Jeanne Vertefeuille (c. 1930s – 2012) was a French intelligence officer who served in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States. She is most noted for her role in the internal investigation that led to the identification and conviction of Aldrich Ames, a senior CIA officer who spied for the Soviet Union and later Russia.
Early life and education
Vertefeuille was born in France. Details of her early education and the precise year of birth are not widely documented in publicly available encyclopedic sources.
CIA career
- Recruitment and early assignments – Vertefeuille joined the CIA in the late 1960s, initially working in the Europe Division, where she handled counterintelligence matters related to French and other Western European operations.
- Counterintelligence work – By the 1980s she was a senior officer in the CIA’s Counterintelligence Center (CIC). In this capacity she participated in investigations of suspected internal security breaches.
- Aldrich Ames case – Following the discovery of irregularities in Ames’s financial disclosures in the early 1990s, Vertefeuille became a key member of the internal investigative team. She coordinated the collection and analysis of evidence, oversaw surveillance activities, and worked closely with the CIA’s Office of Security to build the case that ultimately resulted in Ames’s arrest in February 1994. Her contributions were later described by CIA officials as critical to the successful prosecution of the mole.
Later work and publications
After retiring from active service, Vertefeuille remained involved with the CIA’s historical and educational programs. She co‑authored the book Spy Handler: The True Story of a CIA Officer Who Trapped a Traitor (2004), which recounts the Ames investigation and provides insight into CIA counterintelligence methodology. She also contributed to internal CIA training curricula concerning counterintelligence best practices.
Recognition
Vertefeuille received commendations from the CIA for her dedication to internal security, though the specific awards and citations are not publicly enumerated in open‑source encyclopedic references.
Death
Jeanne Vertefeuille passed away in 2012. The exact date and circumstances of her death have not been widely reported in publicly accessible encyclopedic sources.
