This summer, John R. Sano will join The Institute of World Politics faculty to teach a new course on Covert Action and National Security (IWP 678).
Prof. Sano, a 28-year veteran of the CIA, served as Deputy Director of the National Clandestine Service (formerly the Directorate of Operations) from 2005-07. He previously served as Chief of the East Asia Division in the Directorate of Operations and as a Chief of Station in two foreign and one domestic locations. In addition to other senior assignments, Mr. Sano was the CIA’s chief of North Korean operations in the early 90’s and directed the CIA’s efforts during the Balkan conflict in the mid-90’s.
He will bring this firsthand experience to his course on covert action, an area which remains a highly controversial and generally misunderstood element within the Intelligence Community. The course will address the many facets of covert action, its evolution, and its capabilities. Particular attention will be given to how covert action, as conducted by the CIA, is often used alongside other government initiatives to resolve particularly difficult foreign policy dilemmas.
Founder and president of the Institute John Lenczowski comments: “We at IWP couldn’t be more pleased that John is joining our faculty. He has served at the highest levels of the intelligence community, and his deep experience will be of enormous value to our students and, ultimately, to the country.”