Lioness - The Life of an Exfiltration Expert

Terrorists Never Sleep, but Neither Do Soccer Moms
In this episode, Professor John Tsagronis interviews Kelley DeConciliis, a highly experienced professional in the fields of national security, intelligence, and international affairs. DeConciliis serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors at the Institute of World Politics (IWP) and is also an Adjunct Professor at the school. She shares her fascinating background, including her work in areas like evacuation, exfiltration, and extraction operations, as well as her insights on balancing a demanding career with family life.
Guest: Kelley DeConciliis, Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors at the Institute of World Politics (IWP) and Adjunct Professor
Guest Host: John Tsagronis, Professor of Statecraft and National Security Affairs; Former Senior Director for Policy Implementation and Execution on the National Security Council Staff
Main Topics Discussed:
DeConciliis' background and how she got into the field of national security and intelligence (00:01:25)
Her experiences with evacuation, exfiltration, and extraction operations, including specific examples (00:03:05)
The challenges of being a woman in national security and the importance of mentorship (00:04:01)
DeConciliis' new course at IWP on "The Fog of War" and the practical lessons she aims to impart to students (00:23:01)
DeConciliis' personal journey, including overcoming setbacks and failures, and how they have shaped her (00:31:27)
DeConciliis' involvement with the Institute of World Politics and the Spy Museum (00:49:08)
Where to Find Kelley DeConciliis:
Institute of World Politics: www.iwp.edu/fa...
Where to Find Professor John Tsagronis:
Institute of World Politics: www.iwp.edu/fa...
Key Terms, Concepts, and References:
Lioness (TV series) (00:01:10)
Tradecraft (00:03:05)
Exfiltration (00:05:35)
Evacuation (00:07:24)
Extraction (00:07:54)
Burkina Faso incident (00:08:22)
Afghanistan evacuation (00:10:10)
Neuropsychology (00:10:28)
Bioterrorism drills (00:11:57)
Microsoft R&D (00:14:34)
"Pursuit of Happiness" (movie) (00:36:57)
"Gift of Failure" (00:36:44)
Operator Relief Fund (00:54:17)