Valerie Plame is a former officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who worked in operations and intelligence. She gained public attention in 2003 when her identity was leaked to the media, which is considered a serious breach of national security. At the time, she was involved in gathering information on weapons of mass destruction. The leak was linked to the controversial Iraq War and the political climate surrounding it. Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, a former diplomat, publicly criticized the government's justification for the war, which led to increased scrutiny of her covert status. The incident sparked a significant political scandal and discussions about the protection of intelligence officers.