Haspel joined the CIA in January 1985 as a reports officer. She held many undercover overseas positions, for many of which she was station chief. Her first field assignment was from 1987–1989 in Ethiopia, Central Eurasia, Turkey, followed by several assignments in Europe and Central Eurasia from 1990 to 2001. From 1996 to 1998, Haspel was station chief in Baku, Azerbaijan.