The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence
April 9, 2026
Public debates about intelligence and surveillance have long reflected a tension between security and liberty in American democracy. Thank you to those who joined us for a conversation with historian Jeff Rogg, who studies the history of U.S. intelligence and its relationship with the American public. Drawing on his research, Rogg explored why Americans have often been wary of government intelligence activities while simultaneously participating in systems of surveillance, and how these contradictions have shaped the development of the U.S. intelligence community.
The program examined the role citizens play in the nation’s intelligence system, highlighting how public attitudes, technological habits, and civic understanding influence both the limits and possibilities of intelligence in a constitutional republic.
About the Speaker(s)
Jeffrey Rogg
Dr. Jeffrey Rogg is Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute. Previously, he was an assistant professor at the Joint Special Operations University (U.S. Special Operations Command) and The Citadel. He was also a postdoctoral fellow in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College.
Jeff is the vice president of the Society for Intelligence History and is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. His work has appeared in several academic journals and volumes as well as media including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The National Interest, The Hill, and the Los Angeles Times. Jeff’s book, The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence, was published by Oxford University Press in June 2025.
Jeff has a BA in Latin and ancient history from Swarthmore College, a JD from Villanova University School of Law, an MA in security studies from Georgetown University, and a PhD in history from The Ohio State University. He served six years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as an infantryman.