Dead Drops and Disguises – A Female CIA Officer in 1980s Moscow

I explore the remarkable journey of Susan Miller, a former CIA operations officer who transitioned from a quiet childhood in California to the thrilling world of espionage. Growing up in Sunnyvale and Santa Rosa, she was surrounded by the tech industry, with her father working for Hewlett-Packard. However, her aspirations led her to California Polytechnic State University, where she pursued journalism.

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What began as a joke application to the CIA turned into a life-changing opportunity. After a series of interviews and tests, she found herself in Washington, D.C. at the young age of 21, ready to embark on a career that would take her around the globe. Her experiences in the CIA were not just about intelligence gathering; they were filled with challenges, training, and the excitement of being an operations officer.

The episode delves into her rigorous training, including paramilitary courses that prepared her for the realities of fieldwork. She shares thrilling stories from her time in Moscow during the late 1980s, a period marked by significant political change. With a front-row seat to history, she witnessed protests and the Soviet Union’s shifting dynamics, which added layers of complexity to her covert operations.

Susan shares her insights on surveillance techniques and the unique challenges faced by women in intelligence roles during that era. Her journey is not just a tale of espionage; it is a reflection on personal growth, the pursuit of adventure, and the impact of historical events on individual lives. Susan served nine times overseas and eventually rose to become the CIA’s Chief of Counterintelligence.

 

Part two can be heard here  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode442⁠

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Keywords

Cia, Espionage, Operations Officer, Surveillance, Moscow, Cold War, Women In Intelligence, Undercover Missions, California, Journalism, Paramilitary Training, Language Acquisition, International Relations, Intelligence Community, Gorbachev, Soviet Union, Covert Operations, Career Paths, Cia Training, Historical Events