Odell Lee '70

Odell Bennett Lee '70 came from adversity but would not let it define him. He is the author of “The Formative Years of an African-American Spy – A Memoir,” which tells his story of growing up in a dysfunctional family and traces his journey to the elite clandestine services of the CIA. Through hardship and chance, he says, he learned to keep a cool head when faced with antagonistic situations, refusing to let others define his personal worth. The twists and turns of life led him through an emotional, intellectual and spiritual renaissance that helped him to decouple his self-image from his negative childhood experiences.

At a key crossroads in his life - after his tour in the U.S. Navy had ended - Lee’s friends persuaded him to continue his education. He received his high school diploma at age 23. He then went to San Bernardino Valley College before transferring to UCLA, where he graduated with honors in political science and was named Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Danforth Foundation Fellow and American Political Science Association Fellow. Following his years at UCLA, he attended graduate school at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced Studies and the French Institute of Political Studies in Paris.

After working for several international companies, Lee came to the attention of the Central Intelligent Agency, which offered him an opportunity to serve his country which, he says, he could not turn down. He became one of the first African Americans to join the CIA’s "deep cover" ranks. He has spoken to audiences about his formative years as well as on topics such as “What is the CIA and why does it exist?” He is active in his local community and leads a yearly six-week seminar on “Great Decisions in Foreign Affairs,” a civic educational course sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association of New York.

Lee is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, the Rotary Club of Nipomo, CA; Retired Active Men; and the Association of Retired Government Employees.