Jonna Mendez

In the captivating world of intelligence, espionage, and covert operations, Jonna Hiestand Mendez’s speeches immerse audiences into the adventures of an international spy. Starting as a secretary at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Mendez eventually rose to the position of Chief of Disguise. Her path was unconventional, initially joining the CIA in Europe as a "contract wife," hired as a convenience to her husband’s career. In the best- selling author’s next book (publication: March 2024), In True Face, A Woman’s Life in the CIA, Unmasked , she inspires with tales of intrigue. Through her experiences, Mendez witnessed firsthand the toll of a gendered culture, not only on the women working within the agency but also on its overall mission and the nation it serves. Now retired after dedicating 27 years of her life to the CIA, she emerges as a pioneer who defied the prevailing sexism of her time.

Mendez lived undercover for several decades, serving tours of duty in Europe, the Far East, and the Subcontinent, as well as at CIA Headquarters. In 1970, she joined the CIA’s Office of Technical Service, similar to “Q” in the Bond films. Mendez specialized in training foreign assets to gather high- priority intelligence using subminiature spy cameras and other espionage technology.

Recognized as a future leader early on, Mendez was selected for an exclusive yearlong program designed for officers with high potential before being deployed overseas. As a result, she would add disguise and identity transformation to her extensive roster of skills. Upon her return to Langley in 1986, she focused on Denied Area Operations, facing off against the KGB, the East German Stasi, and the Cuban DGI. Promoted to Chief of Disguise in 1991, she ran a global multi-million-dollar program.

Mendez retired from the government in 1993, after which she co-authored several books with her late husband Tony Mendez, including Spy Dust, ARGO , and The Moscow Rules . Over her career, Mendez has briefed Presidents and Prime Ministers and lectured extensively at colleges and universities, ranging from WestPoint to the Sorbonne in Paris and multiple US intelligence agencies, including the CIA. She has also been featured in numerous TV documentaries and online media, one of which has been seen over 22 million times. On June 23, she received the prestigious DAR Patriot Award for “lifelong service to America in the defense of freedom.” Most recently, she spoke at Los Alamos National Laboratories.Mendez is also a founding member of the Advisory Board of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., continuing to shape and influence the intelligence world.

On the page and on stages, Mendez tells her riveting, courageous story of being a female spy at the CIA during the height of the Cold War. She also recounts how she navigated the general culture of sexism at the time while never wavering in her patriotism.