Wes Spain

Wes Spain is Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He has broad experience in intelligence and national security, leading activities in analysis, technology development, business development, as well as operational intelligence and military teams in foreign environments.

Before joining CGSR, Wes was the Director of LLNL’s Office of Strategic Outcomes where he led efforts to increase the laboratory’s impact within the national security community by expanding and growing sponsored programs. Previously, he served as intelligence program director, division leader and principal deputy division leader of the intelligence program (Z Division); Director of Department of Energy’s Field Intelligence Element at LLNL; and as program leader for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, Homeland Security Organization. In these roles, Wes oversaw LLNL’s contributions to the national intelligence effort, led the all-source intelligence analysis and research program, and managed homeland security activities that included advanced scientific computing, terrorist threat assessments, threat and infrastructure vulnerability integration, and infrastructure protection initiatives.

Before joining LLNL in 1997, Wes served with Central Intelligence Agency where he focused on intelligence issues of the Middle East with primary focus on military and security issues of the Levant. His foreign assignments included direct support to international peacekeeping operations and frequent foreign liaison activities. During an assignment from CIA, Wes served as program manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency investigating the application of advanced analytic tools and techniques to intelligence analysis.

Spain began his national security career in 1983 in the United States Army, Military Police Corps. His duty assignments included Ft. McClellan, Alabama; White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; Mannheim, Federal Republic of Germany; and various locations within Great Britain.

Wes holds a M.A. in international relations from Boston University and a B.S. in political science from East Carolina University.