Jeanne Vertefeuille
| Jeanne Vertefeuille | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 23, 1932 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Died | December 29, 2012 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Bachelor's degree, history, University of Connecticut, 1954 |
| Occupation | CIA officer |
| Employer | CIA |
| Known for | Investigation which uncovered the actions of Aldrich Ames |
Jeanne Vertefeuille (23 December 1932 – 29 December 2012) was a CIA officer who participated on a small team that investigated and uncovered the actions of Aldrich Ames, a notorious Cold War spy. Born in New Haven, Connecticut on December 23, 1932, she earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Connecticut in 1954, where she also learned German and French. She began her career as a typist for the Agency in 1954 and obtained promotions and expertise on the Soviet Union over several decades, serving in Ethiopia, Finland, and the Netherlands.[1][2]
She was made the lead investigator of a small team looking at the high rate of Russian double agent disappearances in 1986.[1] As it became more clear to the team that there could be a mole in the organization, Vertefeuille worked to keep the team small and focused to minimize the chances of the mole escaping before an arrest could be made.[3] Over the course of 8 years, this investigation led her to Ames's involvement in the disappearances - he had exposed them in exchange for millions of dollars, leading to at least 8 executions. The investigation was fraught with difficulty, but the team began to uncover his treachery in 1989 when it was found that he had bought luxury cars and a house, beyond the salary of a typical CIA agent. The case was not cracked until 1991, when Vertefeuille and her team correlated Ames's meeting times with large deposits in his bank account.[1] She officially retired in 1992 but continued to work as a contractor until a few months before her death in 2012.[2] Ames was arrested with the involvement of the FBI on February 21, 1994.[1] Prior to his arrest, Ames had told the KGB that Vertefeuille had the requisite access to be framed instead.[4]
Throughout her career, Vertefeuille was known for her intense personal privacy and solitary nature. She died of brain cancer at the age of 80.[1]
Further reading
- Sandra Grimes and Jeanne Vertefeuille. Circle of Treason: A CIA Account of Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press, 2012. ISBN 9781591143345 OCLC 785079499
Legacy
In 2014, ABC aired The Assets, an eight-part American drama television miniseries based on Circle of Treason.[5][6][7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Martin, Douglas (11 January 2013). "Jeanne Vertefeuille, C.I.A. Official Who Helped Catch a Notorious Mole, Dies at 80". New York Times. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- 1 2 Morell, Michael (4 January 2013). "Message from the Acting Director: Jeanne Vertefeuille". CIA. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ Wise, David (1995). Nightmover. HarperCollins. pp. 176–177. ISBN 0-06-017198-7.
- ↑ "The People of the CIA...Ames Mole Hunt Team". CIA. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie. "ABC Orders Cold War Limited Series 'The Assets' For 2014". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ↑ Lacey Rose (2013-07-23). "ABC Orders Limited Series About The Cold War". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ↑ "ABC Orders Cold War-Inspired Limited Series 'The Assets' - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2013-09-08.