UPCOMING MEETINGS

2026

January 17, 2026: Dr. Christopher Heurlin

September 19, 2026: Murray Bauer

October 17, 2026: Bradley Babson

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’s Maine Chapter

ANNOUNCEMENT

October 17, 2026 2:00 PM

“Perspectives on the Evolution of North Korea and Challenges We Face Today”

The Speaker Programs are held in Kennebunk High School’s Economos Auditorium, 89 Fletcher Street, Kennebunk, Maine 04043. The Programs are open to the public.

Our speaker is Mr. Bradley Babson and he will begin with a big picture overview followed with his own involvement and personal experiences since the famine of the 1990’s; then focus on the period since the failed summit in Hanoi with President Trump and the situation today; and end with the assessment of the current dynamics and implications for the future engagement.

Since 1997, Brad Babson has studied the North Korean economy and written extensively on economic perspectives on the integration of North Korea into the international community. He is former Chair of the DPRK Economic Forum at the U.S. Korea Institute, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and served on the Advisory Council of the Korea Economic Institute of America. Presently he is a member of the Board of NCNK, Inc. and serves as Treasurer.

Mr. Babson is a consultant on Asian affairs with a concentration on North Korea and Myanmar. He worked for the World Bank for 26 years before retiring in 2000.

Mr. Babson received his BA degree from Williams College in 1972 and MPA degree from Princeton School of International and Public Affairs in 1974.

Mike Severance

President of Association of Former Intelligence Officers’ Maine Chapter

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