Sierra Pacific in BHM: Plane with CIA history

For decades, the name Sierra Pacific has been associated with aviation, timber, and federal partnerships. But beneath the surface lies a complex and largely undocumented history—one intertwined with the CIA, covert Cold War missions, and ongoing government contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Drawing from government procurement databases, declassified intelligence records, corporate filings, and historical archives, this investigation uncovers the hidden web of military operations, political influence, and intelligence ties that link multiple Sierra Pacific entities to some of the most significant covert actions of the 20th century.

The CIA Connection: Garfield “Gar” Thorsrud

The most direct—and perhaps most surprising—CIA link emerges through Garfield “Gar” Thorsrud, president of Sierra Pacific Airlines.

Thorsrud was not just another aviation executive. In 1951, he was recruited as one of the first eight smokejumpers to work with the CIA, setting the stage for a career defined by some of the agency’s most daring operations:

• Tibet Operations (1957) – Personally selected remote drop zones for CIA radio teams supporting the Dalai Lama’s escape from Chinese-controlled Tibet to India.
• Indonesia Destabilization (1956) – Established an air operations base to back President Eisenhower’s anti-Sukarno policy, part of a broader CIA campaign to undermine the Indonesian government.
• Operation Cold Feet – Organized a joint CIA–U.S. Navy mission to recover Soviet intelligence from an abandoned Arctic research station.
• Bay of Pigs (1961) – Served as base chief at a CIA facility in Nicaragua, maintaining the crucial link between Cuban exile forces in the field and headquarters in Langley.

Thorsrud’s unique blend of aviation expertise and covert experience made him an indispensable figure in the CIA’s global air operations.

From Covert Ops to Corporate Power

Sierra Pacific Airlines was not an isolated case. Research shows the company operated within the CIA’s broader proprietary airline network, which included other front companies like Air America and Intermountain Aviation—the latter of which Thorsrud eventually led as president.

Intermountain’s known intelligence missions included aerial surveillance, equipment drops, and clandestine transport for sensitive U.S. government operations during the Cold War.

Sierra Pacific’s Modern Government Role

While its early history is steeped in secrecy, Sierra Pacific’s current operations are openly intertwined with federal agencies and political influence.

Key government partnerships and contracts include:

• $75 Million Wildfire Agreement (2025) – A landmark USDA contract to construct 400 miles of strategic fuel breaks to protect communities from catastrophic wildfires.
• 10-Year Reforestation Stewardship Agreement – Covering USDA Forest Service Regions 1 through 6, focusing on long-term timber management and wildfire prevention.
• Political Influence – Over $150,000 in federal lobbying in 2025 and $406,834 in political contributions in 2024, signaling strong engagement with lawmakers and policy decisions that shape land and resource management.

The Broader Intelligence Legacy

The Sierra Pacific story reflects a pattern familiar to intelligence historians: private-sector entities with deep operational and financial ties to the U.S. government often originate from—or remain connected to—covert military and intelligence programs.

Thorsrud’s career trajectory—from CIA smokejumper to airline president to head of a CIA proprietary—suggests that Sierra Pacific’s role was not merely coincidental but part of a coordinated strategy to maintain a flexible, deniable aviation capability for U.S. intelligence operations.

Recent Activity: Sierra Pacific 708 in Birmingham

This history isn’t just buried in dusty archives—it still moves in the present day. Today, Aviate Alabama filmed Sierra Pacific aircraft N708SP flying from March Air Reserve Base (KRIV) in California to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (KBHM). Upon arrival, the aircraft was parked well out of sight from public observation areas.

While there may be operational explanations for such positioning, the choice to park away from public view adds another layer of intrigue to an airline with deep historic ties to intelligence operations.

Why It Matters Today

Sierra Pacific’s unique position—rooted in CIA history yet actively shaping national wildfire policy and forest management—offers a case study in how Cold War-era intelligence structures have evolved into influential corporate-government partnerships in the 21st century.

Its history is a reminder that some of America’s largest and most respected companies carry legacies forged in secrecy, operating at the intersection of commerce, politics, and intelligence.