Spy Chat with Chris Costa at the International Spy Museum
Elliot Ackerman joined Chris Costa at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC, for a discussion of intelligence, national security, terrorism, future warfare, and current global security issues.
The conversation was part of the museum’s Spy Chat with Chris Costa series and was recorded on May 13, 2026. Costa, a former intelligence officer and former Special Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism, led the discussion with Ackerman on the evolving security landscape and the future of conflict.
Intelligence, National Security, and Future Warfare
Drawing on his experience as a Marine officer, CIA veteran, novelist, journalist, and commentator, Ackerman discusses issues at the intersection of intelligence, counterterrorism, geopolitics, military affairs, and public policy.
The conversation also connects to themes in Ackerman’s recent work, including 2084: A Novel of Future War, co-authored with Admiral James Stavridis, which imagines future conflict shaped by technology, climate pressure, artificial intelligence, and shifting global power.
Watch the Full Conversation
This recording was published by the International Spy Museum following its May 2026 Spy Chat event in Washington, DC.