Cynthia May Grabo, renown Defense Intelligence Agency warning expert, past away at the age of 99 on 17 August 2014 in Springfield Virginia. During her long government career, 1942 – 1980, she produced a number of classified studies on Strategic Warning. Her major work, “Handbook of Warning Intelligence”, a 3-vol text published by DIA in 1972, was declassified, condensed and reissued in 2002 as “Anticipating Surprise: Analysis for Strategic Warning”. She received the DIA Exceptional Service Medal and also the Central Intelligence Agency Sherman Kent Award for contributions to Studies in Intelligence for her seminal work in this field.
After her retirement Ms. Grabo served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, continued to write articles for major intelligence related publications and traveled with her sister, whenever possible.
She is an example of a truly dedicated woman in the U.S. Intelligence Community carving out a career in the early days of the Cold War, and was purportedly the first woman to be promoted to GS-15 in DIA.
Cynthia is survived by four nieces and nephews and their children. She was cremated in Northern Virginia and the funeral service was a private family only affair.