Robert Hanssen: A Tragic Hero

Robert Hansson, born 18 April 1944, in Chicago, IL is dubbed as one of the most damaging traitor in American History. He was born and raised in a patriotic law enforcement family. He was a caring husband and a father of six children and a devout Catholic. He was an educated man, that made a career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Counterintelligence Agent.
He graduated high school as an honor student and received a scholarship from Knox College, where he majored in chemistry and also studied Russian (Paseman, 2005). After earning his chemistry degree, he applied for a position at the NSA, where he was rejected (Spymuseum.com). Hanssen enrolled in Northwestern University in pursuit of dental certification, but lost interest
in 1979, when he as assigned to the counterintelligence squad in New York. He identified himself as an FBI agent, but did not provide any additional details to his GRU handlers and provided information to the GRU until spring of 1981 (Office of the Inspector General, 2003). After his wife caught him counting cash in the basement, he confessed what he was doing, but minimized the gravity of the situation and stopped the relationship for the time being. In 1985, Hanssen approached the primary Soviet intelligence agency, KGB KomitetGosudarstvennoi Bezopasnost), under the alias of Ramon Garcia . Hanssen believed that KGB personnel are more professional, had long turn goals, and paid more than the GRU, their military intelligence counterparts (Office of the Inspector General, 2003). He continued his relationship with the KGB until 1991, the end of the Cold War. In 1993, Hanssen attempted to re-contact the GRU; however, his approach was reckless and he spooked the GRU office, which ended in GRU filing a protest with the U.S. government, but the FBI infestation was not successful in identifying the perpetrator. On the last segment of espionage, Hanssen establishes contact with the Russian Federal Security Service, FSB (Federal'naya sluzhba bezopasnosti Rossiyskoy Federatsii), the agency that succeeded the
He did also use telephone and at least once had a face to face contact. According to the Inspector General report, during his initial interaction with the GRU, the identity of an FBI asset in the GRU is the most significant piece of information that Hanssen provided to his handlers. During his second episode of espionage, Hanssen provided information that was detrimental to national security and U.S. intelligence agencies. He provided information on U.S. nuclear strategies, military weapons technologies developments, names of U.S. assets within the Soviet intelligence agencies, just to mention a few. The information that Hanssen provided to the KGB, lead to the execution of two agents and imprisonment of one. Additionally, during this time fame, he also provided information on a State Department employee under investigation for spying, which led the Soviets to cut contacts with him, thus leading to a uncomplete investigation and no charges. During his relationship with the FSB, Hanssen provided FBI information on significant FSB sources and sensitive espionage investigations. When it was all said and done, the information Hanssen provided to the Russians, lead to the execution of three assets, incarceration of one, and cost the U.S. Government and the