Episode Details

What happens when a military officer says he was injured during an intelligence mission, but decades later he is still fighting for official recognition?

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I speak with Jack Daly, a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander and former Naval Intelligence officer who spent 15 years focused on the Soviet Union and Russia.

Jack discusses his account of an April 4, 1997, incident in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in which he says a Russian intelligence collector fired a laser into his eyes while he was aboard a Canadian Sea King helicopter operating inside U.S. territorial waters. He also describes the lasting consequences for Canadian pilot Captain Patrick Barnes and his ongoing dispute with the U.S. Navy over recognition for his injuries.

We explore the restrictions that kept Jack from speaking publicly for years, the role of the Department of Defense Inspector General, the challenges of accountability within large institutions, and his decision to publish Blind Treason: The True-Life Story of an American Spy Left Out in the Cold.

This conversation examines military service, loyalty, secrecy, perseverance, and the personal cost of carrying an unresolved experience for decades. It also considers why careful investigation, evidence, and transparency matter when serious allegations are raised.

Learn more about Jack’s book and his call for accountability:

• Take action: https://www.blindtreasonbook.com/pages/take-action
• Media kit: https://blindtreasonbook.com/pages/media-kit
• Official website: https://blindtreasonbook.com

The discussion presents Jack’s account and perspective. Allegations and disputed events should be distinguished from independently established findings.