UPCOMING MEETINGS

March 16, 2024: 

Josef “Joe” Kurlanski presenting on cyber security. 2:00 p.m.

Kennebunk High School, Economos Lecture Hall

April 20, 2024: 

Speaker: Foreign Service Officer (Ret.) Louis Sell.

May 18, 2024:  Speaker:  International Photojournalist Jonathan Alpeyrie.

June 15, 2024: 

Speaker: Ambassador R. Cekuta

September 2024:  Cancelled

October 2024:  Michael Ambler

November 16, 2024:  Cancelled

2025

January 18, 2025:   Bill Hall

February 15, 2025:  Cancelled!

March 15. 2025:  Colonel (Ret.) Joseph R. Connell and David W. Morrison

April 19, 2025: Robert (Bobby) Charles

May 17, 2025:  Ambassador Ronald Neumann 

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS

The Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) was incorporated in 1975 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-political, educational association for current and former intelligence professionals and supporters of the US intelligence community. The Association is based in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

AFIO’s mission is to build a public constituency for a sound, healthy and capable U.S. intelligence system. The focus is on education fostering an understanding of the important role of intelligence in National Security and nurtures interest by students in careers in the many fields used by U.S. Intelligence Agencies. This includes the role of supporting intelligence activities in U.S. policy, diplomacy, strategy, security, and defense.

In addition, AFIO focuses on understanding the critical need for effective counterintelligence and security against foreign, political, technological, or economic espionage, as well as covert, clandestine and overt counter-terrorist or criminal operations threatening US security, the national infrastructure or corporate and individual safety.
AFIO’s mission has special significance in today’s international diplomatic and business environments.

Membership and subscription:
To join or subscribe go to: www.afio.com

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to build a public constituency for a sound, healthy and capable U.S. intelligence system. Our focus on education fosters an understanding of the important role of intelligence in National Security and nurtures interest by students in careers in the many fields used by U.S. Intelligence Agencies. This includes the role of supporting intelligence activities in U.S. policy, diplomacy, strategy, security and defense.

In addition, AFIO focuses on understanding the critical need for effective counterintelligence and security against foreign, political, technological or economic espionage, as well as covert, clandestine and overt counter-terrorist or criminal operations threatening US security, the national infrastructure or corporate and individual safety.

AFIO’s mission has special significance in today’s international diplomatic and business environments.

All Maine Chapter of Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) meetings are OPEN and the GENERAL PUBLIC is encouraged to attend. All are welcome to hear our speakers, who are primary source experts, express their views and opinions.

Maine Chapter’s effort is to help us all become better informed on the speakers’ subject matter; to become more knowledgeable on the facts behind current media headlines. We have also had foreign nationals give presentations on their perspective and opinions on their country or specific incidents.

The Chapter’s mission is to promote to the general public why it is important, necessary, to have a strong and effective intelligence capability as USA’s first line of defense. Please come and help us accomplish our mission.

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AFIO MEETING: April 19, 2025
International Narcotics and Terrorism
and the Future of Maine.

The next meeting of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) will be Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. in Kennebunk High School’s Economos Lecture Hall, 89 Fletcher Street and is open to all.

Robert “Bobby” Charles will be speaking on “International Narcotics and Terrorism and the Future of Maine.” Having worked extensively on counternnarcotics and counterterriorism policy, both domestically and abroad, he brings a wealth of knowledge this complex topic. A former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, he also served as Staff Director and Chief Counsel to the U.S. House National Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice Subcommittee.

Charles is also known for his frequent media appearances, where he shares his insights on global threats and their impact on local communities. He has taught at Harvard University and served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. A longtime Maine resident, Charles combines national security expertise with a strong grasp of the challenges facing Maine and New England in an increasingly interconnected world.

His presentation will explore how the global nexus of narcotics trafficking and terrorism poses real and evolving challenges for states like Maine, And examine potential policy responses.

Following the presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session.