David A. Spetrino Papers

1971-2017
Manuscript Collection #1328
Creator(s)
Spetrino, David A., 1937-2017
Physical description
.50 Cubic Feet, 1 document case, consisting of personnel files, research papers, certificates, journals, publications, and correspondence
Preferred Citation
David A. Spetrino Papers (#1328), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Warning: This collection contains imagery and rhetoric that may be offensive to users.

David Spetrino (1937-2017) was a retired Navy captain who worked with the Office of Naval Intelligence (1972-1977), the Defense Intelligence Agency (1977-1984), and the Central Intelligence Agency (1984-1999). This collection contains research papers, training certificates, military journals, training documents, publications, and correspondence (2000s).


Biographical/historical information

David Arthur Spetrino was born on November 22, 1937. He received a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Chicago, then went on to study law at the University of Chicago Law School. After graduating from the University of Chicago in 1962, Spetrino joined the Navy and was promoted through the ranks until he became a captain. He then went back to school for education in intelligence and international relations, attending the Defense Intelligence School, The American University School of International Service, and the Naval War College, and earning various certificates. He returned to the Navy in 1972, after some time in the Naval Reserve, as a part of the Office of Naval Intelligence.

He then joined the Defense Intelligence Agency in 1977. Spetrino left the Defense Intelligence Agency for the Central Intelligence Agency in 1984. He began as a CIA Political Analyst, mainly reporting on Soviet operations. In 1990, he became the CIA Liaison to the United States Trade Representative. By 1995, he was a Senior Economic Analyst, and became the Senior Liaison Officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1997. Spetrino then worked as a political analyst for the Joint Task Force concerned with Iraq, and later as a liaison officer for the U.S. and NATO commands in Kosovo and Bosnia. He left the CIA for the Department of State in 2001 and became an instructor for intelligence programs, educating senior officers on topics such as counterterrorism and international crime. Spetrino retired to Wilmington, North Carolina, and was very involved in the community as a member of the Civitans. He died in Wilmington on November 10, 2017.


Scope and arrangement

This collection contains documents from Spetrino's personal files, including military appointments, education certificates, presentations, and programs from events, as well as other personal correspondence and writings. As an intelligence officer, Spetrino was very interested in psychological operations and propaganda. The collection includes set of examples of propaganda images and reports, mainly on the Soviet Union, the World Wars, and United States operations in the Middle East. The collections also includestwo sets of playing cards, an envelope of leaflets dropped in the Middle East, and a lighter showing Osama bin Laden's face next to an image of the World Trade Center being struck by a plane.


Administrative information
Custodial History

April 27, 2018, 6.0 cubic feet; David Spetrino (1937-2017) was a retired Navy captain who worked with the Office of Naval Intelligence (1972-1977), the Defense Intelligence Agency (1977-1984), and the Central Intelligence Agency (1984-1999). This collection contains Naval personnel files (1971-1999); research papers; tactical manuals; training certificates; military journals, training documents, and publications; correspondence (2000s); DVDs and CDs; and Psychological Operations Campaign materials. Gift of Sandra Adams.

January 15, 2020 (addition 1), 0.50 cubic feet; Donation includes the book Government Issue (Comics for the People, 1940s-2000s) written by Richard L. Graham and published in 2011 by Abrams Comicarts; a CD of an instructor's copy (2007) of the Interviewing, Debriefing and Elicitation Course (IDE) and a CD of the course (2009) in Arabic, a CD of the IDE course power points (dated 2001-2003) with accompanying paper printouts, and a CD of an instructor's copy (2002) of the Information and Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) course which also includes Arabic, Spanish and Thai translations. Gift of Sandra Adams.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Sandra Adams

Processing information

Processing completed 6/17/2019 by Emily DiBiase. Re-processed by Patrick Cash, 2/12/2024

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Spetrino, David A., 1937-2017
Corporate Names
United States. Central Intelligence Agency
United States. Defense Intelligence Agency
United States. Navy--Officers
Topical
Intelligence officers--United States
Korean War, 1950-1953--Propaganda
Propaganda--Soviet Union
Propaganda, American--Middle East
Psychological warfare--United States
World War, 1914-1918--Propaganda
World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda

Container list
Box 1 Folder a Ceremony Programs and Speeches, 1980-1999
Box 1 Folder b Correspondence, 1972-2016, undated
Box 1 Folder c Appointments, Citations, and Commendations, 1962-1991
Box 1 Folder d Writings, and Personal Correspondence, 1970-1988
Box 1 Folder e Reports and Presentations about the USSR's Aids Disinformation Campaign, 1987-1989
Box 1 Folder f Item 1 Captain David A. Spetrino, Black and White photograph, undated
Box 1 Folder f Item 2 David A. Spetrino and William H. Webster, undated
Box 1 Folder f Item 3 Unidentified Barge, undated
Box 1 Folder g Miscellaneous Propaganda Materials, 1979-2015
Box 1 Folder h Item 1 Propaganda Leaflets Dropped by the United States During the War in Afghanistan and Iraq, undated
Box 1 Folder h Item 2 United States of America "Freedom" Playing Cards, undated
Box 1 Folder h Item 3 "Red Years" Communist Party of China Playing Cards, undated
Box 1 Folder h Item 4 Cigarette Lighter featuring Osama Bin Laden and the attack on the World Trade Centers