Noah Vosen

Lore & Background

Vosen operates from a deep-cover CIA bureau in New York City, where he directs Blackbriar. He orders Blackbriar assassin Desh Bouksani to kill Neal Daniels, the station chief who leaked information to journalist Simon Ross. After suspecting Nicky Parsons of cooperating with Bourne, Vosen orders Bouksani to kill both Nicky and Bourne, a decision Landy fiercely opposes. Vosen intercepts Bourne's phone call to Landy and a text message with a meeting location, but Bourne instead enters Vosen's office, records his voice, and steals classified Blackbriar documents from his secure safe. Vosen then sends assassin Paz after Bourne and informs Dr. Albert Hirsch of the situation. At the film's climax, Vosen appears on a roof and shoots at Bourne, who jumps into the East River. Three days later, a news broadcast reports the exposure of Operation Blackbriar, the arrests of Hirsch and Vosen, and a criminal investigation against Kramer. Bourne's body is not found, and he survives the fall.

In Their Own Story

The fluorescent lights hummed above the conference table, casting long shadows across the classified dossiers. Vosen didn't look up from the screen; his eyes remained fixed on the live feed of a target in Bangkok. Terminate the asset, he said, his voice devoid of hesitation. To him, it was not murder, but maintenance. A broken tool is discarded before it breaks the machine. He took a sip of cold coffee, waiting for confirmation that the cleanup crew had arrived.

Reader's Guide

Noah Vosen is the primary antagonist in *The Bourne Ultimatum*, representing the institutional power behind the CIA's black ops programs. He commands Blackbriar, the successor to Treadstone, and uses the ECHELON surveillance system to detect threats. Vosen orders the assassination of journalist Simon Ross at London Waterloo station after Ross mentions Blackbriar on a phone call. He dispatches Blackbriar assassin Desh Bouksani to kill station chief Neal Daniels in Tangier, and later orders Bouksani to kill Nicky Parsons and Bourne. Vosen intercepts Bourne's communications but is outmaneuvered when Bourne steals classified documents from his safe. At the film's end, Vosen is arrested following the exposure of Blackbriar, with Hirsch also arrested and Kramer under criminal investigation. Bourne survives Vosen's gunshot and jumps into the East River, with his body never found.

Did You Know?

• Vosen orders the assassination of journalist Simon Ross after Ross mentions Blackbriar on a phone call detected by the ECHELON system.
• Vosen reluctantly works with Deputy Director Pamela Landy, who fiercely disagrees with his decision to kill Nicky Parsons and Bourne.
• Bourne enters Vosen's office, records his voice, and steals classified Blackbriar documents from his secure safe.
• Vosen shoots at Bourne on a roof, but Bourne jumps into the East River and survives, with his body never found.
• At the film's end, a news broadcast reports the arrests of Vosen and Dr. Albert Hirsch, and a criminal investigation against Director Ezra Kramer.