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Jefferson Hawkins, former Sea Org Marketing Executive and author of Counterfeit Dreams, passed away on January 5, 2026 at age 79 in Portland, Oregon.
During his time in Scientology, Jefferson was a member of the Apollo crew.
After the Apollo was retired and Scientology surreptitiously sat up Flag Land Base in an unsuspecting Clearwater, Florida, Jefferson wound up in the desert of Southern California at Scientology’s Gold Base.
Jefferson Hawkins and his Gold Base marketing team created Scientology’s mid-1980’s marketing campaign that placed Dianetics back on the bestseller book lists long after its release on May 9, 1950.
Jefferson Hawkins was brave and outspoken in exposing Scientology after he escaped.
In our 2014 podcast, Jefferson Hawkins discussed his Dianetics book campaign. This campaign culminated in Jefferson being physically assaulted by David Miscavige during a meeting. Jefferson relates that he was assaulted by Miscavige a total of five times.
Jefferson Hawkins contributed a great deal, was very generous with his time, and he will be missed by his family and friends. Vaya con Dios Jefferson.
Categories: Church of Scientology
Jeff was incredible to the whole mid 2000s onward new exposure of Scientology history.
His books, and the one above, are important to read.
He is like the Walter Cronkite of Scientology exposing and history explaining.
RIP and fly high, Jefferson. You did good.