Person
person:jonathan_nichols
Also: Jon
Former PSYOP contractor and later threat-intelligence professional interviewed in the episode.
Former PSYOP contractor and later threat-intelligence professional interviewed in the episode.
“I found this guy named Jonathan Nichols who claims to have conducted numerous PSYOP missions in the past”
“After I finished my one year in Afghanistan, I moved to New York City and started work on that.”
| Direction | Predicate | Other entity | Origin | EP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| outgoing | MEMBER_OF | United States Army | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | ASSOCIATED_WITH | Lincoln Group | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | USES | counter-propaganda analysis | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | USES | atmospherics | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | USES | human intelligence | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | USES | NGLS loudspeaker | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | USES | leaflet drop | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | USES | Internet Relay Chat | Explicit | 65 |
| outgoing | USES | threat intelligence | Explicit | 65 |
Jonathan Nichols MEMBER_OF United States Army
Jonathan Nichols signed up for the Army and went directly into PSYOPS.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jack Rhysider EP 65 Details
“He signed up for the army and went through boot camp, and then went straight into PSYOPS.”
Jonathan Nichols ASSOCIATED_WITH Lincoln Group
Nichols says he picked up a contractor job with the Lincoln Group after becoming a PSYOP Specialist.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“I picked up a job as a contractor. The company was called Lincoln Group.”
Jonathan Nichols USES counter-propaganda analysis
Nichols worked as a chief counter-propaganda analyst monitoring adversary propaganda and helping craft counter-messaging.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“Chief counter-propaganda analyst, United States Forces, Iraq.”
“help the US government craft a counter-messaging”
Jonathan Nichols USES atmospherics
Nichols served as an atmospherics manager in Afghanistan, gathering word-on-the-street information about local sentiment.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“I was the atmospherics manager.”
Jonathan Nichols USES human intelligence
Nichols characterizes atmospherics as a type of human intelligence, while distinguishing it from tactical intelligence collection.
Explicit Confidence 95% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“Essentially, it’s a type of human intelligence without using the proper title.”
Jonathan Nichols USES NGLS loudspeaker
Nichols used an NGLS loudspeaker mounted on a Humvee to broadcast messages during a PSYOP mission.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“it’s called the NGLS loudspeaker. It’s a 24” by 24” box that sits on top of a Humvee”
Jonathan Nichols USES leaflet drop
Nichols disseminated leaflets as part of a counter-IED PSYOP mission.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“then also disseminated all sorts of different leaflets”
Jonathan Nichols USES Internet Relay Chat
Nichols monitored hacker activity through an IRC channel and later used IRC in threat-intelligence work.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“I was in an IRC channel and somebody hit me in a PM”
“hop back and drive straight back to base, hope onto IRC”
Jonathan Nichols USES threat intelligence
After moving to New York, Nichols led a threat-intelligence analyst team and reported on ongoing hacker activity and anticipated attacks.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jonathan Nichols EP 65 Details
“to lead the threat intel analyst team”
“At that point, it was now my job to engage with hackers, identify what was going on every single day, and report that up.”