Prof. Paul Kepp (right) with Prof. Glenn Corn (left)Paul Kepp, a retired CIA operations officer, has joined the IWP faculty to teach a new course on Intelligence in Africa: History, Culture, and Trends. The course will be offered for the spring semester on Wednesday evenings. It will take place in person at IWP.
Mr. Kepp is a career intelligence officer, with 34 years of service in the Central Intelligence Agency Directorate of Operations, and in the foreign service community. The majority of Mr. Kepp’s career was in overseas assignments, including five tours as a CIA chief of station in Africa, South Asia, and Europe. In Washington, Mr. Kepp served as Chief of Operations for the Africa Division in the DO, and as Assistant Director of CIA for South and Central Asia.
His new course provides an in-depth exploration of intelligence and security services in sub-Saharan Africa.
Key topics include: the context and contours of modern African intelligence services; internal dynamics, such as ethnic and tribal factors, intra- and interstate conflict, and political influences; regional and national characteristics that shape intelligence practices in Africa; external influences, including the Cold War, terrorism, and great power competition; the practicalities and pitfalls of intelligence work in Africa; current concerns and future trends, such as technology, the privatization of intelligence, and evolving international interest in the continent.
This course may be taken as a part of IWP’s M.A.’s in Statecraft and National Security Affairs, Statecraft and International Affairs, and Strategic Intelligence Studies. It may also be taken as part of several of IWP’s Certificates of Graduate Study.
Prof. Kepp spoke with our students about intelligence services in Africa in April 2024.