UPCOMING MEETINGS

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 

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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:  May 17, 2025
2:00 p.m.

Topic: Afghanistan: Lessons Learned vs. Bumper Stickers and Slogans

The next meeting of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) will be Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. in Kennebunk High School’s Economos Lecture Hall, 89 Fletcher Street and is open to all.  Join us for a timely and thought-provoking presentation led by Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (2005-2007), who earlier served as ambassador to Bahrain and Algeria.
 
Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience and front-line involvement in conflict zones, Ambassador Neumann will examine the often simplistic "bumper sticker" narratives about U.S. engagement in Afghanistan and contrast them with the nuanced, hard-earned lessons that policymakers and practitioners must grapple with.

The presentation will tackle commonly repeated but misleading mantras—such as “Don’t do democracy” or “Don’t build an army in our own image”—and explain their limitations. It will then turn to meaningful lessons worth deeper reflection, including:

*The dangers of Washington-centric policy design
*Effective strategies for working with local leaders
*Challenges in police training and civilian-military cooperation
*The importance of tour lengths and institutional learning

Ambassador Neumann’s insights come from a storied career in diplomacy and defense, including his time as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, senior roles in Iraq and Afghanistan, and service as a U.S. Army infantry officer in Vietnam.

He is the author of Three Embassies, Four Wars: A Personal Memoir and The Other War: Winning and Losing in Afghanistan. He currently serves as President of the American Academy of Diplomacy and sits on several advisory boards supporting diplomacy and education.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear directly from one of America's most experienced foreign service professionals.

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