KCSI Digest - Aug 2026 | King’s Centre for the Study of Intelligence

August 2026 Digest

Contents:

Events
Conferences
Recent Publications
Podcasts

Events:

The Assassination of Trotsky
6 August 2026
The International Spy Museum, Washington D.C. and online

Join us for the official launch of a groundbreaking new book on the investigation into one of the twentieth century’s most infamous political murders, The Assassination of Leon Trotsky: Espionage, Scandal and the Crime of the Century by H. Keith Melton and Nigel West.

Drawing upon decades of research, rare archival discoveries, intelligence files, and newly uncovered evidence, H. Keith Melton will reveal the complete inside story of Stalin’s relentless secret war against his greatest enemy. Hear how Soviet intelligence planned and executed the operation that culminated in Trotsky’s murder in Mexico City in 1940 including the extraordinary espionage tradecraft behind the plot, the infiltration of Trotsky’s inner circle, and the remarkable story of how GPU operatives selected one of history’s most unusual murder weapons: an ice-climbing axe. (The axe is on view at the Spy Museum thanks to Melton!) Melton will also present startling new conclusions about why Trotsky should have survived, including critical failures in security, medicine, and decision-making during the final hours after the attack.

More details here.

INSA After Hours with Nick Anderson
19 August 2026
Intelligence and National Security Alliance, Chantilly, VA

The evening kicks off with a networking reception, followed by a fireside chat between Mr. Andersen and INSA Executive Vice President John Doyon. Topics for discussion include:

Ruthless Prioritization: CISA’s directive to shift from severity-based patching to defending against high-consequence threats, and what it demands of federal contractors.
The Quantum Security Shift: Preparing for new cryptographic mandates, including the Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM) and protecting long-lived sensitive data.
Supply Chain Resilience: A candid assessment of systemic vulnerabilities and the move toward "security-by-design" to reduce dependency risks.
AI-Enabled Defense: Leveraging agentic AI for defensive speed while hardening internal systems against AI-accelerated exploitation.

Bring your questions! There will be ample time for the audience to engage directly with CISA leadership during the Q&A. The program will wrap-up with a dessert reception. * TS//SI/NF clearance required.*

More details here.

2026 Intelligence and National Security Summit
26-27 August 2026
Intelligence and National Security Alliance

Join more than 2,000 intelligence, defense, and national security professionals on August 26-27 for the 13th annual AFCEA/INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit.

Co-hosted by AFCEA and INSA, the nation’s leading non-profits dedicated to public-private partnership, the summit brings together leaders from government, academia, and industry for two days of mission-focused discussion. From plenaries and ignite rounds to an exhibit hall featuring the latest IC innovations, the program fosters genuine collaboration across the community.

More details here.

IWM in Conversation: The Legacy of Bernard Montgomery
28 August 2026
Imperial War Museum, London, UK

Join us for deep dive into the life and legacy of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, with his grandson Henry Montgomery and biographer Gary Mead. Britain's most prominent Second World War commander, Montgomery became famous after his decisive victory with the 8th Army over Rommel at the Second Battle of El Alamein. 'Monty' commanded the Allied Ground Forces during Operation 'Overlord' and led the 21st Army Group as they invaded North Western Germany, ending the war with him personally accepting the unconditional surrender of Germany's forces in North Western Europe on 4 May 1945.

Instantly recognizable with his double-badged beret, Montgomery was loved by the men he commanded but was known for his difficulties in working with other Allied commanders. He had a rivalry with American General George Patton, and often clashed with both Eisenhower and Churchill, with the latter famously describing Montgomery as "In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable.”

More details here.

Conferences:

AIPIO Annual Intelligence Conference: Intelligence in Action – Strategy to Delivery
26-28 August 2026
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Melbourne, Australia

Following the success of Intelligence 2025 in Sydney, AIPIO is proud to bring Australia’s intelligence community together once again for the 35th Annual AIPIO Intelligence Conference in 2026 to be held in Melbourne. In a world defined by accelerating risk, geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological change, intelligence must evolve from informing awareness to driving purposeful action. This year’s conference explores how intelligence professionals transform strategic insight into real-world outcomes that enable decision-making, strengthen resilience and deliver mission success.

The Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO) is committed to advancing intelligence as a recognized profession of national importance. Through collaboration, professional development and thought leadership, AIPIO strengthens the capability and connectedness of intelligence practitioners across Australia and beyond.

Intelligence 2026 is more than a conference — it is a forum for capability development, strategic insight, and shared professional standards that strengthen decision-making across the intelligence community.

Insight alone is no longer enough. Intelligence must guide strategy, enable action and deliver outcomes. This year’s conference examines how intelligence functions bridge the gap between analysis and execution: turning knowledge into operational effect across security, government and industry missions. From strategic foresight to operational delivery, Intelligence 2026 focuses on practical capability and performance: how intelligence improves decisions that matter. The found interconnected themes for the 2026 program include:

Operational Agility: Intelligence must move at the speed of decision-making. This theme explores adaptive tradecraft, real-time analysis, and the integration of AI and automation to improve responsiveness and clarity under pressure.
Partnerships: Partnership is now a strategic capability. Intelligence impact depends on trusted collaboration across agencies, sectors and borders. This theme highlights frameworks that break down silos and enable secure shared outcomes.
Impact and Integration: Intelligence must shape action, not observation. This theme examines how intelligence is embedded into planning, operations and risk management to influence outcomes and enable confident decisions.
Developing your Tradecraft: Professional mastery is essential. This theme strengthens analytical skills, structured thinking, leadership, and applied intelligence methodologies that adapt to evolving complexity.

More details here.

IAFIE Europe Annual Conference 2026
8-10 September 2026
Brunel University of London, UK

The International Association for Intelligence Education European Chapter are delighted to announce that our 2026 Annual Conference will take place between 8-10 September 2026, hosted by the Brunel Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies (BCISS) at Brunel University London. This conference will be an opportunity to focus on pedagogical innovation, share best-practices, and highlight the value of practical teaching.

The conference will feature two thematic tracks:

Track 1 Theme: The Role and Value of Practical Exercises in Intelligence Education and Training

This track welcomes contributions that examine the use of practical exercises in intelligence education. This can include papers and panels that reflect on the effectiveness, design, and application of practical exercises. Proposals may also include the delivery of live, interactive exercises at the conference, offering the opportunity for attendees to experience them first-hand.

Track 2 Theme: Where is the State of the Art and Where Do We Need to Go Next?

This track invites proposals for panels and papers that showcase the latest developments in intelligence studies and explore future directions for the field. The aim is to encourage innovative, future-oriented thinking—even if the approaches have not yet been fully tested. Submissions may present tentative or preliminary research, as well as forward-looking and moderately speculative ideas about emerging challenges and opportunities.

We hope you agree that the IAFIE European Chapter Annual Conference in 2026 combines important topics in intelligence education with a world-class location conveniently located near world-renowned sites.

More details here.