Podcasts about cia shadow warrior

Enrique “Ric” Prado is a 24-year veteran of the CIA's operations directorate, playing a pivotal role in counterterrorism and clandestine operations. As a co-founder of the Osama bin Laden task force, Alec Station, and later Chief of Operations for the CIA's Counterterrorist Center, he was instrumental in the agency's post-9/11 counterterrorism expansion. Prado led high-stakes intelligence and kinetic operations worldwide, earning recognition for his leadership in some of the most challenging missions against terrorist networks and hostile foreign agents. His career has been described as an "operational adventure," with significant contributions to some of the most critical covert actions in modern CIA history. Born in Cuba, Prado experienced the Cuban Revolution before immigrating to the U.S. as a refugee. He later served as a U.S. Air Force Pararescue operator before joining the CIA, where he spent decades in high-threat environments, including Latin America, the Middle East, and East Asia. He was a key figure in operations against the Shining Path in Peru, the Abu Sayyaf Group in the Philippines, and North Korean intelligence activities. After retiring from the CIA, he continued his work in private intelligence and security operations. A recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the CIA's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Prado is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and daring intelligence officers of his generation.He is an author of the best seller, “Black Ops- the life of a CIA Shadow Warrior.” Ric understands resilience, high stakes leadership and how to be incredibly decisive when it matters most. Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior https://www.cbsnews.com/video/black-ops-the-life-of-a-cia-shadow-warrior/ To know more about Ric visit his website: www.ricprado.comAll of the episodes in April are brought to you by The Outlier Project where we choose to live extraordinary lives.

Ric Prado is a paramilitary, counter-terrorism, and clandestine operations specialist with a 24-year career in the CIA's Directorate of Operations. A seasoned field operative, he spent a decade in the Agency's Special Activities Division before serving as Deputy Chief of Station of the Bin Laden Task Force and Chief of Operations at the CIA's Counterterrorism Center on 9/11. From running counter-terrorism missions in Central America, Peru, and the Philippines to coordinating high-stakes operations with our nation's most elite special mission units, Ric has been at the heart of America's most critical covert missions. He is the author of BLACK OPS: THE LIFE OF A CIA SHADOW WARRIOR. FOLLOW SCOTTLinkedIn: @Enrique-Ric-PradoFacebook: @RicPradoInstagram: @prado_ricTwitter: @RicPrado2Website: https://www.ricprado.com/FOLLOW JACKInstagram - @JackCarrUSA X - @JackCarrUSAFacebook - @JackCarr YouTube - @JackCarrUSASPONSORSCRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/Bravo Company Manufacturing Mk15 Timepiece - MOD3:https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-mk15-timepiece-mod-3/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSATHE SIGs of Jack Carr, From Savage Son: P320 X Compact, P320 Custom build from True Precision, P365 Customized from the Sig Custom Workshop, P226 Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc STACCATO HD: https://staccato2011.com/hd and on Instagram @staccato2011Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear 

Ric Prado has chased bad guys all over the world. He took down terrorist Osama bin Laden, he worked undercover in North Korea and he’s risked his life more times than he can count. The former CIA operative joins Gary Jubelin to reveal what really goes on behind closed doors to keep the world safe. Learn more about Ric Prado with his book, Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ric Prado spent three years sleeping in the Honduran jungle as an undercover spy. As a high-ranking CIA operative working in top secret Black Ops, Ric had one mission - do what he’s told and don’t get caught. As the real life James Bond, there’s a lot Ric can’t talk about - but this is what he can. Learn more about Ric Prado with his book, Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, here. Can’t get enough of I Catch Killers? Stay up to date on all the latest crime news at The Daily Telegraph. Get episodes of I Catch Killers a week early and ad-free, as well as bonus content, by subscribing to Crime X+ today. Like the show? Get more at icatchkillers.com.au Advertising enquiries: newspodcastssold@news.com.au Questions for Gary: icatchkillers@news.com.au Get in touch with the show by joining our Facebook group, and visiting us on Instagram or Tiktok.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ric Prado teamed up with Grey Dynamics to give away signed copies of his book. The only thing you have to do to win is to comment “blackops” under the episode of this post. You will receive a DM with instructions!Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics podcast! The week we are talking to Ric Prado, a former CIA paramilitary operations officer and clandestine Special Activities Division (SAD) operator. Ric spent 24 years in the CIA, operating in the Middle East, Latin America, and East Asia. During the war on terror, Ric served as Chief of Operations at the CIA Counterterrorist Center (CTC), as well as setting up the Bin Laden Task Force. Previously, he served as an elite US Air Force Pararescue man. His New York Times Bestseller book, “Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior”, tells his life story and extraordinary experiences along the way. We spoke about leaving Cuba as a refugee, experiences on operations, being in the CIA as 9/11 unfolded and much more.Find Ric Pradoricprado.comLinkedInWe Spoke About:0:00 Ric Prado's background2:50 Leaving Cuba alone at the age of ten after the revolution6:26 Having a mischievous streak and not fitting in7:54 Ric's first day at CIA headquarters10:14 What was the onboarding process and first mission like?13:32 What makes Cuban-Americans so patriotic?17:53 Ric's experience working with the Sandinista's in Nicaragua21:43 Studying to become a CIA officer and going to “the farm”24:48 Going to work in Costa Rica27:51 Experiencing 9/11 from inside the CIA35:13 Experiencing the culture change in the CIA during the war on terror40:10 Discussing Billy Waugh45:50 Why do intelligence professionals in fiction get such a negative reputation?48:17 Advice for young people53:19 What Rick does now he has retired from the CIA56:35 Cultural recommendations1:00:34 Book GiveawayAdvance Your Intelligence Career Today!We are the first fully online intelligence school helping professionals to achieve their long term goals. Our school with tons of new material is currently under construction and will be out there very soon. Meanwhile, you can sign up and be the first to know when we launch, plus get exclusive tips and offers.Get access to exclusive Grey Dynamics ReportsWith security clearance, you can take a crucial role in our intelligence community. As a cleared member, you get access to Secret & Top Secret grade publications. If you are a Top Secret holder, you also get access to our community area, where you can interact with other members and with our analysts! Subscribe today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This WEDNESDAY night, January 31st 2024, on the I Detective Show, we will dive into the story of the real Ethan Hunt, Ric Prado, a CIA Shadow Warrior. He was the man who the Agency sent in on impossible missions that had to be done. Ric face some of the deadliest terrorists in the world and kept the United States safe. Ric was dropped into the jungles of South America, training anti-communist forces. Then fighting in the Philippines, Korea, and other hostile countries. After 9/11, he was the co-founder of the Bin Laden task force. Ric is an unsung hero who this county owes a debt to for keeping us safe.

- SIGN UP FOR MyBookie: https://www.mybookie.ag/mobile-betting/  - Julian Dorey Podcast GEAR: https://www.23point5.com/creator/Julian-Dorey-9826?tab=Featured  - Support Our Show on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey  (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Stuart Wexler is an author and researcher. Stu's investigative journalism work over the years includes the JFK Assassination, MLK Assassination, RFK Assassination, and CIA Covert Operations. Buy Stu's Book on MLK Assassination, “Killing King”: https://shorturl.at/abM04  ***TIMESTAMPS*** 0:00 - Biden & The Kennedy Files; Why Files may never be released; John Newman's JFK Investigations 6:06 - Lee Harvey Oswald & the CIA Pre JFK Assassination 13:52 - Stu's theory on Lee Harvey Oswald; What Oswald & John F Kennedy had in common 17:57 - Oswald's agenda & role in JFK Assassination 22:22 - How much did JFK know about Fidel Castro Assassination attempt? 24:59 - JFK & Mafia in 1960 election; Joseph Kennedy's relationship w/ mafia 29:42 - Johnny Roselli & connection to JFK 33:36 - Oswald's Patterns 35:55 - Charles Waters, Jack Bowen & Oswald Impersonation; Joe Bonanno ties to JFK 42:39 - Stu's less sinister take on Oswald / Jack Bowen 45:14 - JFK's brother Bobby post-assassination; Bobby vs the Mob 46:46 - Che Guevara; Stu's father's theory on JFK Assassination 53:05 - New Docs Prove JFK Cover-up? Cuba, Castro & Bay of Pigs 56:36 - CIA Director Allen Dulles, the Nazis, Operation Paperclip & Otto Skorzeny 1:04:41 - Mossad 1:09:16 - Nazis & JFK Theory 1:14:32 - Hitler's Death; The Nazi Ratlines; Modern German Nazis in South America Story 1:20:16 - Nazi West Berlin Guerrilla Warfare Plot 1:24:16 - Otto Skorzeny & Post WW2 Assassin Network; Stu's Theories on JFK 1:33:02 - Miami Fontainebleau Hotel JFK Assassination Plot; Why JFK was killed 1:37:56 - Stu's view on the CIA Covert Operations 1:42:16 - CIA Shadow Warrior, Ric Prado & CIA Counterterror ops in US 1:47:36 - Iran Contra; CIA's point of view on world 1:50:26 - Runaway Trolley Experiement; Comparing Dictators 1:56:49 - Why Stalin & Hitler hated each other 1:59:04 - 2 phase conspiracy cover-up of JFK Assassination (blaming Castro) 2:02:39 - Stu's best hypothesis on JFK Assassination 2:09:25 - Oswald's real role in JFK Assassination 2:13:28 - The George Joannides JFK Files 2:15:31 - How close did CIA come to killing Castro?; Silvia Odio connection w/ Oswald & Cuba 2:21:44 - CIA's Castro Assassination Plan for Veradero Beach; Carl Jenkins & Gene Wheaton 2:30:29 - Kiki Camarena Murder 2:34:49 - Oswald & MK Ultra 2:45:29 - Stu expands upon potential JFK Assassination Theories & CIA 2:49:17 - Pentagon & JFK Assassination; Curtis LeMay connections to UFOs 2:53:09 - Stu walks us through JFK Assassination Scene 2:55:46 - The bungled JFK Autopsy 3:00:29 - Magic Bullet Theory 3:06:04 - Lone Shooter vs Multiple Shooters 3:12:13 - Tink Thompson's investigation of JFK Assassination 3:15:40 - Stu's books on MLK & CIA ~ Get $150 Off The Eight Sleep Pod Pro Mattress / Mattress Cover (USING CODE: “JULIANDOREY”): https://eight-sleep.ioym.net/trendifier Julian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey ~ Music via Artlist.io ~ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 160 - Stu Wexler

Never forget. This is the twenty-second anniversary of 9/11. In this special episode, CIA Shadow Warrior Ric Prado talks about escaping Cuba under Fidel Castro, and joining the CIA as a contract paramilitary officer before getting the chance to join full-time as a case officer. He was part of Alec Station at CIA—the task force hunting the world's most wanted terrorist. A riveting account of operating in the shadows to defend and protect America. Get Ric's book here - “Black Ops - The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior”. Join us at Patreon.com/gameofcrimes for great content you won't hear anywhere else Donate at paypal.me/gameofcrimes or go to paypal.com and use our email: gameofcrimespodcast@gmail.com Go to GameOfCrimesPodcast.com for more info and merch Follow us on... Twitter Facebook Instagram

Never forget. This is the twenty-second anniversary of 9/11. In this special episode, CIA Shadow Warrior Ric Prado talks about escaping Cuba under Fidel Castro, and joining the CIA as a contract paramilitary officer before getting the chance to join full-time as a case officer. He was part of Alec Station at CIA—the task force hunting the world's most wanted terrorist. A riveting account of operating in the shadows to defend and protect America. Get Ric's book here - “Black Ops - The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior”. Join us at Patreon.com/gameofcrimes for great content you won't hear anywhere else Donate at paypal.me/gameofcrimes or go to paypal.com and use our email: gameofcrimespodcast@gmail.com Go to GameOfCrimesPodcast.com for more info and merch Follow us on... Twitter Facebook Instagram

In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Ric Prado, a former PJ and CIA agent. An accomplished New York Times bestselling author, his book "Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior" has sold over 75,000 units. With appearances in over 120 interviews, including FOX News, Ric's stories have captivated audiences. Today, we're honored to offer Ric the chance to provide mentorship for those interested in a life of adventure and meaning. 

Ric Prado, aughot of "Black Ops, The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior" is Phillips guest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the covert world of intelligence and espionage, where shadows merge with reality, there exists a select group of individuals who operate on the razor's edge between life and death. Among them is a man named Ric Prado, AKA the "Shadow Warrior."Ric's story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the unyielding pursuit of justice in the face of adversity. A true warrior with a heart of steel, Ric has spent his entire life on the frontlines of some of the most dangerous and classified missions the world has ever seen. His esteemed career spans over three decades, defined by his unwavering commitment to national security and counterterrorism. From his early years as a military officer to his exceptional service in the CIA, Ric's expertise in counterterrorism and intel operations is unparalleled.TIMESTAMPS:0:03:09 - Impact of the Cuban Revolution on Private Businesses and Education 0:05:38 - Operation Peter Pan and Ric's journey to the US 0:10:46 - Transition from an Orphanage to Hialeah, FL 0:12:34 - From High School Troublemaker to Elite Pararescueman 0:14:47 - A Professional Diver's Journey to Becoming a Pararescueman and Joining the Central Intelligence Agency 0:16:26 - CIA Recruitment and President Reagan's Latin American Policy 0:22:27 - Ric's Journey from Miami to Honduras and Beyond 0:29:09 - Entry into the Counterterrorist Center 0:31:08 - Plank Owner of the Bin Laden Task Force 0:34:35 - Billy Waugh: Legendary Green Beret and CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer 0:36:10 - Ric's Experiences in North Africa and Korea with the Bin Laden Task Force 0:40:38 - The Mental and Physical Fortitude Required for High-Risk Missions 0:42:21 - Recounting Near-Death Experiences 0:46:07 - CIA Operations Officer's Dedication to the Mission 0:47:37 - Unwavering Love of Country: The Challenges of Counterterrorism in the 21st Century 0:52:31 - Private Military Contractors and the Rise of ISIS 0:56:31 - Blackwater's Role in Saving the Polish Ambassador's Life 0:57:44 - The Use of Private Military Contractors in the Ukraine Conflict 1:02:06 - Cybersecurity and His New Book "Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior 1:07:53 - The Benefits of Responsible Training 1:14:00 - The Proper Usage of Handguns for Effective SecuritySYMLINKSLinkedInRic Prado - Black OpsBlack Ops: Life of a CIA Shadow WarriorOperation Peter PanCofer BlackBilly WaughBuzzy KrongardErik PrinceBlackwaterFour BranchesDRINK INSTRUCTION4 BRANCHES BOURBONFounder's BlendPour 2 oz of Bourbon into a whiskey glass. Swirl, smell the aromas, take small sip, savor the flavors, swallow and then exhale.Enjoy slowly.INTERVIEWERSChris GlandenDoug GotayEPISODE SPONSORN/ACONNECT WITH USBecome a SponsorSupport us on PatreonFollow us on LinkedInTweet us at @BarCodeSecurityEmail us at info@barcodesecurity.com

Ric Prado's life and historic career seems like something that was ripped right out of a Tom Clancy Novel. From escaping Communism as a young boy to being recruited by the CIA to help fight the spread Communism in Central America. Ric was at the Tip of the Spear at some of the most Dangerous times in History. Join us, as we discuss Ric's life as a CIA Shadow Warrior.Get Ric's book today by clicking the link below!BLACK OPS: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior If you love what we do and want to support the cause, don't forget to LIKE, SHARE, AND SUBSCRIBE! Oh by the way, we just launched our own magazine click the link below to get the first issue for FREE! The DEBRIEF Vol. 1Want to help us grow? Buy us a coffee by clicking the link below! Adult content warning Nonstandard.org is dedicated to providing the veteran and 1st responder communities with new and unconventional methods of healing. Head on over to nonstandard.org today and sign up for a free ice barrel today!Support the show

Jack is currently on a break. Here is a an episode from the Spycast podcast called "Black Ops: The Life of a Legendary CIA Shadow Warrior". To learn more about Spycast visit: https://www.spymuseum.org/podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Kiriakou John Kiriakou was a CIA analyst and case officer from 1990 to 2004. In December 2007, John was the first U.S. government official to confirm that waterboarding was used to interrogate al-Qaeda prisoners, a practice he described as torture. Kiriakou was a former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a former counter-terrorism consultant. While employed with the CIA, he was involved in critical counter-terrorism missions following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but refused to be trained in so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques,” nor did he ever authorize or engage in such crimes. After leaving the CIA, Kiriakou appeared on ABC News in an interview with Brian Ross, during which he became the first former CIA officer to confirm the existence of the CIA's torture program. Kiriakou's interview revealed that this practice was not just the result of a few rogue agents, but was official U.S. policy approved at the highest levels of the government. Kiriakou is the sole CIA agent to go to jail in connection with the U.S. torture program, despite the fact that he never tortured anyone. Rather, he blew the whistle on this horrific wrongdoing. John can be reached at: jkiriakou@mac.com. 10 months ago #cia, #covers, #ed, #hitman, #john, #kiriakou, #mob, #opperman, #past, #report, #shadow, #spreaker, #up, #warrior

Summary Enrique “Ric” Prado (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his new memoir “Black Ops.” One of the most renowned CIA officers of his generation tells his story. Book You can buy Ric's book, Black Ops, and support the International Spy Museum's mission here. What You'll Learn Intelligence His time as CIA Counterterrorist Chief of Operations which included 9/11 His career battling communist insurgents and Islamic terrorists on multiple continents His experience living in “Contra” camps during the Nicaraguan Revolution His time as Dep. Chief of Station and co-founding member of the Bin Laden Task Force Reflections Conquering your emotions to stay focused in a crisis His journey fleeing the Cuban Revolution as a young boy to CIA via USAF Pararescue And much, much more… Episode Notes Ric Prado spent twenty-four-years in the CIA – and what a twenty-four years it was. His first 36 months were in the jungles of Central America as the first CIA officer to live among the “Contras,” including a period with the Miskito Native people; indeed, the photos he took ending up on the desk of CIA Director Bill Casey. So, what was it like at the pointy end of the Reagan Doctrine's anti-communist spear, or as CIA Counterterrorist Center Chief of Ops during 9/11? To find out, and to hear more about Ric's storied career, Andrew sat down with him for this week's episode. One of the meanings of the noun “legend” is “a story coming down from the past.” Many people who were in the business at the CIA and elsewhere will have heard the stories that come down from the past re Enrique “Ric” Prado, but now we all have a chance to hear Ric set the record straight in his own words.  And… If Ric's communist uncle hadn't alerted the family that his school intended to send him off to the Soviet Union as a promising student for further education…if he hadn't taken an Oceanography class at Miami Dade College and met someone who led him to USAF Pararescue…if he hadn't been tipped off that he was to be killed in a Contra camp during the night and extricated himself from the situation…as Bob Dylan said, summing up so much of the human condition, “one more time, for a simple twist of fate.” Quote of the Week "The wiring was there and the mentoring from my dad…then the trip to the orphanage. And then definitely when I got into pararescue…being one of our special operations forces, the training is very, very intense…And making it through SERE school, making it through mountain climbing school. There's a certain level of conquering your emotions that you have to do…But I think that the most important thing was that I believed in what I was doing." – Ric Prado Resources SpyCast Episodes In the CT Center on 9/11, C. Storer A Life in the CIA, Hank Crumpton Interview with Cofer Black CT, Nicholas Rasmussen CT Strategy: P. Bergen & C. Costa Rethinking CT: J. Blazakis Books The Reagan Doctrine, J. Scott (DUP, 1996)  The Real Contra War, T. Brown (UOP, 2001) Insurgency to Stability, “The Philippines,” Rabasa et al., (RAND, 2011) Shining Path's Politics of War, C. Degregori (UWP, 2012) Red Revolution: Philippine Guerillas, G. Jones (Routeledge, 2019) The Shining Path, Starn & Serna (Norton, 2019) US Relations with Latin America (Five Books) Articles “Shining Path Leader Dead,” BBC (2021) “Nicaragua Veers to Dictatorship,” J. Cordoba, WSJ (2021) Documentaries Nicaragua Was Our Home (L. Shapiro, 1985) Ballad of the Little Soldier (W. Herzog, 1985) Primary Sources President Carter to Somoza (Brown, 1979) Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (NSA, 1981) US Aid to Nicaragua (1982) Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (Brown, 1983) Goldwater to Casey, “I'm Pissed Off” (Brown, 1984) Reagan State Of The Union (APP, 1985) Reagan Address Nicaragua (ReaganLib, 1986) Contras Lost Congress (WaPo, 1986) 25 Years of the NPA (Hartford, 1994)  Wildcard Resource The Clash, Sandanista (Album, 1980)

Ric and Brandon talk about Ric's life escaping from Cuba, his career in the CIA, the book and a lot of other things not in the book that you''' enjoy.About Ric PradoEnrique “Ric” Prado is a paramilitary, counter-terrorism, and special/clandestine operations specialist, with a focus on international training operations and programs.  Mr. Prado is a twenty-four year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency where he served as an Operations Officer in six overseas posts.  He was Deputy Chief of Station and “Plank Owner” of the original Bin Ladin Task Force/Issues Station under Senior Analyst, Michael Scheuer, as well as Chief of Station in a hostile Muslim country.   He also served as Chief of Operations in the CIA's Counterterrorist Center (CTC) during the September 11th attacks, where Mr. Prado coordinated CIA/CTC's special operations (SPECOPS) activities with the National Security Council and FBI, as well as with elite U.S. military representatives from Delta Force and SEAL-Team Six, then detailed to CTC/CIA. Mr. Prado spent his first ten years at CIA as a paramilitary officer in Special Operations Group/Special Activities Division (SOG/SAD) which is CIA's “special operations force,” including 36 months of service in Central America as the first CIA officer living in the anti-Sandinista “Contra” camps, running counter-terrorism operations in Peru and the Philippines. Mr. Prado is now semi-retired but enjoys serving the “SPECOPS” Community as Subject Matter Expert (SME) at the SWCS' ASOTC (Advanced Special Operations and Techniques Course) and ASOT Managers Course, Dragon Warrior, Emerald Warrior, among others.CONNECT WITH USSign up for our NewsletterOver 17,200 listeners and countinghttps://edge.ck.page/bea5b3fda6EPISODE LINKS:Ric Prado's Book: Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow WarriorBest price on Amazon here:https://amzn.to/3XM3NTyEDGE PODCAST INFO:Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edge/id1522407349Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7a3WcnSn9PlvwwF5hn4p4SWebsitehttps://MyEDGEPodcast.comOther Great Podcasts From the Best Podcasts NetworkOn Business Podcasthttps://OnBusinessPodcast.comMARKETING Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing/id1653276478 Other Great Podcasts From the Best Podcasts NetworkOn Business Podcast On Business Podcast is an unscripted, brutally honest, candid, sometimes ugly, conversation about running businesses & successful companies, for aspiring entrepreneurs, current startups, or experienced business owners looking to elevate their business. https://OnBusinessPodcast.comMARKETING PodcastThe MARKETING podcast brings you marketing science, case studies that reveal successful marketing techniques and teach strategic marketing analysis where we model the data and turn it into financial forecasts so you have predictable revenue.Brandon can't promise you instant marketing success after each episode. But...he guarantees that you will find each MARKETING episode always reliable, always actionable, and always useful for your marketing efforts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing/id1653276478

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Enrique “Ric” Prado, author of New York Times bestselling book “Black Ops, The Life of a Shadow Warrior”. Ric, who was born to a middle class family in Cuba, was ten years old when his family sent him alone to the United States to save him from the abuses of Fidel Castro's Marxist regime. Ric's parents, whose property and business had been confiscated by that regime, would not be able to join their son in the US for eights long months, during which time Ric lived in a Colorado orphanage. Once reunited with his parents, he and his family quickly embraced the US as their new home, settling in Florida. Ric will be sharing many exciting stories about his life and twenty four year career with the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), where he operated in the shadows at various locations in the world during the Cold War Era and the Age of Terrorism. Ric eventually achieved the rank of CIA Counterterrorist Chief of Operations, the CIA equivalent of a two star general. This is Ric's story of incredible dedication, patriotism and courage. Photo(s) Courtesy of Ric Prado and YHYS Podcast Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man Your History Your Story links: https://linktr.ee/yhyspodcast Black Ops book on Amazon (our affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3CrXPPF Time Stamps 2:20 Ric's early years in Cuba, parent's coffee roasting business 6:00 Castro's regime moves in and family moves to Havana 11:20 Ric leaves Cuba with the Peter Pan program at age 10, memories of leaving parents at airport, Orphanage in Pueblo, CO, Reunited with parents after eight months. 19:00 Family settles in Florida, moving forward in the US, Ric's education and becoming citizens of the US. 23:45 High School days and getting in the "wrong crowd", hippie story & the American Flag 31:30 Paramedic / EMT / Fire and Rescue training, Applying to the CIA. 38:30 What does Black Ops mean?, Keeping his cover and assignments all over the world, Spy school. 47:00 Scary moments & staying alert, being aware of your surroundings. 51:00 Shift from communism to terrorism, Bin Laden task force, 9/11 and witnessing the planes hitting the WTC towers. 1h 7m End of Ric's career with the CIA, retirement and reflection. Why Ric wrote Black Ops, 139 stars on wall of fallen CIA agents.

Of all of the Central Intelligence Agency's activities, paramilitary operations might remain the least understood. This, in part, is both a cause and a consequence of inaccurate portrayals of such work in prominent movies; it's also because fewer memoirs come from the CIA's Special Activities Division than from traditional human intelligence collectors and from analysts.David Priess chatted with former CIA officer Ric Prado about the fiction and the reality of CIA paramilitary operations, including stories Ric tells in his book, “Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior.” They spoke about what Hollywood gets wrong about intelligence work, Ric's escape as a child from Castro's Cuba, his path to a CIA career, differences between paramilitary operations and intelligence collection, his years of work with the Contras in Central America, the Counterterrorist Center (CTC) at CIA before and on 9/11, the work ethic in CTC after 9/11, why his book has substantial chunks of redacted text, and who he thinks played the best James Bond.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced by David Priess with Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo, with additional editing by Cara Shillenn. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of all of the Central Intelligence Agency's activities, paramilitary operations might remain the least understood. This, in part, is both a cause and a consequence of inaccurate portrayals of such work in prominent movies; it's also because fewer memoirs come from the CIA's Special Activities Division than from traditional human intelligence collectors and from analysts. David Priess chatted with former CIA officer Ric Prado about the fiction and the reality of CIA paramilitary operations, including stories Ric tells in his book Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior. They spoke about what Hollywood gets wrong about intelligence work, Ric's escape as a child from Castro's Cuba, his path to a CIA career, differences between paramilitary operations and intelligence collection, his years of work with the Contras in Central America, the Counterterrorist Center (CTC) at CIA before and on 9/11, the work ethic in CTC after 9/11, why his book has substantial chunks of redacted text, and who he thinks played the best James Bond.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced by David Priess with Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo, with additional editing by Cara Shillenn. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad. Among the works mentioned in this episode:The book Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior by Ric PradoThe film ArgoThe film Three Days of the CondorThe Jason Bourne filmsThe film True LiesThe Mission Impossible filmsThe James Bond films Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Robert Child for a conversation with author and former CIA Counter Terrorist Chief of Operations Ric Prado. Ric is a retired CIA operations officer specializing in paramilitary, counter-terrorism, and covert operations. Escaping Cuba as a child amidst the violence of Castro's Cuban Revolution, he would retire as the CIA's equivalent of a two-star general after a 24-year career. His book is called Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior. Watch our new military history documentary, Weather and Warfare, FREE on Tubi the streaming service from Fox. LINK https://tubitv.com/movies/680635/weather-and-warfare-millennia-to-modern-time Sign up for our twice monthly email Newsletter SOCIAL: YouTube Twitter Facebook Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robert-child/support

In this episode, Enrique 'Ric' Prado - a former senior CIA operations and paramilitary officer - discusses his memoir, "Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior," which reveals the covert wars that America has fought since the Vietnam era and sheds light on the elite officers who are often the tip of the spear. Recorded 19 April 2022. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. 

Welcome back to part two of my interview with former Operations Officer of the CIA, Ric Prado!My guest on the show today is New York Times Bestselling Author and retired Operations Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency Enrique “Ric” Prado. Mr. Prado is a twenty-four-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency where he served as an Operations Officer in six overseas posts. Mr. Prado spent his first ten years at CIA as a paramilitary officer in Special Operations Group/Special Activities Division (SOG/SAD, Ground Branch), the CIA's “special operations force.” His service included 36 months in Central American jungles as the first CIA officer living in the anti-Sandinista “Contra” camps. Subsequently running counterterrorism/insurgency operations in Latin America and in the Philippines.  Cuban born and immigrating solo to the US at 10 - which landed him in an orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado - “Ric” inherited early on a “debt of honor” to the USA. Thus, he volunteered for military service at 20. Ric joined the US Air Force elite Pararescue Teams P.J.'s. In today's episode we discuss:·      Tradecraft and situational awareness. How average citizens can stay safe following some basic concepts. ·      Coopers Scale.·      How to not get caught by the enemy, and what to do if you are.·      Pre and post 9/11 and how it changed our nation and how the intelligence community conducted their business. ·      Communication between the FBI and CIA.·      Why Ric wrote the book Black Ops and how it has changed him and others. ·      Why Ric's book, Black Ops should be required reading for high school and college students today.·      Our biggest threats to the United States today.·      Why socialism is the mask of communism. All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Check out Part One of my interview with Ric! Visit Ric Prado's website to learn more about him and his book, Black Ops. Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook groupIf you are a new author and are wondering how to maximize sales or you are a published author who wants to elevate your author career, check out Self Publishing 101 and Mark Dawson's Ads for Authors! Support the show

This week, Justin chats with Enrique "Ric" Prado, a retired case officer and Paramilitary operative of the CIA.  Ric is also the author of his memoir, Black Ops.  Ric dives into his career, from fleeing the Peter Pan Project and his home country of Cuba to serving in Nicaragua with the Contras, including past guest Mike Lima AKA Luis Moreno.  Soon after his time in Latin America and a few years in the Phillippines, Ric was contracted by the CIA to form the very task force that eventually took down Osama bin Laden. Outed by newspapers as CIA in 2009, Ric is the highest-ranking American covert operator to share his story publicly.An extended edition of this episode, featuring 26 minutes of additional interview content, is available now on Patreon.Check out Episode 34: Life as a Nicaraguan Contra with Luis Moreno for more on the Contras, the Sandinistas, and Nicaraguan counterrevolution.Connect with Ric:ricprado.comBuy his book, Black Ops:  The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, here.https://www.amazon.com/Black-Ops-Life-Shadow-Warrior/dp/1250271843LinkedIn: Enrique (Ric) PradoConnect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101 Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show

My guest on today's show was so interesting, his life story couldn't fit in just one episode! So, look for episode two of this interview to go live on June 12, 2022. My guest on the show today is New York Times Bestselling Author and retired Operations Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency Enrique “Ric” Prado. Mr. Prado is a twenty-four-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency where he served as an Operations Officer in six overseas posts. Mr. Prado spent his first ten years at CIA as a paramilitary officer in Special Operations Group/Special Activities Division (SOG/SAD, Ground Branch), the CIA's “special operations force.” His service included 36 months in Central American jungles as the first CIA officer living in the anti-Sandinista “Contra” camps. Subsequently running counterterrorism/insurgency operations in Latin America and in the Philippines.  Cuban born and immigrating solo to the US at 10 - which landed him in an orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado - “Ric” inherited early on a “debt of honor” to the USA. Thus, he volunteered for military service at 20. Ric joined the US Air Force elite Pararescue Teams P.J.'s.  In today's episode we discuss:·      Why Ric carried the Walther PPK as a backup weapon, the iconic spy gun used by James Bond.·      The false portrayal of the Central Intelligence Agency spun by Hollywood common in movies and television.·      Common C.I.A. terms and vocabulary.·      Ric's early memories of Fidel Castro's forces invading and occupying Cuba.·      John F. Kennedy's betrayal of the people of Cuba and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.· What life in Castro's Cuba was really like, including the government taking all your possessions, public lynchings, children encouraged to spy on their parents, and what a Castro neighborhood watch looked like. · Ric's escape from communist Cuba to the United States at age ten without his parents and landing in an orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado.· Ric's path to becoming a member of the Air Force's elite Pararescue Teams known as the P.J.'s, him being a firefighter/paramedic for Miami Dade Metro, and how those experiences helped him eventually become a C.I.A. Operations Officer. · Ric's first job with the C.I.A. as a contractor helping the Contras fight the communist Sandinistas in the jungles of Honduras. All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Visit Ric Prado's website to learn more about him and his book, Black Ops. Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook groupIf you are a new author and are wondering how to maximize sales or you are a published author who wants to elevate your author career, check out Smart Passive Income PodcastWeekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your online business the smart way.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Our guest is a legendary CIA paramilitary and operations officer Enrique “Ric” Prado. Ric arrived in the United States as a refugee from Cuba. His parents sent him to the US to escape Castro's Cuba. Ric dedicated himself in service to his county in many capacities starting off as a member of the US Air Force's elite Para Rescue unit (PJ's). After his tour with the PJ's, Ric began a successful 24-year career in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During his tenure at the CIA, Ric was involved in many operations, including counter-terrorism, and other dangerous special missions around the world. Ric ended his CIA career as a highly decorated senior leader in the Agency (Senior Intelligence Service) Let us dive in and talk about the leadership DNA of a CIA officer. My Podcast is AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/roninleadership Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3L1rMYP Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3ucjxD1 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3KY44MO FOLLOW THE RONIN: Website: MikeHowardAuthor.com Instagram: @Real_MikeHoward Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealMikeHoward/ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/MikeHowardRoninLeadership Youtube: https://bit.ly/RoninLeadership Twitter: https://twitter.com/roninauthor --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/roninleadership/message

As America takes time to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation, we bring back two of Sara's recent interviews to illustrate what it takes to keep this nation safe and free. First, we go back to Sara's November conversation with her husband, Marty. He was a Delta Force member who served on countless deployments before being wounded and blinded in Afghanistan more than a decade ago.Then we reflect back on Sara's interview earlier with year with Enrique "Ric" Prado, a former CIA station chief and author of "Black Ops: Secrets of a CIA Shadow Warrior." Ric and Sara reflect back on the CIA's opportunity to deal with Osama bin Laden before 9/11, his work with the Nicaraguan Contras in the 1980's, fighting Communism in other parts of the world and much more.Please visit our great sponsors:My Pillow https://www.mypillow.com/carterSave $90 in the MyPillow MySlipper Blowout Sale!The Association of Mature American Citizenshttps://amac.us/carterThe benefits of membership are great, but the cause is even greater.Presidential Election Projectwww.presidentialelectionproject.comVisit to learn more about why reform of the Electoral Count Act is so important.

In this episode, we welcome Ric Prado to the show. Ric had a legendary 24-year career in the United States' Central Intelligence Agency. His career spanned two eras: The Cold War and the Age of Terrorism. Prado received the CIA Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal (highest award given upon retirement) and the George H. W. Bush Award for Excellence in Counterterrorism, among other awards. He is a paramilitary, counterterrorism, and special clandestine operations specialist, and served as an Operations Officer in six overseas posts. When he left public service, Prado worked as an executive at a private military contractor where he built a specialized operations team. He is currently a co-owner of Camp-X Training, where he continues his service training and supporting the Spec Ops community, teaching Advanced Special Operations and Techniques among other essential skills. Also, he's the author of Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior. He's the first covert operator of major rank to pen a fully operational memoir in the history of the CIA. He retired as the equivalent of a 2-star general in the military. In this interview we discuss what it was like growing up in Cuba during the Revolution, how young Americans are romanced by Communism, how he and his family managed to get to America, growing up on the streets of Miami, how he found himself in the CIA, his service on the ground during the time of Iran Contra, his reaction to seeing the 9/11 attacks, how the US had the ability to easily kill Osama bin Laden in the 1990s but decided against it, and much more. Let's get into it… Episode notes and links HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enrique Prado found himself in his first firefight at age seven. The son of a middle-class Cuban family caught in the midst of the Castro Revolution, his family fled their war-torn home for the hope of a better life in America. Fifty years later, the Cuban refugee retired from the Central Intelligence Agency as the CIA equivalent of a two-star general. Black Ops is the story of Ric's legendary career that spanned two eras, the Cold War and the Age of Terrorism. Operating in the shadows, Ric and his fellow CIA officers fought a little-seen and virtually unknown war to keep USA safe from those who would do it harm.After duty stations in Central, South America, and the Philippines, Black Ops follows Ric into the highest echelons of the CIA's headquarters at Langley, Virginia. In late 1995, he became Deputy Chief of Station and co-founding member of the Bin Laden Task Force. Three years later, after serving as head of Korean Operations, Ric took on one of the most dangerous missions of his career: to re-establish a once-abandoned CIA station inside a hostile nation long since considered a front line of the fight against Islamic terrorism. He and his team carried out covert operations and developed assets that proved pivotal in the coming War on Terror.A harrowing memoir of life in the shadowy world of assassins, terrorists, spies and revolutionaries, Black Ops is a testament to the courage, creativity and dedication of the Agency's Special Activities Group and its elite shadow warriors.Ric's book:"Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior"https://www.amazon.com/Black-Ops-Life-Shadow-Warrior/dp/1250271843Today's sponsors:

Enrique "Ric" Prado is a former clandestine services officer with the CIA and joins ClearanceJobs to chat about what it is like to life life as a CIA shadow warrior. Ric is a paramilitary, counter-terrorism, and special operations specialist, and a twenty-four year veteran of the CIA where he served as an Operations Officer in six overseas posts. He was Deputy Chief of Station and "Plank Owner" of the original Bin Ladin Task Force, Chief of Station in a hostile Muslim country, Chief of Operations in the CIA's Counterterrorist Center during the September 11th attacks, where Mr. Prado helped coordinate CIA/CTC's special operations (SPECOPS) activities with the National Security Council and FBI, as well as with elite U.S. military representatives from Delta Force and SEAL-Team Six, then detailed to CTC/CIA. He retired as Senior Intel Service-2 (SIS-2, Major General equivalent at CIA).This conversation is heavy on his first ten years at the agency as a paramilitary officer for the CIA's "special operations force." including 36 months in Central America jungles as the first CIA officer living in the anti-Sandinista "Contra" camps. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Former Chief of Counterterrorist Operations Ric Prado spent the bulk of his CIA career undercover, taking on the hardest challenges the Agency had, from Nicaragua to Afghanistan. Now, the Cuban refugee shares the secrets of why he did it, and why he thinks it's time to set the record straight.

Former CIA Official and Author Ric Prado discusses his new book "Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior."

Rick chats with author and former CIA agent Ric Prado about his new book "Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior," former conman and subject of the new documentary "King of Con" Barry Minkow, and top defense attorney and author David S. Rudolf about his new book "American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in the Central Intelligence Agency's history, a covert operator of major rank and standing pens a fully operational memoir. Ric Prado's BLACK OPS: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior(St. Martin's Press) lays out this decorated hero's twenty-four career fighting in the shadows to protect a nation and home that welcomed him at his most desperate hour as a child of communist repression. In BLACK OPS, Prado shares the harrowing true stories of life in the deadly web of international assassins, spies, revolutionaries, terrorists, and killers. He reveals how he and his fellow CIA officers devoted their lives to operating in the shadows to fight a little-seen or known war to keep the U.S. safe from those intent on destroying the nation. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Enrique “Ric” Prado spent a legendary twenty-four year career in the Central Intelligence Agency spanned two era's: The Cold War and the Age of Terrorism. Mr. Prado received the CIA Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal (highest award given upon retirement) and the George Bush Award for Excellence in Counterterrorism, among others. He is a paramilitary, counterterrorism, and special clandestine operations specialist, and served as an Operations Officer in six overseas posts. Upon leaving public service, Prado worked as an executive at a private military contractor where he built a specialized operations team. He is currently the co-owner of Camp-X Training, where he continues his service training and supporting the SPECOPS community, teaching Advanced Special Operations and Techniques among other essential skills. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/steve-richards/support

John Kiriakou John Kiriakou was a CIA analyst and case officer from 1990 to 2004. In December 2007, John was the first U.S. government official to confirm that waterboarding was used to interrogate al-Qaeda prisoners, a practice he described as torture. Kiriakou was a former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a former counter-terrorism consultant. While employed with the CIA, he was involved in critical counter-terrorism missions following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but refused to be trained in so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques,” nor did he ever authorize or engage in such crimes. After leaving the CIA, Kiriakou appeared on ABC News in an interview with Brian Ross, during which he became the first former CIA officer to confirm the existence of the CIA's torture program. Kiriakou's interview revealed that this practice was not just the result of a few rogue agents, but was official U.S. policy approved at the highest levels of the government. Kiriakou is the sole CIA agent to go to jail in connection with the U.S. torture program, despite the fact that he never tortured anyone. Rather, he blew the whistle on this horrific wrongdoing. John can be reached at: jkiriakou@mac.com.

John Kiriakou John Kiriakou was a CIA analyst and case officer from 1990 to 2004. In December 2007, John was the first U.S. government official to confirm that waterboarding was used to interrogate al-Qaeda prisoners, a practice he described as torture. Kiriakou was a former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a former counter-terrorism consultant. While employed with the CIA, he was involved in critical counter-terrorism missions following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but refused to be trained in so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques,” nor did he ever authorize or engage in such crimes. After leaving the CIA, Kiriakou appeared on ABC News in an interview with Brian Ross, during which he became the first former CIA officer to confirm the existence of the CIA's torture program. Kiriakou's interview revealed that this practice was not just the result of a few rogue agents, but was official U.S. policy approved at the highest levels of the government. Kiriakou is the sole CIA agent to go to jail in connection with the U.S. torture program, despite the fact that he never tortured anyone. Rather, he blew the whistle on this horrific wrongdoing. John can be reached at: jkiriakou@mac.com.

John KiriakouJohn Kiriakou was a CIA analyst and case officer from 1990 to 2004.In December 2007, John was the first U.S. government official to confirm that waterboarding was used to interrogate al-Qaeda prisoners, a practice he described as torture.Kiriakou was a former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a former counter-terrorism consultant. While employed with the CIA, he was involved in critical counter-terrorism missions following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but refused to be trained in so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques,” nor did he ever authorize or engage in such crimes.After leaving the CIA, Kiriakou appeared on ABC News in an interview with Brian Ross, during which he became the first former CIA officer to confirm the existence of the CIA's torture program. Kiriakou's interview revealed that this practice was not just the result of a few rogue agents, but was official U.S. policy approved at the highest levels of the government.Kiriakou is the sole CIA agent to go to jail in connection with the U.S. torture program, despite the fact that he never tortured anyone. Rather, he blew the whistle on this horrific wrongdoing.John can be reached at: jkiriakou@mac.com.

The Central Intelligence Agency, better known as the CIA, is the principal foreign intelligence and counterintelligence agency of the U.S. government. The CIA's primary job is collecting and analyzing foreign intelligence and conducting covert action, and U.S. policymakers, including the President of the United States, make policy decisions based on the information provided by the CIA. On this very special episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Ric Prado, a decorated hero and CIA shadow warrior, who spent years fighting to protect the nation and home that welcomed him as a child from a communist repression. Craig and Ric discuss Ric's book, BLACK Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, what the CIA does, how our laws as a country apply, and how they apply in foreign situations. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists.

The Central Intelligence Agency, better known as the CIA, is the principal foreign intelligence and counterintelligence agency of the U.S. government. The CIA's primary job is collecting and analyzing foreign intelligence and conducting covert action, and U.S. policymakers, including the President of the United States, make policy decisions based on the information provided by the CIA. On this very special episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Ric Prado, a decorated hero and CIA shadow warrior, who spent years fighting to protect the nation and home that welcomed him as a child from a communist repression. Craig and Ric discuss Ric's book, BLACK Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, what the CIA does, how our laws as a country apply, and how they apply in foreign situations. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists.

Author of "Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Washington Post reporter for the The Cybersecurity 202 newsletter Joseph Marks speaks with Enrique “Ric” Prado about his new memoir, “Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior.”

A lot of Americans think they have it bad.  There's a shortage of a luxury good.  Their cell phone isn't brand new any more.  You know, real problems.  Pretty much on the same level as your country's government assassinating your family because you're not loyal enough, if you ask the average college student.  For people who actually experienced totalitarianism, an old cell phone doesn't seem so bad.  Ric moved to this country and put his life on the line for it because he has something most of us don't: perspective.  Now you can gain some perspective too, by reading his book.  Or you can just dismiss it as fake and cry about Target being out of Funko Pops.  That seems to be a popular thing to do. Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior - amzn.to/35GmNfG See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary Enrique “Ric” Prado (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his new memoir “Black Ops.” One of the most renowned CIA officers of his generation tells his story. Book You can buy Ric's book, Black Ops, and support the International Spy Museum's mission here. What You'll Learn Intelligence His time as CIA Counterterrorist Chief of Operations which included 9/11 His career battling communist insurgents and Islamic terrorists on multiple continents His experience living in “Contra” camps during the Nicaraguan Revolution His time as Dep. Chief of Station and co-founding member of the Bin Laden Task Force Reflections Conquering your emotions to stay focused in a crisis His journey fleeing the Cuban Revolution as a young boy to CIA via USAF Pararescue And much, much more… Episode Notes Ric Prado spent twenty-four-years in the CIA – and what a twenty-four years it was. His first 36 months were in the jungles of Central America as the first CIA officer to live among the “Contras,” including a period with the Miskito Native people; indeed, the photos he took ending up on the desk of CIA Director Bill Casey. So, what was it like at the pointy end of the Reagan Doctrine's anti-communist spear, or as CIA Counterterrorist Center Chief of Ops during 9/11? To find out, and to hear more about Ric's storied career, Andrew sat down with him for this week's episode. One of the meanings of the noun “legend” is “a story coming down from the past.” Many people who were in the business at the CIA and elsewhere will have heard the stories that come down from the past re Enrique “Ric” Prado, but now we all have a chance to hear Ric set the record straight in his own words.  And… If Ric's communist uncle hadn't alerted the family that his school intended to send him off to the Soviet Union as a promising student for further education…if he hadn't taken an Oceanography class at Miami Dade College and met someone who led him to USAF Pararescue…if he hadn't been tipped off that he was to be killed in a Contra camp during the night and extricated himself from the situation…as Bob Dylan said, summing up so much of the human condition, “one more time, for a simple twist of fate.” Quote of the Week "The wiring was there and the mentoring from my dad…then the trip to the orphanage. And then definitely when I got into pararescue…being one of our special operations forces, the training is very, very intense…And making it through SERE school, making it through mountain climbing school. There's a certain level of conquering your emotions that you have to do…But I think that the most important thing was that I believed in what I was doing." – Ric Prado Resources SpyCast Episodes In the CT Center on 9/11, C. Storer A Life in the CIA, Hank Crumpton Interview with Cofer Black CT, Nicholas Rasmussen CT Strategy: P. Bergen & C. Costa Rethinking CT: J. Blazakis Books The Reagan Doctrine, J. Scott (DUP, 1996)  The Real Contra War, T. Brown (UOP, 2001) Insurgency to Stability, “The Philippines,” Rabasa et al., (RAND, 2011) Shining Path's Politics of War, C. Degregori (UWP, 2012) Red Revolution: Philippine Guerillas, G. Jones (Routeledge, 2019) The Shining Path, Starn & Serna (Norton, 2019) US Relations with Latin America (Five Books) Articles “Shining Path Leader Dead,” BBC (2021) “Nicaragua Veers to Dictatorship,” J. Cordoba, WSJ (2021) Documentaries Nicaragua Was Our Home (L. Shapiro, 1985) Ballad of the Little Soldier (W. Herzog, 1985) Primary Sources President Carter to Somoza (Brown, 1979) Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (NSA, 1981) US Aid to Nicaragua (1982) Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (Brown, 1983) Goldwater to Casey, “I'm Pissed Off” (Brown, 1984) Reagan State Of The Union (APP, 1985) Reagan Address Nicaragua (ReaganLib, 1986) Contras Lost Congress (WaPo, 1986) 25 Years of the NPA (Hartford, 1994)  Wildcard Resource The Clash, Sandanista (Album, 1980)

Today's guest is Ric Prado. Ric is a paramilitary, counter-terrorism, and clandestine operations specialist, with a focus on international training operations and programs. He is a twenty-four year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he served as an Operations Officer in six overseas posts. He was Deputy Chief of Station and "Plank Owner" of the original Bin Ladin Task Force/Issues Station as well as Chief of Station in a hostile Muslim country. Ric also served as Chief of Operations in the CIA's Counterterrorist Center (CTC) during the September 11th attacks, where he helped coordinate the CTC's special operations (SPECOPS) activities with the National Security Council and FBI, as well as with elite U.S. military representatives from Delta Force and SEAL-Team Six, then detailed to CTC. He retired as Senior Intel Service-2 (SIS-2, Major General equivalent at CIA). Ric's new book Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior hits bookstores on March 1st and details his life and career conducting some of the most important covert wars that America has fought since Vietnam. In this interview, we'll dive deep into the contents of the book.Timestamps00:02:33 His reasons for writing the book 00:10:11 Difference between CIA officers and agents 00:11:02 The subtlety of CIA work 00:11:44 Enhanced interrogation techniques 00:15:47 Growing up in Cuba 00:20:54 The sacrifice his parents made to give him a better life 00:24:32 Getting in trouble in Miami 00:27:16 The impact that martial arts has had throughout his life 00:29:36 His time in Air Force Pararescue 00:35:16 Transition into the CIA 00:39:00 His relationship with his wife Carmen while working in the CIA 00:41:02 Helping train the Contras in Honduras 00:50:28 Lessons learned about gaining trust 00:53:38 His perspective on high performing teams 00:57:56 America's engrained sense of fair play 01:02:01 Recruiting agents in the field 01:06:39 Cooper's Colors 01:10:06 What he could share and not share with loved ones while working in the CIA 01:12:05 CIA vs. Washington DC politics 01:15:16 His perspective on the current Russia-Ukraine situation 01:19:15 What he wants to accomplish 10 years from now 01:22:06 His daily routine 01:23:40 His driving force 01:27:56 Parting words for the listeners