Cofer Black
From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
Cofer Black was a career Central Intelligence Agency officer who headed the Counterterrorism Center from 1999 through 2002. From 2002 to 2004, he was the U.S. State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism & Ambassador at Large). He is now in private consulting practice.
Born in Stamford, Connecticut, he received his BA and MA in International Relations at the University of Southern California in 1973 and 1974.
Richard Clarke described him as a "hard-charging, get-it done CIA officer who had proved himself in the dark alleys of unsavory places. He was what the CIA needed a lot more of, but had little of." [1] CIA Inspector General John Helgerson, however, singled him out, along with George Tenet and Jim Pavitt, recommending censure to then Director Porter Goss.[2]
Afghanistan
The Counterterrorism Center, under Black, ran the CIA field operations in the beginning of the Afghanistan War (2001-). Its full operational title, "Counterterrorism Center/Special Operations (CTC/SO)" was, at first, classified.
Prior CIA service
He was Task Force Chair in the Near East and South Asia Division in 1995, and the Deputy Chief of the Latin America Division from 1998 to 1999.
Private business
After leaving government, he was Vice Chairman at Blackwater USA, and now is Chairman of Total Intelligence Solutions.[3]
