CI Centre Professor Ray Wannall

CI Centre Professor Ray Wannall served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1942 until his retirement in 1976 as the Assistant Director of the Intelligence Division--a 34-year career focused on counterintelligence. During his last job, Wannall was the chief of FBI worldwide counterintelligence and counterterrorism. He gives lectures at the CI Centre about the Morris Childs/Agent 58/SOLO case, on which he was one of the managers. Morris Childs had access to the highest levels of Kremlin leadership from the 1950s to the 1970s and provided the US executive branch with invaluable insight and information. This was one of the most significant, long-term double agent programs in the US.

Wannall is a native of Washington, DC. In 1942, after receiving his law degree from Columbus School of Law (now part of Catholic University of America), he was admitted to the DC Bar. The same year, he entered the FBI as a Special Agent. All but five of his years in the Bureau were spent at FBI Headquarters in the Intelligence Division, which was responsible for all FBI operations regarding intelligence, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, security, espionage and related matters. Wannall's last position was head of the Division as an Assistant Director of the FBI, and in this capacity, he served as the Bureau's representative on the United States Intelligence Board, as well as one of its spokesmen before Congressional committees, civic and other groups.

Wannall's intelligence work has been acknowledged by awards from British and Canadian intelligence services, the CIA, the Emperor of Japan and the Masonic Lodge of which FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had been a life-long member. In September 1992, the Board of Directors of the National Intelligence and Counterintelligence Association extended to him an Honorary Life Membership. He also holds life memberships in the Association of Former Intelligence Officers and the National Intelligence Study Center.

Since retirement, Wannall has continued as an outspoken advocate for a strong and responsible national intelligence establishment before Congressional committees, civic and educational groups in 23 states. He is a frequent guest on radio and television shows. His appearances have included NBC national evening news, ABC Nightline, Entertainment Tonight, CBS Nightwatch, Cable News Network, A&E Network, and the History Channel.

Wannall is the author of several nationally distributed articles and book reviews, and has just completed a full-length book on former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover called, The Real J. Edgar Hoover: For the Record. This book includes a detailed breakdown of the myths surrounding Hoover, myths that are now known to have been created by the KGB in their active measures program (see the Mitrokhin Files book).

He has served as Chairman of the Security and Intelligence Foundation, as Chairman and President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, and on the boards of several organizations, including America's Future, Inc., The Maulden Institute, The Hale Institute, The American Sentinel, and the Harold P. Ransburg Foundation. Presently, he is on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. In his home state of Maryland, he has served on the Governor's Executive Advisory Council.

Wannall and his wife reside in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they operate a consulting business.

Ray Wannall Links

Wannall's book, The Real J. Edgar Hoover: For the Record

Sept 2002 op-ed:

Undermining Counterintelligence Capability

August 1, 1999 Washington Times Op-Ed by Ray Wannall

Wannall interviews/quotes:

"Behind the Headlines: Chinese Spies Flood US," March 1999 interview with Wannall

August 1998 Insight article, "Corporate Snoops Sharpen Skills"

February 1995 Accuracy in Media report re PBS show on J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI

May 1994 Decision Brief, Center for Security Policy

May 1996 America's Future article, "Only One Victim of McCarthyism"