Gatekeeper

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Biography & Memoir
Cover of the book Gatekeeper by John F. Sullivan, Potomac Books Inc.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: John F. Sullivan ISBN: 9781597973267
Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. Publication: April 30, 2007
Imprint: Potomac Books Inc. Language: English
Author: John F. Sullivan
ISBN: 9781597973267
Publisher: Potomac Books Inc.
Publication: April 30, 2007
Imprint: Potomac Books Inc.
Language: English
John F. Sullivan was a polygraph examiner with the CIA for thirty-one years, during which time he conducted more tests than anyone in the history of the CIA's program. The lie detectors act as the Agency's gatekeepers, preventing foreign agents, unsuitable applicants, and employees guilty of misconduct from penetrating or harming the Agency. Here Sullivan describes his methods, emphasizing the importance of psychology and the examiners' skills in a successful polygraph program. Sullivan acknowledges that using the polygraph effectively is an art as much as a science, yet he convincingly argues that it remains a highly reliable screening device, more successful and less costly than the other primary method, background investigation. In the thousands of tests that Sullivan conducted, he discovered double agents, applicants with criminal backgrounds, and employee misconduct, including compromising affairs and the mishandling of classified information.

But Gatekeeper is more than Sullivan's memoirs. It is also a window to the often acrimonious and sometimes alarming internal politics of the CIA: the turf wars over resources, personnel, and mandate; the slow implementation of quality control; the aversion to risk-taking; and the overzealous pursuit of disqualifying information. In an age when the intelligence community's conduct is rightly being questioned, Sullivan contributes a fascinating personal account of one of the Agency's many important tasks.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
John F. Sullivan was a polygraph examiner with the CIA for thirty-one years, during which time he conducted more tests than anyone in the history of the CIA's program. The lie detectors act as the Agency's gatekeepers, preventing foreign agents, unsuitable applicants, and employees guilty of misconduct from penetrating or harming the Agency. Here Sullivan describes his methods, emphasizing the importance of psychology and the examiners' skills in a successful polygraph program. Sullivan acknowledges that using the polygraph effectively is an art as much as a science, yet he convincingly argues that it remains a highly reliable screening device, more successful and less costly than the other primary method, background investigation. In the thousands of tests that Sullivan conducted, he discovered double agents, applicants with criminal backgrounds, and employee misconduct, including compromising affairs and the mishandling of classified information.

But Gatekeeper is more than Sullivan's memoirs. It is also a window to the often acrimonious and sometimes alarming internal politics of the CIA: the turf wars over resources, personnel, and mandate; the slow implementation of quality control; the aversion to risk-taking; and the overzealous pursuit of disqualifying information. In an age when the intelligence community's conduct is rightly being questioned, Sullivan contributes a fascinating personal account of one of the Agency's many important tasks.

More books from Potomac Books Inc.

Cover of the book Getting Immigration Right by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Cyberpower and National Security by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Eisenhower by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book The Shadow Warriors of Nakano by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book War in European History, 16601792 by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book When Angels Wept: A What-If History of the Cuban Missile Crisis by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Long-Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Fair Play by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book The "Ugly American" in the Arab Mind by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Baseball's Most Wanted™ II by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Business Behaving Well by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Born Under an Assumed Name by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Gettysburg by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book New Common Ground by John F. Sullivan
Cover of the book Tennis Confidential II by John F. Sullivan
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy