"Join us for an extraordinary story of espionage and courage as Jonna Hiestand Mendez shares her experiences as a female spy at the CIA during the Cold War. Initially hired as a convenience for her husband's career, Mendez quickly proved her talent for espionage and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the chief of disguise at the CIA's Office of Technical Service.

Mendez's riveting narrative takes us through her life under cover, serving tours of duty around the world and facing dangerous situations that tested her spy training. From confronting rogue jihadis to participating in highstakes missions like stealing a topsecret encryption machine from a Soviet embassy, Mendez's story is one of bravery and resilience.

As one of the few women in the field, Mendez battled against the prevailing culture of sexism at the CIA, all while undertaking missions crucial for America's safety. Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear from Mendez herself, a reallife American counterpart to James Bond's famous 'Q,' as she shares her remarkable journey as a female spy."

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Photo by Tina Leu.

March 18, 2024

Speakers

Jonna Mendez
Former Chief of Disguise, CIA; Author, In True Face: A Woman’s Life in the CIA, Unmasked

In Conversation with Melissa Caen
Host, “Get Out the Bet” Podcast; Political Analyst; Attorney; Twitter @ConstitutionMel


Join our Email List! https://www.commonwealthclub.org/email

BECOME a MEMBER: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/memb...

The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum , bringing together its 20,000 members for more than 500 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy.

Founded in 1903 in San Francisco California , The Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt in 1911 to Anthony Fauci in 2020.

In addition to the videos shared here, the Club reaches millions of listeners through its podcast and weekly national radio program.