The son of a senior Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official died last year while involved in the conflict in Ukraine, a CIA spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
The agency identified the deceased as 21-year-old Michael Gloss, the son of Juliane Gallina, the CIA’s deputy director for digital innovation. Confirmation of his death followed a report by a Russian news outlet, which claimed that Gloss had enlisted to fight alongside Russian forces.
In a statement, the CIA acknowledged the tragic loss, saying Gallina and her family “suffered an unimaginable personal tragedy in the spring of 2024, when her son Michael Gloss, who struggled with mental health challenges, died while participating in the conflict in Ukraine.” However, the agency did not specify which side Gloss was fighting for at the time of his death.
“Michael’s passing is considered a private family matter — not a national security issue,” the spokesperson added. “The entire CIA community mourns this heartbreaking loss.”
Juliane and her husband issued a personal statement through the agency: “We adored our son and grieve his loss every moment. We kindly request privacy during this difficult time.”
Posts from Gloss’ social media accounts last year showed him smiling in Moscow’s Red Square, expressing sympathy for Russia’s military campaign, which he described as a fight against the “Ukraine Proxy War.” He referred to Western media reports on the conflict as “propaganda” and portrayed Ukraine’s military as deeply corrupt and ineffective against Russian forces.
“Rus is slaughtering dem boys on sight,” Gloss wrote in one of his posts.
His VKontakte profile, a Russian social media platform, featured imagery from Soviet-era wartime propaganda.
The Russian news outlet Important Stories first reported Gloss’ death, citing Russian government sources and Gloss’ own online activity. Their investigation revealed that Gloss had traveled extensively overseas before ultimately joining the Russian military effort.
An obituary published by his family last year stated that Gloss had died “while traveling in Eastern Europe,” making no mention of Russia or the Ukraine conflict. It described his life as “brief, but fiercely beautiful,” and remembered him for his “noble heart and warrior spirit.”
Reached for comment, Michael’s maternal grandmother, Marie Cook, declined to discuss specifics about his death, referring inquiries to her daughter, Juliane Gallina.
“My daughter and son-in-law are the best parents I have ever seen in my life,” Cook said. “This is a terrible tragedy.”
Juliane Gallina was appointed to her current CIA role in 2023, having previously overseen major cybersecurity initiatives and held executive positions at IBM. Earlier in her career, she served as a Navy cryptologic officer, retiring from the Navy Reserves in 2013. Gallina made history at the U.S. Naval Academy as the first woman to lead the Brigade of Midshipmen.
Michael’s father, Larry Gloss, is a Navy veteran of Operation Desert Storm and currently works in private-sector cybersecurity.
Michael attended Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia, where he played football and lacrosse. He later studied human ecology at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, according to his obituary.
The family’s tribute portrayed him as physically strong, thoughtful, and principled, using his gifts to stand against injustice from a young age — whether on the playground, on the field, or in political discourse.
The obituary encouraged donations to causes Michael supported, including organizations aiding refugees, protecting the environment, and mental health advocacy groups such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
