Darrell Blocker. A 2025 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for “exemplary commitment to national security, global stability, mentorship, humanitarian work, and advocacy for diversity in national security,” Darrell M. Blocker served six consecutive Presidential Administrations (Reagan to Trump) during a 32-year career in the U.S. Intelligence Community; four years as a USAF intelligence analyst and 28 years as a CIA operative within their Clandestine Service.
During his storied career, Darrell was awarded the CIA’s Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the George H.W. Bush Award for Excellence in Terrorism, the Iraqi Campaign Citation for contributions to the 2003 Iraqi War, and the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal for service in the Republic of Korea and the Expeditionary Campaign Medal for Panama during OPERATION JUST CAUSE. His military intelligence contributions to the capture General Manuel Noriega prepared him for CIA war zone missions to Somalia in the aftermath of Blackhawk Down, to Burundi after the Hutu-Tutsi massacres, and to the Pakistan/Afghanistan theatre after 9/11.
Darrell’s CIA career highlights within includes six field command assignments, including two Station Chief tours. He served as Dean of their iconic training academy responsible for training the next generation of clandestine warriors from CIA, DIA, and FBI. Darrell was twice a C-suite-equivalent member of the Directorate of Operations Leadership Team (DOLT), as Deputy Director of the Counterterrorism Center and as Chief Africa Division. His assignment to Pakistan serves as the backdrop for the story he shares in his episode of INSIDE CIA.
Darrell currently lives in the greater Los Angeles area and through his own firm consults on Hollywood projects, serves as an Independent Board Director for Rendeavour, Africa’s largest urban land developer (building new cities across Sub-Saharan Africa), as an Advisor to the Black Professionals in International Affairs’ Leadership Council, and as a Strategic and Risk Advisor to Ragnar AI’s “The Grid” project, a curative healthcare, athletic performance, mental wellness, and innovative roll-up of a group of integrated and complimentary businesses (designed to treat first responders, police and firefighters and our elite tier one combat forces).