How Did Hells Angels Leader George Christie Secretly Work for the DoD?

TL;DR

George Christie worked for the Department of Defense while leading the Los Angeles Hells Angels by maintaining a secret submarine surveillance facility under a top security clearance. After officials discovered his club presidency in 1978, they ordered him to resign from the Hells Angels or lose his clearance; he chose the club. Read on to discover how his Marine training shaped his rapid rise and leadership.

Transcript

Did you live in Glendo yourself or on and off? I did. I had apartment down there. Yeah. I still had a a wife and a kid and I worked a lot of people don't know this. I worked for the Department of Defense. While you're part of Hell's Angels. While I'm the leader in the Hell's Angels, I had a top security clearance. I uh worked at Point Magoo and Por... Read More

Key Insights

• George Christie held a top security clearance while leading the Hells Angels.
• He worked at Point Magoo and Port Wayne, maintaining a secret submarine surveillance system.
• Christie was given an ultimatum to leave the Hells Angels or lose his security clearance.
• His military experience as a Marine influenced his leadership in the Hells Angels.
• Christie was recruited into the Hells Angels by Old Man John in the mid-1970s.
• He was perceived as a strategic leader within the Hells Angels, similar to historical mob figures.
• Christie lived a modest lifestyle despite his powerful position within the Hells Angels.
• A book by Julian Shear, which included interviews with Christie, contributed to a fallout with fellow leader Sunny Barger.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did George Christie work for the DoD while leading the Hells Angels?

Christie said he held a top security clearance while working at the Pacific Missile Test Center and leading the Los Angeles Hells Angels. His responsibilities included maintaining a secret submarine surveillance building on Santa Cruz Island that provided a direct line to Washington.

Q: What happened when the DoD discovered George Christie was a Hells Angels president?

Officials learned in 1978 that Christie was president of the Los Angeles Hells Angels. They told him that the role compromised his top security clearance and that he had to resign from the club or lose the clearance.

Q: Why did George Christie choose the Hells Angels over his DoD career?

Christie chose to remain with the Hells Angels after receiving the ultimatum. When asked why, he answered directly that he was an outlaw.

Q: Did George Christie use classified information to benefit the Hells Angels?

Christie said he did not use his DoD access or information to advance the Hells Angels. He did, however, apply the tactical experience and training he gained as a Marine rifleman to outlaw motorcycle culture.

Q: What did George Christie do at the secret Santa Cruz Island facility?

Christie said his job was to maintain the building and ensure it was always operational. The facility supported a submarine surveillance system and had a direct line to Washington so officials could respond if submarines were detected offshore.

Q: How was George Christie recruited into the Hells Angels?

Members of the Saint Slaves and the Question Marks introduced Christie to Old Man John after Christie met him near the Kern River. Old Man John then invited Christie to the Glendale Clubhouse, and Christie joined the club in 1975.

Q: How did George Christie's military background influence his Hells Angels leadership?

Christie believed Old Man John noticed his discipline, partly because John was also former military. Christie said the Los Angeles group contained undisciplined members who needed a patriarch, while his Marine tactical training gave him skills he could apply within the club.

Q: What was George Christie's lifestyle at the peak of his Hells Angels power?

Christie said he did not live lavishly. He lived in the same distinctive, museum-like family house that his grandfather had purchased after coming from Greece and that had remained in the family for a hundred years.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• George Christie, a former leader of the Hells Angels, managed to work for the Department of Defense while holding a top security clearance. Despite an ultimatum to choose between his government role and the motorcycle club, he chose to remain with the Hells Angels, leveraging his military background to rise in power.

• Christie's recruitment into the Hells Angels was influenced by his discipline and strategic mindset, traits that were recognized by Old Man John. His leadership style was shaped by his Marine Corps experience, making him a respected figure within the club.

• The book 'Hell's Angels Angels of Death' by Julian Shear featured interviews with Christie and contributed to tensions with Sunny Barger, another prominent Hells Angels leader. Despite the power struggles and challenges, Christie maintained a modest lifestyle, living in a family home that had been owned for generations.