From CIA Officer to FBI Agent: A Conversation with Tracy Walder
In a fascinating episode of Wolf Untamed, host Derek Wolf sits down with Tracy Walder, a former CIA officer and FBI special agent whose remarkable career in intelligence and law enforcement has shaped American national security. From counterterrorism operations to catching Chinese spies, Walder’s story is one of dedication, resilience, and breaking barriers in male-dominated fields.
Early Career and CIA Experience
Walder joined the CIA at just 21 years old, launching a career that would take her to nine different countries over six years. Her timing proved significant – she was brought into the counterterrorism center before 9/11, at a time when, as she notes, “No one wanted to work counterterrorism… this is like a pre-2001 world, right? Like the big issue was Russia because Russia is always going to Russia and then Latin America.”
The events of September 11th dramatically changed the landscape of her work. As Walder recalls, “Everyone that was in the counterterrorism center was treated differently after September 11th, because we couldn’t be gone for two years at a time. They needed us to be like nimble, to be deploying out, like, every three months, every five months, every six months.”
One of the most intriguing aspects of Walder’s CIA career was her ability to operate effectively despite standing out physically. As she describes it: “I’m five-six, slender blonde chick with green eyes. Like I clearly stick out, I’m aware of that about myself.” However, she adapted to different environments through various means: “In Afghanistan, it’s very easy to blend in because you just put on a burqa and like literally no one knows who’s under there… But if you’re in, say, Jordan, you might just have a hijab on.”
Her specialization in weapons of mass destruction, particularly poisons and toxins, put her at the forefront of critical national security efforts. During her CIA tenure, she earned numerous accolades, including a counterterrorism medal, multiple targeting awards, and seven or eight exceptional performance awards.
Transition to FBI and Notable Cases
After six years with the CIA, Walder made the transition to the FBI, beginning her training at Quantico immediately after leaving her CIA position. “I left on a Friday, I started Quantico on Monday,” she recalls. The 17-week training program included firearms training, law classes, forensics, and practical exercises at the famous Hogan’s Alley training facility.
One of her most significant cases with the FBI involved Chinese economic espionage – the first such case in U.S. history. Walder describes the investigation: “They were stealing, it’s called Quiet Electric Drive. What it does is it makes submarines and ships quiet… They had been in the U.S. 28 years.”
The investigation involved creative tactics, including orchestrating a fake vacation for the suspects: “We made them think that they won a cruise to Alaska… And then we broke into their house. We got what’s called a surreptitious entry warrant, where you can break in when someone’s not there. And we put in listening devices, videos, all the things.”
Ironically, the breakthrough in the case came not from sophisticated surveillance but from old-fashioned detective work – dumpster diving. As Walder reveals, they found “a tasking note from his handler in China, telling him what to steal.”
Challenges and Cultural Shifts
Despite her impressive credentials, Walder faced significant challenges transitioning between agencies. She encountered unexpected hostility at the FBI due to her CIA background: “I don’t think I fully understood how much the FBI hated the CIA… When I got there, I was treated like shit, like horrific.”
This experience contrasted sharply with her time at the CIA, where she worked extensively with special operations teams without incident: “I was with SEAL Team 6… I had zero issues. Zero issues with the man, woman, sexual harassment, like, zero. None.”
After leaving government service, Walder spent ten years teaching high school, inspiring many students to pursue careers in national security. She has since written a book titled “The Unexpected Spy” and appears regularly on NewsNation as a national security expert. She’s also expanded into television, recently filming a show for the Discovery Channel.
The interview provides a rare glimpse into the world of intelligence and law enforcement through the eyes of someone who has lived it. Walder’s story demonstrates not only the evolution of American intelligence operations in the post-9/11 era but also the ongoing challenges faced by women in these fields. Her career serves as a testament to the impact one person can have on national security while maintaining humanity and humility in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
