Ron Estes (spook)
 Ron Estes (spook)  (spook) | |
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| Nationality | US |
Ron Estes is a retired US spook.
Career
"Ron Estes joined CIA in June 1957, was commissioned as an Operations Officer in the Clandestine Service, trained, assigned to an operational branch in CIA Headquarters before receiving his first overseas assignment, to Kavalla, Greece.
After 16 months in Kavalla, Ron was transferred to Athens, Greece where he completed a three-year tour.
He was then transferred to the CIA Station in Nicosia, Cyprus, as one of the two Greek- speaking operations officers in the station. The other Greek-speaking officer was Richard Welch, a man who would play a further role in Ron’s life. Cyprus, having recently achieved independence from Britain, was a country on the brink of turmoil. Tension between the majority Greek Cypriot and the minority Turkish Cypriot communities was intense, as armed Greek Cypriot gangs fought each other for control of major cities. In December 1963, hundreds were killed on both sides, American families were evacuated, and the American Embassy was bombed. Ron remained in place and his organization penetrated the terrorist organizations and provided valuable information to the regional U.S. military commander.
In 1964, Ron was transferred from Cyprus to the Foreign Service Institute in Washington for an academic year of Eastern European studies and the Czech language in preparation for an assignment to Prague, Czechoslovakia, as Chief of Station.
After two years in Prague, Ron headed back to CIA Headquarters to be Chief of a Branch supporting CIA operations against the Soviet target in the Near East. 1970 Ron transferred to Beirut, Lebanon, to run the CIA operations. In 1973 Ron was transferred back to Athens as Deputy Chief of Station. Ron’s colleague from Cyprus days, Dick Welch also arrived as, Chief of Station. But in 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, the Greeks blamed the U.S. for not stopping the invasion, and Greek mobs attacked the U.S embassy, the Greek government fell twice, and Dick Welch, the CIA Chief of Station, was assassinated. Ron became the CIA Athens Station Chief.
Back at CIA Headquarters in June 1976, Ron became Deputy Chief of the European Division for the next three years. In 1979, Ron was transferred to Spain as the Chief of Station. In 1981 Ron was appointed Chief of one of the Clandestine Service’s seven divisions. Ron was in that position when he retired from CIA after 25 years.
Upon his retirement, Ron was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, CIA’s highest award."[1]
