Roger Charles
Summary of Performance:
Award-winning investigative journalist, consultant and confidential advisor with unique experience in a broad range of national security affairs. Demonstrated areas of achievement are:
- investigating military, intelligence and law enforcement activities at the national level when congressional oversight and media coverage had failed to get the story right;
- uncovering human interest-stories where "the system" dealt in a grossly unfair and too-often deadly manner with American citizens, both civilians and Service members, and their families;
- advising journalists and attorneys on sources and methods of investigating national security issues and incidents, especially those considered sensitive by the military and by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Professional Activities
June 1997 - Present. Free-lance journalist and investigator for: Oklahoma City Bombing Committee (August 1997-February 1998); ABC News (October 1997); National Security News Service (September 1998-March 2000); BBC news magazine Correspondent (October 1999-March 2000) as Assistant Producer, "The Other Lockerbie"; England & Company Entertainment Productions (January-March 2000), supporting web site for Paramount movie, "Rules of Engagement"; Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd. (April 2000-present) - consultant for proposed series on Cold War military and intelligence operations.
March - June 1997. Defense investigator for Attorney Stephen Jones. Collected and analyzed information on the Oklahoma City bombing case (U.S.A. vs. McVeigh).
August 1996-February 1997. Free-lance investigative reporter with ABC News 20/20 for a special project (as assistant producer) on Oklahoma City bombing.
1993-1996. Investigative reporter, National Security News Service: Developed pieces for ABC News 20/20, ABC World News Tonight, ABC Nightline, ABC News Prime Time Live, CNN Prime News and 20 20 TV (British). Advised and supported numerous print and electronic media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, the New Yorker, CBS 60 Minutes and Frontline. Investigated and broke the story of Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda, Chief of Naval Operations, fraudulently wearing combat insignia.
1990-1993. Investigative reporter and consultant: Special Correspondent, Newsweek - Developed and co-authored cover story, "Sea of Lies" (July 13, 1992). Awarded "1993 Medal for Excellence in Investigative Reporting" by Investigative Reporters and Editors (I.R.E.); Consultant, ABC News (Nightline) Special Investigation which aired July 1, 1992, "The USS Vincennes: Public War, Secret War" (one of four finalists for 1992 Emmy for best investigative piece); Consultant, Analytical Systems Engineering Corporation - Senior analyst; developed operational and tactical scenarios for combat simulation models.
1967-1990: Career Marine Corps officer with a variety of field and staff assignments. Concentrations in intelligence and operations. Served as a staff officer in sensitive positions with both:
- the Office of the Secretary of Defense (1987-1990) as program coordinator for Nonlethal Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Tactical Intelligence And Related Activities.
- the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1980-1982) as a Regional Desk Officer monitoring and evaluating military, diplomatic and intelligence activities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for the National Military Command Center, and as an Emergency Procedures Officer who reviewed and executed procedures for control of strategic nuclear forces by the National Command Authority.
Held Top Secret clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), Extremely Sensitive Information (ESI) and a number of Special Access Programs.
Member, editorial board, Marine Corps Gazette (1987-1989).
Published in Newsweek, Insight, The Washington Times, The Baltimore Sun, The Chicago Tribune, Soldier of Fortune, Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute, and the Marine Corps Gazette.
Education
- Georgetown University, M.A., National Security Studies, 1987
- U.S. Naval War College (with Highest Distinction), 1981
- Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 1980
- U.S. Naval Academy, B.S., General Engineering & History, 1967
You can e-mail Roger Charles at RogCharles@aol.com