Valerie Plame is a former covert CIA officer who gained public attention in the early 2000s. She worked in the agency's operations division, focusing on weapons of mass destruction and nuclear proliferation. Her career was marked by significant contributions to national security. In 2003, her identity was leaked to the press, leading to a major political scandal. The leak was linked to the controversy surrounding the Iraq War and the claims made by the U.S. government about Iraq's weapons capabilities. This incident raised questions about government accountability and the protection of intelligence personnel.