K Walther

With new technologies emerging every year a double edged sword is being forged in aiding the Terrorists as well as the Defenders. A major difference is that the Terrorists have no “oversight” yet the free-world Defenders have, at times, oppressive oversight in employing “intelligent technologies” to thwart bloodthirsty Terrorist groups. This presentation will examine some Technologies and Operational Methodologies available & speculate why the USG's preventive measures are criticized as being intrusive or violating personal freedoms. In addition to the Technology Overview, Ken will provide an introduction to Counter-Surveillance and basic Tradecraft techniques one can use to spot and recognize potentially hostile activities. The presentation covers:

Technologies available to the Western Countries:

Pro-active: Radio Communications, Cellular Communications, Computer Correspondence, Tracking & Locating, Close range beacons, Stand-off tracking (incl’ cell tracking)

Passive: Access Controls, Facial recognition, Sensors, Encryption

Technologies Available to Terrorists Organizations:

Pro-active: Surveillance, Recording devices for Audio & Video (digital devices)

Target casing using concealed and overt Digital Devices

Overhead (free) satellite imagery for targeting & planning routes

New: Introduction to Tradecraft & Counter Surveillance measures

Ken W. Walther worked as an undercover Technical Operations Officer for the Central Intelligence Agency for 27 years. Primarily in the Directorate of Science and Technology (DS&T), but also in the Directorate of Operations (DO) and the Directorate of Administration (DA). Prior to the Agency Ken served four years in the Army Security Agency (ASA) with three years in Southeast Asia involved with tactical SIGINT collection, e.g. Radio Finger printing and Radio Direction Finding.

During his career with the CIA, Ken spent seventeen years serving on overseas assignments and his work led him to visit 101 countries. Twenty years of experience overseas, with the CIA and military, allowed Ken to experience a variety of cultures, languages and operational activities. He built many relationships

Ken retains some fluency in French, Spanish with conversational familiarity in Mandarin, Thai, German, Swedish, and Swahili. Living for extended periods in Asia, Africa, Central and South America and Europe were building blocks in a succession of intelligence operations against a variety of targets to include:

Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Espionage, Counter-Narcotics, Counter-Intelligence and Arms Interdiction

Prior to his retirement, Ken was a Senior Instructor at an Agency training facility working for the Office of Training and Education. Students included both Agency recruits and military from the Defense Intelligence Agency. At retirement, the Agency allowed Ken to retire “open” and his cover was rolled back. He was allowed to accept awards that had been previously locked away because of his cover status. He was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit for conducting operations of high national security value as well as the Career Intelligence Medal. He also had numerous certificates from the Department of State and DIA.