Biography
Ray McGovern’s longtime focus has been on Russian foreign policy and Moscow's relations with China.
He joined the analysis side of the CIA in early 1963 after an MA in Russian studies and two years of active duty as an Army Infantry Intelligence officer. In the early 70s, Ray led the CIA’s Soviet Foreign Policy Branch. In this important supporting role, Ray helped to reach the conclusion of the anti-ballistic-missile (ABM) treaty in 1972. He chaired National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs) and other Intelligence Community Memoranda as a Deputy National Intelligence Officer later in the 70s.
From 1981-85, Ray conducted early morning one-on-one briefings of The President’s Daily Brief. At retirement, he received the Intelligence Commendation Medallion. He later returned the award, saying he did not want to be associated with torture. In January 2003 he co-created Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) to expose the fraudulent intelligence used to “justify” war on Iraq.
Ray welcomes requests for comment on front-burner issues like Ukraine, West Asia, and the far-reaching implications of the tectonic shift in Russia-China ties. He is fluent in Russian, German, and Spanish.
Areas of Expertise
- Russia-China Relations
- Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (1972)
- National Intelligence