In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Enrique “Ric” Prado, author of New York Times bestselling book “Black Ops, The Life of a Shadow Warrior”.

Ric, who was born to a middle class family in Cuba, was ten years old when his family sent him alone to the United States to save him from the abuses of Fidel Castro’s Marxist regime. Ric’s parents, whose property and business had been confiscated by that regime, would not be able to join their son in the US for eights long months, during which time Ric lived in a Colorado orphanage. Once reunited with his parents, he and his family quickly embraced the US as their new home, settling in Florida.

Ric will be sharing many exciting stories about his life and twenty four year career with the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), where he operated in the shadows at various locations in the world during the Cold War Era and the Age of Terrorism. Ric eventually achieved the rank of CIA Counterterrorist Chief of Operations, the CIA equivalent of a two star general. This is Ric’s story of incredible dedication, patriotism and courage.

Photo(s) Courtesy of Ric Prado and YHYS Podcast

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

Your History Your Story links: https://linktr.ee/yhyspodcast 

Black Ops book on Amazon (our affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3CrXPPF 

Time Stamps

2:20 Ric's early years in Cuba, parent's coffee roasting business

6:00 Castro's regime moves in and family moves to Havana

11:20 Ric leaves Cuba with the Peter Pan program at age 10, memories of leaving parents at airport, Orphanage in Pueblo, CO, Reunited with parents after eight months.

19:00 Family settles in Florida, moving forward in the US, Ric's education and becoming citizens of the US.

23:45 High School days and getting in the "wrong crowd", hippie story & the American Flag

31:30 Paramedic / EMT / Fire and Rescue training, Applying to the CIA.

38:30 What does Black Ops mean?, Keeping his cover and assignments all over the world, Spy school.

47:00 Scary moments & staying alert, being aware of your surroundings.

51:00 Shift from communism to terrorism, Bin Laden task force, 9/11 and witnessing the planes hitting the WTC towers.

1h 7m End of Ric's career with the CIA, retirement and reflection. Why Ric wrote Black Ops, 139 stars on wall of fallen CIA agents.