Age, Biography and Wiki

Cofer Black (Joseph Cofer Black) was born on 1950 in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S., is a US intelligence officer and diplomat (born 1950). Discover Cofer Black's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 74 years old?

Popular As Joseph Cofer Black
Occupation N/A
Age 74 years old
Zodiac Sign N/A
Born 1950
Birthday
Birthplace Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on . He is a member of famous officer with the age 74 years old group.

Cofer Black Height, Weight & Measurements

At 74 years old, Cofer Black height not available right now. We will update Cofer Black's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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Cofer Black Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Cofer Black worth at the age of 74 years old? Cofer Black’s income source is mostly from being a successful officer. He is from United States. We have estimated Cofer Black's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income officer

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Timeline

1973

A native of Ridgefield, Connecticut, Black completed his BA at the University of Southern California in 1973.

The next year he earned a master's degree in international relations, also at USC.

1975

He then was accepted to a doctoral program at USC, but left in 1975 to join the CIA.

At the CIA, Black trained for the clandestine service and volunteered for Africa based on his knowledge of the region from childhood travels with his father across the continent.

Initially, he worked as a case officer in Lusaka, Zambia during the Rhodesian Bush War.

He then transferred to Somalia, where he served for two years during the conflict between Ethiopians and Somalis.

He worked in South Africa during the National Party government's war against guerrilla movements opposing the apartheid system.

While assigned to Kinshasa, Zaire, Black was involved in the Reagan Administration's covert action program to arm anti-communist guerrillas in neighboring Angola.

1993

In 1993, Black transferred from London to Khartoum, Sudan, where he served as CIA station chief until 1995.

This was at a low point in U.S.-Sudanese relations, due to the latter's sponsorship of terrorism and the harboring of Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

Black oversaw the collection of human intelligence (HUMINT) on terrorist cells and support structures; toward the end of his tenure, he was targeted by Al Qaeda for assassination (see Woodward, Bush at War, p. 9).

1994

Black was also responsible for the collection of intelligence that led to the 1994 capture of the terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal.

1995

In 1995, Black was named the Task Force Chief in the Near East and South Asia Division.

1998

From June 1998 through June 1999, he served as the Deputy Chief of the Latin America Division.

In December 1998, CIA chief Tenet "declared war" on Osama bin Laden.

1999

In June 1999 Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet named Black director of the CIA's Counterterrorist Center (CTC).

In this capacity, Black served as the CIA Director's Special Assistant for Counterterrorism as well as the National Intelligence Officer for Counterterrorism.

Black's promotion was a part of Tenet's "grand plan" for dealing with Al Qaeda.

Black was the operational chief in charge of this effort.

Tenet also put "Richard," one of his own assistants, in charge of the CTC's bin Laden tracking unit.

Early in 1999 Tenet "ordered the CTC to begin a 'baseline' review of the CIA's operational strategy against bin Laden."

In the spring, he "demanded 'a new, comprehensive plan of attack' against bin Laden and his allies."

The CTC had produced a "comprehensive plan of attack" against bin Laden and previewed the new strategy to senior CIA management by the end of July 1999.

By mid-September, it had been briefed to CIA operational level personnel, the NSA, the FBI, and other partners.

The strategy was referred to as "the Plan."

"... [Cofer] Black and his new bin Laden unit wanted to 'project' into Afghanistan, to 'penetrate' bin Laden's sanctuaries. They described their plan as military officers might. They sought to surround Afghanistan with secure covert bases for CIA operations—as many bases as they could arrange. Then they would mount operations from each of the platforms, trying to move inside Afghanistan and as close to bin Laden as they could to recruit agents and to attempt capture operations. Black wanted recruitments and he wanted to develop commando or paramilitary strike teams made up of officers and men who could 'blend' into the region's Muslim populations."

Parallel with these developments, in November–December 1999, Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, Ziad Jarrah, and Nawaf al-Hazmi visited Afghanistan, where they were selected for the "planes operation" that was to become known as 9/11.

Intelligence collection efforts on bin Laden and Al Qaeda increased significantly from 1999.

"By 9/11," said Tenet, "a map would show that these collection programs and human [reporting] networks were in place in such numbers as to nearly cover Afghanistan."

2000

Working with a Malaysian security unit, the CIA watched al-Hazmi and his companion Khalid al-Mihdhar as they attended a January 2000 Al Qaeda conference in Kuala Lumpur, later determined to be where decisions about the "planes operation" were made.

According to an internal CIA report on the performance of the agency prior to the 9/11 attacks, Black was criticized for not informing the FBI that al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar had subsequently entered the United States.

In addition, the 9/11 Commission found that while Black testified before Congress's Joint Inquiry into 9/11 that the FBI had access to information on the two hijackers, the 9/11 Commission found no such evidence of this.

The CIA increasingly concentrated its resources on counter-terrorism, so that resources for this particular activity increased sharply.

Some of the Plan's more modest aspirations were translated into action.

2001

Black still headed the CTC at the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

During the summer of 2001, Tenet, Black, and one of Black's top assistants—"Rich B" (i.e. "Richard")—were active in conveying the dangers of Al Qaeda to the new Bush administration.

At a meeting with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and others on July 10, 2001, "Rich" predicted a "spectacular" terrorist attack against US interests "in the coming weeks or months" ... "Multiple and simultaneous attacks are possible."

After the meeting, "Rich and Cofer congratulated each other," feeling that at last the CIA had gotten the full attention of the administration.

2004

Joseph Cofer Black is an American former CIA officer who served as director of the Counterterrorism Center in the years surrounding the September 11th attacks, and was later appointed Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the State Department by President George W. Bush, serving until his resignation in 2004.

Prior to his roles combatting terrorism, Black served across the globe in a variety of roles with the Directorate of Operations at the CIA.