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1. Ethics and Espionage with Darrell Blocker

Hear retired CIA counterterrorism officer Darrell Blocker at our dinner & presentation on Feb. 21st

Intelligence-gathering isn’t a modern thing—the Bible has several stories dealing with it. How can we use it ethically in our 21st-century age? 


Retired Deputy Director of the CIA Counterterrorism Center Darrell Blocker will be with us in another installment of our Faith Lab Speakers’ Series to discuss how intelligence gathering is essential in the modern age—and how we can use it in an ethical manner.

>> Friday, February 21st at 6 p.m. 

>> Dinner and presentation in the Great Hall


There are several stories in the Bible about spying and gathering intelligence, such as: 

  • The Twelve Spies: In Numbers 13, Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land of Canaan. They gathered intelligence on the land and its inhabitants, bringing back a report to help guide the Israelites. 

  • Rahab and the Spies: In Joshua 2, Rahab hid the two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to scout Jericho. Her actions were crucial in the Israelites’ successful conquest of the city. 

  • David and the Secret Information: In 1 Samuel 26, David sent spies to confirm Saul’s location before confronting him. This intelligence gathering was pivotal in David’s strategy. 

As a renowned expert in American Intelligence, Darrell Blocker will tell us how he navigates his faith and his career in U.S. espionage.

 

Darrell M. Blocker retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 2018 and transitioned from a 32-year career as an intelligence officer; four as a USAF officer and Soviet Military analyst and 28 at the CIA as an Operations Officer in their Clandestine Service.

Upon receiving his military commission through the University of Georgia ROTC Detachment, Darrell served at Osan AB (Republic of Korea) and Bergstrom AFB (Austin, TX) before his CIA foreign service assignments to U.S. Embassies in Niger, Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda, Pakistan and Switzerland (with temporary assignments to Somalia in the aftermath of the Blackhawk Down debacle in Mogadishu and Burundi following the Hutu-Tutsi massacres).


Darrell’s CIA career highlights include multiple tours as a Station Chief, Deputy Director of the Counterterrorism Center, Chief of Africa Division, and Chief of their iconic operational training facility.  He was awarded the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal upon retirement and is also a recipient of the George H.W. Bush award for Excellence in Terrorism, and was awarded medals for service in Mogadishu and in support of CIA initiatives in Iraq.  These journeys along the way included successful manhunts against Panamanian leader General Manuel Noriega, the perpetrators of 9/11 and the U.S. Embassy bombings in Nairobi (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), and chasing terrorists and enemies of the West across the globe.


Darrell is currently an on-air ABC News Contributor and subject matter expert on North Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and terrorism.  Born to and raised in a Baptist home, Darrell began his journey to Judaism in college and his faith journey included observing Ramadan in four Muslim-majority countries in which he served as a CIA officer.


Darrell’s Hebrew name is Judah Ben Abraham, chosen as an homage to his past careers after learning the Judah Tribe was best known for excelling at intelligence gathering and interpreting signs and being sent out to “spy out the land of Canaan.” Over the past six years, Darrell has grown his strategic crisis management advisory firm (DMB Consulting Services) and volunteered and served as a board member for two nonprofits and two for-profit companies. 

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