What does it mean to live in a country built on freedom but shaped by secrecy? Intelligence work is often hidden in the shadows—but its impact shapes every facet of our public and private lives. We chat with Dr. Jeffrey Rogg, a historian who offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how American intelligence has evolved—and why it matters more than ever today.

Jeff is Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Florida's Global and National Security Institute. Previously, he served as an assistant professor at the Joint Special Operations University (U.S. Special Operations Command) and The Citadel, and was a postdoctoral fellow in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College. He is vice president of the Society for Intelligence History and sits on the editorial board of the International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence.

His new book, The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence, is out now. He holds 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 also served six years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as an infantryman.