From Intel Officer to White House Adviser: A Chat with The Museum’s Executive Director
SpyCast15 Jul 2025

From Intel Officer to White House Adviser: A Chat with The Museum’s Executive Director

This week we spoke with the International Spy Museum's Executive Director, Colonel Chris Costa. His decades-long career in the intelligence community spanned multiple continents, running sensitive operations in Panama, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where he earned two Bronze stars for his human intelligence contributions. Later, Costa advised Navy Seals as a civilian and eventually assumed the role of Executive Director here at the International Spy Museum. In this interview, we zeroed in on 2017 when he was detailed to the White House as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism. Looking for more thoughtful analysis of contemporary intelligence issues? Check out our program Spy Chat – Each month, Chris sits down with a special guest for a live online discussion of the latest intelligence, national security, and terrorism issues in the news. Check our program calendar to register! If you liked this episode, check out these links: Spy Chat with Chris Costa | Special Guest: Tal Sullivan An Evening with H.R. McMaster Operación Jaque - The Daring Rescue Mission That Freed 15 Hostages Prefer to watch your podcasts? Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@IntlSpyMuseum/podcasts. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.

Episoder(730)

“James Foley: Journalist, ISIS Hostage, Son” – with His Mother Diane Foley

“James Foley: Journalist, ISIS Hostage, Son” – with His Mother Diane Foley

Summary Diane Foley (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the legacy of her son, James Foley. James was held hostage and murdered by ISIS in 2014.  What You’ll Learn Intelligence ...

7 Mai 20241h 9min

“Interstellar Intelligence” – with Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb

“Interstellar Intelligence” – with Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb

Summary Avi Loeb (Harvard Biography, Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in outer space. He is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University.  What You’ll...

30 Apr 202458min

“Navigating a Career in Counterterrorism as a Muslim – with Angie Gad”

“Navigating a Career in Counterterrorism as a Muslim – with Angie Gad”

Summary Angie Gad (LinkedIn, Website) joined Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss her career in intelligence analysis. Angie is a first-generation Egyptian-American.  What You’ll Learn Intelligence The r...

23 Apr 202457min

“The Foundations of American Intelligence in WWI” – with Mark Stout

“The Foundations of American Intelligence in WWI” – with Mark Stout

Summary Mark Stout (X; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his new book, World War I and the Foundations of American Intelligence. Mark Stout is a former intelligence analyst and former SP...

16 Apr 20241h 8min

“The Director-General of NZ Security Intelligence Service” – with Andrew Hampton

“The Director-General of NZ Security Intelligence Service” – with Andrew Hampton

Summary Andrew Hampton joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in New Zealand. Andrew is the Director General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.  What You’ll Learn Intelligen...

9 Apr 20241h 7min

“I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher” – with David Oranchak

“I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher” – with David Oranchak

Summary David Oranchak (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his work helping to solve the 340 Zodiac cipher. Dave is a software developer and avid puzzle solver.  What You’ll Learn Int...

2 Apr 20241h 9min

“Bond After Fleming, the Continuation of an Icon” – with Mark Edlitz

“Bond After Fleming, the Continuation of an Icon” – with Mark Edlitz

Summary Mark Edlitz (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss how James Bond lived on in literature after the death of Ian Fleming. Mark is an author and pop culture expert.  What You’ll Le...

26 Mar 20241h 3min

“The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law” – with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid

“The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law” – with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid

Summary Mark Zaid (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss American intelligence and the law. You’ve heard of a “lawyer to the stars,” Mark is the “lawyer to the spies” What You’ll Learn I...

19 Mar 20241h 4min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
i-retten
stopp-verden
forklart
popradet
det-store-bildet
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
fotballpodden-2
rss-gukild-johaug
aftenbla-bla
hanna-de-heldige
rss-ness
bt-dokumentar-2
frokostshowet-pa-p5
e24-podden
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk