We’re Those Guys

Hayden Parker, a.k.a. “Church”

Hayden "Church" Parker spent his entire career in Photojournalism and Intelligence. As a photojournalist, Hayden wrote for motion pictures, television, magazines, and newspapers, among them Around New York, Colorado Business Magazine, Manchester Star-Mercury, National Enquirer, Architectural Digest  and New Hampshire Sunday News. He was the Editor of several publications as diverse as United Airlines Mainliner Magazine and Martial Arts Magazine. Martial Arts Legend Church Norris's film, Good Guys Wear Black originally appeared as a sports article Hayden wrote for a national magazine. In television, Hayden wrote and co-directed episodes for American Forces Radio and Television Service. His photographs are in private collections and were exhibited in one-man shows in Germany and the United States. His photography won more than forty awards, including many Firsts.

Hayden's analysis and field work in the Intelligence Community began in 1987 working for a U.S. Government Agency in the Republic of Panama. While covering a demonstration against Panama dictator Manuel Noriega's Panamanian Defense Forces, Hayden was shot, and returned to the United States. His intel work continued as a private contractor into the late 2000's in Belgium, Germany, France, and Russia.

             Hayden is a National Rifle Association Instructor. He trained for 18 months at NRA HQ in Fairfax, Virginia. He completed the NRA/Winchester Course, scoring 600-out-of-600, earning the highest ranking, Distinguished Expert, Pistol. Hayden is an SME - subject matter expert in espionage tradecraft used in motion pictures. He is a collector and preservationist of rare spy film movie posters and has one of the world's largest private collections. He also collects rare handguns from spy movies, as far back as 1928's Fritz Lang's Spione - the 1914 Mauser Pocket Pistol, carried by Colonel Jellusič. His personal favorite handgun is his pristine 1965 German Walther PPK 7.65 mm, the gun James Bond 007's used beginning in 1963's Dr. No.

Hayden has a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations from the University of the State of New York.

            Hayden is a former magazine model, appearing in articles and on covers.  

He is a Federal Aviation Administration Certified Commercial Drone Pilot.

            Hayden is married to U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, (Ret.) Tamara Knight Parker (see bio following). They have two children and two grandchildren.

            In an interview Hayden was asked where he got his intel name, 'Church'.

            "It was given to me by XXXX XXXXXX, a beautiful Israeli agent during a group lunch meeting at SHAPE; that's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium. We had worked together on several ops. She knew I'd never had a beer. I have tasted scotch; yucky, though people who do drink scotch always look super cool. I've never had any entertainment drugs. I don't curse in mixed company. I don't fool around on my wife, and my hobby is bodybuilding. XXXXXX said I could not be less exciting. I was hoping, despite her observation, she'd still give me a really butch nom de guerre; like "Tiger Man" or "Cool Tall Guy"; she gave me 'Church'."        

Tamara Parker served in the U.S. Army for 26 years. She enlisted as a Private First Class and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel Public Affairs Officer. Her career took her around the globe—beginning in the Republic of Panama where Tamara and Hayden’s son was born two days after Panamanian President Manuel Noriega declared his failed election void. Exciting times. 

Tamara held numerous command and staff positions including Public Affairs Officer to the 2nd Infantry Division when it headquartered at Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongbu, Republic of South Korea—just 30 miles south of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).

Though retired from active duty, Tamara continues to utilize her Public Affairs skills as a defense contractor, travelling to Hawaii, South Korea and other military locales in support of Army soldiers.

Also an artist, Tamara has expanded her graphic and fine arts talent; she takes commissions as well as being Spy Guy Lifestyles Art Director.

Retirement speech at the Pentagon Press Center in late 2011.

The former KGB headquarters in Moscow is in the travel guide.

Flying on UH-60 Blackhawk over Hawaii while supporting 25th Infantry Division’s Warfighter exercise.