544 | Garrett Melich | Retired CIA

We sit down in person with our friend Garrett to unpack what a 24-year CIA career actually looks like when you strip away Hollywood myths. We talk through his move from imagery analysis to case officer, the realities of secrecy and marriage overseas, and how intelligence tradecraft can translate into business and everyday life. • discovering an “old school” office environment with world-class capability • staying in the CIA by changing roles often across analysis and operations • understanding HUMINT recruitment as a slow, high-stakes assessment cycle • spotting red flags and motivations that can break an operation • navigating marriage and family life when both partners live the lifestyle • facing the retirement cliff and why many struggle with transition • applying the HUMINT cycle to business development for better ROI • building a university-style course on OSINT, AI, rapport, and practice • preparing for international travel when technology fails 

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