Michele is an author, public speaker, trainer, and security consultant focused on the U.S., Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Her first book, a memoir, was released February 2019 and is called Breaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What it Taught Me About What's Worth Fighting For. Her book is available at all major retailers and in our library's catalog.
Michele Rigby Assad joined the CIA in January 2002 and spent a decade working as an undercover intelligence officer in the Directorate of Operations. Specializing in counterterrorism and counterintelligence, Michele worked in Iraq as well as other secret Middle Eastern locations. To date, Michele has lived in six countries and traveled to more than 45 others.
Michele holds a master's degree from Goergetown University's School of Foreign Service and a political science degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is motivated to use her unique platform to educate and inspire, showing how critical courage is to living a life of impact and purpose. She has been featured on ABC's 20/20, Megyn Kelly Today, the Smithsonian, Spy Museum, Google and Disney Institute.
This is a free program and is part of the Adult Summer Reading program for the East Lake County Library. Light refreshments will be provided. Michele will be signing books and have copies available for purchase. The program will be held at the Sorrento Elementary School's cafeteria.