of Counterintelligence for the CIA, about the espionage war in the shadows taking place on US soil and around the globe. We will compare and contrast the nature of Chinese and Russian espionage, and discuss the threat faced by US institutions to include private companies and universities. We will also discuss the unique counterintelligence challenges posed by disinformation and influence operations, and address the capabilities needed to counter attempts to undermine democratic processes and civil discourse.
While directing CIA’s counterintelligence and counterespionage programs, Mr. Kelton led the team that protected the nation’s most closely guarded secrets. He offers unparalleled expertise in intelligence operations, international security issues, detection of insider threats, and assessment of counterintelligence risk.
Mark Kelton is the Director of MEK & Associates, LLC and a retired senior Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) executive with 34 years of experience in intelligence operations. Mr. Kelton’s CIA career included more than sixteen years of overseas service, to include four assignments in key field leadership positions. He concluded his career as Chief of CIA’s Counterintelligence Center. Directing CIA’s counterintelligence and counterespionage programs, Mr. Kelton led the team that protected the nation’s most closely guarded secrets. He has expertise in intelligence operations, international security issues, detection of insider threats, assessment of counterintelligence risk, and crisis management.
Mr. Kelton is a recipient of the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the CIA Director’s Award, the 2015 Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Senior Intelligence Officer, the CIA Intelligence Medal of Merit, the CIA Donovan Award and many other honors.
Mr. Kelton is: Senior Vice President for National Security Solutions, DynCorp International; an Outside Board Director of Blue Planet-Works, LLC; a member of the Board of Trustees of Valley Forge Military Academy and College; an Advisory Board member for FORCEPOINT, LLC; Board Chair of the Spookstock Foundation (benefitting the CIA Memorial Foundation and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation); an Advisor to the Chertoff Group; and a contributor to The Cipher Brief, writing on intelligence and national security issues.
