ATHENS, Ohio -- Gerald Haines, chief historian of the Central Intelligence Agency, is a featured speaker in the Ohio University Contemporary History Institute's winter speaker series. Haines will discuss "The CIA and the Technological Collection Revolution," at 4:10 p.m., Jan. 31 in the 1804 Room at Baker University Center. The series is free and open to the public.

Before joining the agency, Haines was a foreign policy specialist at the National Archives and chief historian to the National Security Agency. He established a new history office at the National Reconnaissance Office. While there he became an expert on manned and satellite reconnaissance programs and produced the office's first unclassified history.

As a sidelight of this experience, Haines is the agency expert on UFOs. Haines is the author of several books and publications, including "Unlocking the Files of the FBI: A Guide to Its Records and Classification System."

The complete winter speaker series schedule includes:

• Howard J. Wiarda, Center for Strategic and International Studies, on "Democracy in Latin America."
  4:10 p.m., Jan. 17, Baker University Center 1804 Room
• Beate Sirota Gordon, who helped write Japan's post-war constitution and drafted the constitution's article on women's rights, "Participating in the Creation of the Japanese Constitution."
  4:10 p.m., Feb. 7, Baker University Center 1804 Room
• Patrick Washburn, Ohio University professor of journalism, "The Aftermath of Pearl Harbor and 9/11: Similar Erosions in the 1st Amendment."
  4:10 p.m., Feb. 14, Brown House seminar room, 2 University Terrace
• Martha Derthick, University of Virginia professor of political science, "Twin Towers of American Government: Separation of Powers and Federalism After 9/11."
  4:10 p.m., Feb. 28, Brown House seminar room, 2 University Terrace.

For more information on the lecture series, contact the Contemporary History Institute.