Pedro Israel Orta

Pedro Israel Orta is a Miami-born son of Cuban immigrants who fled the tyranny of Fidel Castro’s communism. He brings his 18-year experience as a Central Intelligence Agency veteran to this memoir, having served in war-torn regions like Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, and at the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community, working on whistleblower issues. Orta’s bravery in exposing abuses of power led to his retribution and termination despite earning eight Exceptional Performance Awards for his contributions to U.S. national security—mostly in counterterrorism operations.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida International University, a Summa Cum Laude graduate, and a Master’s degree in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University—specializing in Defense Policy, Transnational Security Issues, and Political Psychology.

Prior to his U.S. Government experiences, Orta served in the U.S. Army with an honorable discharge and worked in the business world for…