# Darrell Blocker > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Darrell_Blocker > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Darrell_Blocker.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Blocker > Source revision: 1349844182 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American former intelligence officer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Darrell Blocker | education = [University of Georgia](/source/University_of_Georgia) {{small|([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))}} | office = [Central Intelligence Agency](/source/Central_Intelligence_Agency) [Counterterrorism Center](/source/Counterterrorism_Center) | title = [Deputy Director](/source/Deputy_Director_of_the_Central_Intelligence_Agency) | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{flag|United States Air Force}} | service_years = 1987–1990 | children = 2 | president = [George W. Bush](/source/George_W._Bush) | rank = 15px [Captain](/source/Captain_(United_States)) | awards = [Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal](/source/Distinguished_Career_Intelligence_Medal) | occupation = [Intelligence officer](/source/Intelligence_officer) | nickname = "The Spy Whisperer"{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2020/12/09/politics/darrell-blocker-who-could-lead-bidens-cia-is-a-black-jew-known-as-a-spy-whisperer|title=Darrell Blocker, who could lead Biden's CIA, is a Black Jew known as a 'spy whisperer'|date=December 9, 2020|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}} | image = Darrel Blocker.jpg | branch_label = Branch }} '''Darrell M. Blocker''' is a former American intelligence officer who served for 28 years with the [Central Intelligence Agency](/source/Central_Intelligence_Agency). He held prominent positions including deputy director of the [Counterterrorism Center](/source/Counterterrorism_Center) (CTC), Chief of [Africa](/source/Africa) Division, and Chief of Training at [Camp Peary, Virginia](/source/Camp_Peary), better known as "The Farm". Within the intelligence community, Blocker was known for participating in a number of semi-professional musical ensembles during his postings abroad. He retired in 2018 as the most senior black officer in the CIA's [Directorate of Operations](/source/Directorate_of_Operations_(CIA)). Since 2019 Blocker has been [chief operating officer](/source/chief_operating_officer) of intelligence and advisory firm MOSAIC, and a contributor for [ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States)). In November 2020, [Fox News](/source/Fox_News) reported that president-elect [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden) had included Blocker among his shortlist of candidates to nominate for [Director of the Central Intelligence Agency](/source/Director_of_the_Central_Intelligence_Agency); in the end, the position went to [William J. Burns](/source/William_J._Burns_(diplomat)).{{Cite web|last=McKay|first=Hollie|date=2020-11-27|title=Exclusive: Former CIA station chief Darrell Blocker floated to lead agency under Biden, source says|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-darrel-blocker-biden-cia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127195417/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-darrel-blocker-biden-cia |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |access-date=2020-12-01|website=[Fox News](/source/Fox_News)|language=en-US}} ==Early life== Blocker grew up in [Hephzibah, Georgia](/source/Hephzibah%2C_Georgia), in an Air Force family.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/darrell-blocker-the-black-jewish-spy-whisperer-who-could-lead-bidens-cia/|title=Darrell Blocker, the Black, Jewish 'spy whisperer' who could lead Biden's CIA|first=Ron|last=Kampeas|website=The Times of Israel|date=December 10, 2020}} While growing up he also lived in Japan, Italy, Texas, and [Augusta, Georgia](/source/Augusta%2C_Georgia). In Augusta he attended Windsor Spring Elementary, Glenn Hills Junior High School, and [Butler High School](/source/Butler_High_School_(Augusta%2C_Georgia)).{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrdw.com/2020/12/08/meet-the-augusta-man-who-could-be-the-next-cia-director/|title=Meet the Augusta man who could be the next CIA director|website=WRDW|author=Meredith Anderson|date=December 8, 2020}} He then attended the [University of Georgia](/source/University_of_Georgia), where he sang in a church choir and was part of the [glee club](/source/glee_club), in addition to serving in [Air Force ROTC](/source/Air_Force_Reserve_Officer_Training_Corps). He graduated in 1984 with a degree in psychology. ==Intelligence career== Blocker began his career as an [intelligence analyst](/source/intelligence_analyst) for the [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force). He served for four years, from 1987 to 1990, before separating [honorably](/source/Military_discharge). He then joined the [Central Intelligence Agency](/source/Central_Intelligence_Agency)'s (CIA) [Directorate of Operations](/source/Directorate_of_Operations_(CIA)), formally known as the Clandestine Service, around 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://mosaicsec.com/|title=Meet Mosaic; Executive Board; Darrell Blocker; Chief Operating Officer|work=mosaicsec.com}} Blocker wrote his CIA entrance essay about the [First Palestinian Intifada](/source/First_Palestinian_Intifada), and concluded that: "every nation in history that has fought and won actual territory, actual ground, them giving it back — it just hasn’t happened." Blocker was a CIA [operations officer](/source/Operations_officer_(CIA)), [Chief of Station](/source/Chief_of_Station), deputy director of [Counterterrorism Center](/source/Counterterrorism_Mission_Center) (CTC) under [Michael D'Andrea](/source/Michael_D'Andrea), and later Chief of Africa Division. Subsequently, he went on to lead the CIA training division at [Camp Peary, Virginia](/source/Camp_Peary), better known as "The Farm". Throughout his 28-year career, Blocker served in 10 countries, among them Senegal, Burundi, Uganda (undercover; beginning in 2003), Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Morocco, and Pakistan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-darrel-blocker-biden-cia|title=Exclusive: Former CIA station chief Darrell Blocker floated to lead agency under Biden, source says|first=Hollie|last=McKay|date=November 27, 2020|website=Fox News}} He said: "I’ve had 27 addresses in my 56 years -- 22 of those as an adult." He recruited and developed undercover sources and spies who would provide intelligence about potential threats and targets in his area of responsibility.{{Cite web|url=https://abc7.com/5832921/|title=Former CIA, FBI officials explain how agencies spy, gather intel|date=January 10, 2020|author=Brandi Hitt|website=ABC7 Los Angeles}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/gma/us-spy-agencies-face-shocking-090705518.html|title=US spy agencies face 'shocking' lack of diversity|website=Yahoo|author=Devin Dwyer and Cindy Smith|date=October 6, 2020|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416173911/https://www.yahoo.com/gma/us-spy-agencies-face-shocking-090705518.html|url-status=dead}} He began playing music as part of his espionage duties in Senegal in 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/singer-tailor-soldier-spy-cia-officers-life-frontman/story?id=65415034|title='Singer Tailor Soldier Spy': A CIA officer's life as the frontman of one of Uganda's top bands|website=ABC News|author=Lucien Bruggeman|date=September 8, 2019}} While undercover in Uganda, Blocker became a minor celebrity as lead singer in a popular local band in the capital city of [Kampala](/source/Kampala), known as the "Kampala Jazz All-Stars".{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/exclusive-former-cia-station-chief-darrell-blocker-floated-to-lead-agency-under-biden-source-says/ar-BB1bqnoZ?li=BBnb7Kz|title=Exclusive: Former CIA station chief Darrell Blocker floated to lead agency under Biden, source says |author= Hollie McKay| date=November 27, 2020|website=www.msn.com}} He began learning about Judaism while he was in college, and began wearing a [chai](/source/Chai_(symbol)) as a pendant. In 2017 he [converted to Judaism](/source/Gerim). He identifies as a conservative Jew. [[File:Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal of the CIA.jpg|thumb|180px|[Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal](/source/Distinguished_Career_Intelligence_Medal) of the CIA]] Blocker retired from the CIA in 2018, as the most senior black officer in its Directorate of Operations. He had a rank equivalent to a [3-star general](/source/Lieutenant_general_(United_States)). Upon retirement, he was awarded the CIA's [Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal](/source/Distinguished_Career_Intelligence_Medal). ==Later career== In 2019 Blocker became the [chief operating officer](/source/chief_operating_officer) of the multinational security firm MOSAIC (Multi Operational Security Agency Intelligence Company).{{cite web|first=Biba |last=Adams|date=November 30, 2020|url=https://news.yahoo.com/former-station-chief-darrell-blocker-141840211.html |title=Former station chief Darrell Blocker being considered for CIA director: report |publisher=Yahoo |access-date=November 30, 2020}} In August 2019 Blocker joined [ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States)) as a contributor, appearing on ''[Good Morning America](/source/Good_Morning_America)'' and ''[This Week](/source/This_Week_(American_TV_program))'' as a subject matter expert on Africa, Iran, North Korea and Terrorism. He now lives in [Santa Monica, California](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California).{{Cite web|url=https://tiger21.com/presenter/darrell-blocker-mosaic-multi-operational-security-agency-intelligence-company/|title=Darrell Blocker|publisher=tiger21.com}} He also consults on projects in the entertainment industry, including for [MGM](/source/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) and [Skydance](/source/Skydance_Media) on season 2 of [CONDOR](/source/Condor_(TV_series)), a television adaptation of ''[Six Days of the Condor](/source/Six_Days_of_the_Condor)'' by [James Grady](/source/James_Grady_(author)), which features a young CIA analyst as the primary protagonist.{{Cite web|title=Darrell Blocker|url=https://tiger21.com/presenter/darrell-blocker-mosaic-multi-operational-security-agency-intelligence-company/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=TIGER 21|language=en-US}} Blocker also serves on the board of nonprofits Peace4Kids and HumanSlavery.com, organizations dedicated to improving the future of youth in foster care, and ending human trafficking and exploitation, respectively.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Darrell Blocker|url=https://www.spymuseum.org/host-an-event/spy-speaker-series/darrell-blocker/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130014311/https://www.spymuseum.org/host-an-event/spy-speaker-series/darrell-blocker/ |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |access-date=2020-12-01|website=[International Spy Museum](/source/International_Spy_Museum)|language=en}} In November 2020, [Fox News](/source/Fox_News) reported that Blocker was among President-elect Joe Biden's shortlist for Director of the CIA. [Axios](/source/Axios_(website)) reported that insiders viewed him as a front-runner; but reporter [Spencer Ackerman](/source/Spencer_Ackerman) characterized Blocker as "a long shot".{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/why-biden-tapped-william-burns-for-cia-e5ece007-e810-40d1-ac3b-8cebe5d9198b.html|title=Why Biden tapped William Burns for CIA|author=Zach Dorfman |website=Axios|date=January 13, 2021 }} In the end, the Biden nominated [William J. Burns](/source/William_J._Burns_(diplomat)). ==References== {{Reflist|refs= {{cite news | url = https://news.yahoo.com/financial-batman-lead-run-biden-095351539.html | title = 'Financial Batman' in the Lead to Run Biden's CIA | work = [The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast) | authorlink = Spencer Ackerman | first = Spencer | last = Ackerman | date = December 17, 2020 | quote = Biden has several other candidates under consideration. Among the named: Susan Gordon, the former principal deputy director of national intelligence who quit the Trump administration in 2019; the former Defense Intelligence Agency director and retired Marine three-star general Vincent Stewart; and Darrell Blocker, said to be more of a long shot, a retired agency veteran with experience in the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center. }} }} ==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Il35s7_lE "Darrell M. Blocker - His Journey in the CIA as a Real Life 007 Secret Agent,"] ''The Deal with Danny Brown'', September 16, 2019 (video) *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoRtcdDHgkc "The Spy Whisperer - Darrell M. Blocker,"] [International Spy Museum](/source/International_Spy_Museum), February 18, 2020 (video). *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQkdHixrcXQ "What's Your Water? Episode 11: Darrell Blocker, former CIA Operative,"] GED Productions, May 21, 2020 (video). *[https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/video/administration-means-intelligence-community-192618321.html "What a new administration means for the intelligence community; Former CIA Director of Operations Darrell Blocker discusses the impact President Joe Biden will have on the intelligence community as he starts his presidency."], Darrell Blocker, ABC News, January 20, 2021 (video). {{DEFAULTSORT:Blocker, Darrell}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:United States Air Force officers Category:People of the Central Intelligence Agency Category:Central Intelligence Agency operations Category:American intelligence analysts Category:Franklin College of Arts and Sciences alumni Category:People from Hephzibah, Georgia Category:People from Augusta, Georgia Category:ABC News people Category:African-American United States Air Force personnel Category:African-American Jews Category:American Conservative Jews Category:American chief operating officers Category:Converts to Judaism from Christianity Category:Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Military personnel from Santa Monica, California --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Darrell Blocker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Blocker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Blocker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.