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Hello. Hello and welcome to Spycaste from the Secret Files of the International Spy Museum in Washington,

D.C. I'm Peter Ernest, the Executive Director of the Museum. I served for some

36 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, largely as what is called an Operations Officer

or a case officer.

Every month will be bringing you interesting talks with visitors, with authors,

with others who have something to do with the world of intelligence and espionage.

My guest today is Gail Harris.

I should say Captain Gail Harris.

Gail Harris retired from the Navy after nearly 30 years of service, now lives in Colorado, and she was the first African American to hold a combat intelligence position in 1973 when she was assigned to that

position and she has been in the field of intelligence ever since. And we wanted to talk to Gail today because she'll be doing a program

tonight. She's done a book called A Woman's War, Gail Harris, The professional and personal journey of the Navy's first African American female

intelligence officer.

So let me ask you, Gail, as we begin.

When you and I were talking earlier, you said something along the lines of, when I went into

the Navy and started out, I knew that were going to be challenges because of who and what I was.

Aside from what field you wanted to, could you just touch on that as we start out?

Sure.

Being in the Naval Intelligence Officer was a childhood dream.

So I should say when I joined the Navy, the recruiter told me

the field wasn't yet open to women.

So, but she thought there was a really great man who

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