About
AT A GLANCE:
Historian & Curator at the International Spy Museum / Host of Spycast
RESEARCH AREAS:
• Cold War
• History
• Europe
• North America
BIOGRAPHY:
Andrew Hammond is the Historian & Curator at the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C., which
houses the world's pre-eminent collection of intelligence and espionage-related artifacts.
He is also the host of the hit podcast SpyCast, positioned within the top 0.1% of
podcasts globally, and has successfully increased its revenue by 1600%. Within his
role at SPY, he engages in various aspects, including exhibitions, collections, and
public programs. In addition to his museum work, Andrew frequently interacts with
the media, providing historical context on intelligence and espionage. His expertise
has been sought by prominent outlets such as BBC, CNN, FOX, NBC, ITV, Alhurra, Washington
Post, Guardian, USA Today, and History.com. He is also a sought-after expert commentator
or guest on documentaries and podcasts, appearing on platforms like History Channel,
BBC, Curiosity Stream, History Hit, Recorded Future, Mystery or History, and SPi-Fi
Guys. Having accumulated broad experience in the cultural sector, spanning museums,
libraries, and higher education on both sides of the Atlantic, Andrew holds a deep
concern for the past, present, and future of humanity.
His primary focus is on fostering historical literacy during his time on Earth to enhance collective understanding of the human condition and our place in time and space. Previously, Andrew served as a photographer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) Intelligence & Communications Branch from 1998 to 2005. During this period, he felt like an actor in a play without a full grasp of the plot. Motivated to comprehend "the plot," he transitioned from the military to pursue formal education and self-directed systematic study in history, international affairs, philosophy, and political science.
Subsequently, Andrew dedicated himself to helping others understand "the plot." This took various forms, from teaching first-year undergraduates to supervising Ph.D. students in higher education. He delivered public talks at major museums in New York, Washington D.C., and Glasgow, and communicated research findings to diverse audiences, including scholarly, public, and government circles. Andrew considers himself fortunate to continue his own research on "the plot" at esteemed institutions such as the Library of Congress and the British Library. He has also undertaken fellowships at the Wilson Center, NYU, and the Institute of Advanced Study at the University of Warwick.
PUBLICATIONS
Struggles for Freedom: Afghanistan and US Foreign Relations Since 1979, EUP
Bringing the ‘Social’ in from the Cold: Towards a Social History of American Intelligence
(Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 2021, with Christopher Moran)
Through a Glass, Darkly – Oral History and the CIA
History: The Journal of the Historical Association, 100 (339), 2015, 311-326.
CONNECT / FOLLOW:
LinkedIn: @in/andrewhammond2000/