Why Dyslexics Make Great Spies and Security Professionals

I was recently interviewed for an episode of Criminal Network on Audible which was released today about a Russian hacker who’s currently on America's Most Wanted list.

My interviewer was Jim Clementine, a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Behavioral Profiler, as well as a former prosecutor for the New York City Law Department. Jim has been a Technical Advisor as well as Writer/Producer for the hit TV show Criminal Minds since it started in 2005.

He has been recognized for his work as a creator and producer, receiving a WGA award nomination for creating and producing Manhunt: Unabomber and creating the series The Case Of: JonBenet Ramsey for CBS in 2017.

He has also served as a technical advisor on some of my favorite TV shows such as Secrets and Lies, Quantico, Misconduct, and Blindspot.

During my two-hour interview, Jim asked me how I was able to navigate the complex landscape of cyberattacks that involve social engineering techniques while the security industry continues to struggle to stop the avalanche of phishing-led cyberattacks.

I shared with him that my dyslexic thinking (according to dictionary.com - an approach to problem-solving, assessing information, and learning, often used by people with dyslexia, that involves pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, lateral thinking, and interpersonal communication) allows me to see everything as a constellation of interconnected dots that form special relationships, which enables me to pick up on meaningful signals that others may miss or consider irrelevant.

Jim's response was the highest compliment anyone could give me; he said,

"Paul, you're just like an FBI profiler, my brother and I are both dyslexic as well"

Jim's brother is also a former police officer, retired FBI Special Agent, SWAT team member, and counter-terrorism expert who has worked in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

He also ran a covert joint operation with the Department of Energy's Nuclear Emergency Search Team (NEST), tasked with protecting the U.S. from rogue nuclear attacks, as well as other weapons of mass destruction, as a member of the FBI Washington DC’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

This not only helped to validate my unique perspective, but also highlighted the potential strengths that individuals with dyslexia can bring to the field of cybersecurity, profiling, and law enforcement.

As someone who values the unique perspective that dyslexia and ADHD can bring, I like to share my thoughts on the strengths and challenges that come with this unique way of processing and communicating.

Personally, I wouldn't want to lose the way I think and see the world, which is shaped by my dyslexia and ADHD. These conditions can bring about a unique way of thinking and problem-solving that can be an asset in many fields, and I believe that embracing them is important.

Since being diagnosed recently, I have had quite a few people reach out to me in private, either to simply say thanks for my online advocacy or to ask for advice and guidance.

I've had conversations with journalists about their children, senior executives at big tech firms about themselves, as well as senior security professionals who contacted me on behalf of a team member, either because they wanted advice for themselves, or for a family member.

I've even noticed how some people within my network have updated their social media profiles to include their dyslexic skills as a badge of honor.

Dyslexics make great spies

I've copied the following information from the GCHQ website.

According to GCHQ intelligence analysts, “dyslexic thinking skills” make them excellent at their jobs. According to the GCHQ website:

“It has often been said that dyslexics make brilliant spies, and today [29 April 2021] we have opened up about the unique skills dyslexia brings to our mission to keep the UK safe.

“In a new video podcast called the D.Spot, Jo Cavan, a senior GCHQ director, joins two dyslexic intelligence officers to explore the dyslexic strengths that make them ideal analysts for the modern era. Their strengths include pattern recognition when dealing with big data, seeing the bigger picture when considering complex future scenarios and finding solutions to novel and challenging problems.“

Kate Griggs, Made By Dyslexia’s founder and the host of the D.Spot says:

“The impact of dyslexia on keeping us safe as a nation is rarely discussed. It’s fantastic to get such a candid insight into how spies who are made by dyslexia are able to use their dyslexic thinking skills to perform such important work.”

Two active dyslexic members of staff, Charlotte and Rob, feature on the D.Spot – their real names are kept secret for security reasons. Charlotte, an intelligence analyst working in their 24/7 operations center, explains:

“I’m often looking through a lot of data and I find that my dyslexia helps me to see the bigger picture and spot patterns that aren’t always obvious to everyone else around me. I also find that my approach to finding solutions is very different.”

Rob describes his role as a “transformational innovator” and works closely with Britain’s armed forces. He was deployed with the military in the Balkans and Iraq. He explains:

“I use my dyslexic skills to spot opportunities to do things differently. I speak to a lot of people internally who invent stuff and a lot of contacts in industry and explore how we could use our capabilities in ways that we’d never planned, often to deliver amazing effects.”

Speaking on the vodcast, Jo Cavan, GCHQ's Director of Strategy, Policy and Engagement, explained how they have a high proportion of dyslexic apprentices:

“We’re committed to recruiting people with dyslexia and other neurodiverse individuals into the organisation. We are about three or four times more likely to have apprentices with dyslexia than on other apprenticeship schemes. It’s mission critical for us, and since our inception we have looked to hire individuals who are neurodiverse, and as a result we have a thriving community of colleagues that think differently.”

The vodcast follows previous comments made by their director Jeremy Fleming, speaking at Made by Dyslexia’s Global Summit in 2019:

“We have 100 years of keeping the country safe. When I look at the things ordinary people have done that have ended up with extraordinary outcomes, then I can see people who think differently and I can see dyslexics in every one of those from 1919 through to the present day.”

Dyslexia is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed as a simple reading disorder. However, it is actually a complex condition that affects comprehension and verbal and written communication.

Even well-trained teachers don't have a deep enough understanding of dyslexia. I personally didn't realize I had dyslexia until I was clinically diagnosed with ADHD in 2021.

I used to wish I had dyslexia as an excuse for certain struggles, but now I understand that it is not just a hindrance but a unique way of thinking and communicating.

My dyslexia and ADHD have actually helped me become a creative inventor and entrepreneur, as it is common for those with dyslexia to excel in these fields. I am not successful despite my disabilities but because of them.

My self-awareness of my dyslexia and ADHD is helping me to manage the downsides and amplify the upsides - self-awareness is an ongoing process that doesn't stop until we die.

The majority of my knowledge about dyslexia, despite living with it my whole life, came from a single book, "The Gift of Dyslexia.”

The Criminal Network podcast can be found here. Here's an overview:

Sandworm. Evil Corp. Fancy Bear. DarkSide. The SVR. REvil.

Many of the most world’s most dangerous hackers are from Russia, go by creepy names, and have preyed on Americans. Some are part of Putin’s government. Others are alleged to be associated with it. Over the last decade, their attacks have become more frequent, extreme, and catastrophic.

This Russian cadre of cybercriminals has a daunting catalog of victims: the US government, Fortune 500 companies, the DNC, global food producers, shipping companies, hospitals, transportation networks, nuclear power plants, and the electric grid.

Each year, the Department of Justice indicts more Russian hackers for cybercrimes, but almost none have or will face prosecution.

Russia’s unprovoked and deadly invasion of Ukraine in 2022 deepened its divide with the US and marked the beginning of a new era of conflict—a return to familiar Cold War tensions in which skirmishes are fought in the gray zone between peace and war.

Today, however, most of these attacks are launched digitally. The spies and disrupters are hackers. In Russia, many belong to a loose criminal network with a shared aim to prey on the US and its allies.

Told firsthand by those closest to the events, Criminal Network takes you inside the dramatic discoveries and responses to the most serious cyberattacks of the recent past. It also looks ahead to the future of cybercrime in a highly charged and fractured world.

#MadeByDyslexia