The CITS Global Decisions Lecture Series presents former CIA Deputy Director for Counterterrorism Darrell M. Blocker on “The Efficacy of Kindness in the National Security Realm.”

Darrell M. Blocker is a 1986 graduate of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in Psychology. He is an active member of the UGA Mentoring Program and he delivered a TEDxUGA talk in April 2022 entitled “LISTEN MORE, SPEAK LESS: LESSONS IN KINDNESS FROM A CIA OPERATIVE.” Darrell was a proud 4-year member of UGA’s Air Force ROTC Detachment and later served as a commissioned USAF officer in the Republic of Korea and Texas. He continued working with military personnel, primarily Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) units, as a CIA officer primarily war zones in Africa and the Pakistan-Afghanistan region.

Darrell served as an intelligence officer for six consecutive Presidential Administrations (Reagan to Trump), including four years as a USAF analyst and 28 years as a CIA operative before retiring in 2018. He was later considered one of President Biden’s top nominees to be Director CIA. This was widely reported in press and news articles by ABC News, the Wall Street Journal, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Fox News, CNN, the New York Times, the Daily Beast, and the DailyMail.

Darrell is currently the Chief Operating Officer for MOSAIC Security, a strategic crisis management and executive advisory firm. He is a regular on-air contributor on ABC News and primarily provides analysis on Russia/Ukraine, North Korea, Iran and Terrorism. He is developing espionage-themed content in Hollywood, serving as a tv consultant and recently appeared on FRIDAY NIGHT VIBES hosted by comedians Tiffany Haddish and Deon Cole. Darrell also volunteers with nonprofits dedicated to serving youth in the foster care system and serves on the board of Peace4Kids.org.