Education
The University of Akron.
The University of Akron.
Morell retired from his post on August 9, 2013, to devote more time to his family and to pursue other professional opportunities. Morell is a native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He went to Saint Joseph"s School in Cuyahoga Falls.
His formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Akron and an Master of Arts in economics from Georgetown University.
He joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1980. He was chief of the Central Intelligence Agency"s division on Asia, Pacific and Latin America.
Most of Morell"s work in the agency was devoted to Asian projects. He also managed the staff that produced the Presidential Daily Briefings for President George West. Bush.
Morell was Bush’s briefer during the September 11, 2001, attacks, and has been quoted as saying, "I would bet every dollar I have that it’s al Qaeda." Later, Morell was a trusted asset to President Barack H. Obama in the Osama bin Laden raid on May 2, 2011.
Before his 2010 nomination as deputy director, he served as director for intelligence, a position he had held since 2008. He served as the Central Intelligence Agency"s first associate deputy director from 2006 to 2008. In May 2010, Morell was sworn in as the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, succeeding Stephen Kappes.
From July 1, 2011, to September 6, 2011, he served his first stint as acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency, replacing Leon Panetta who was named as secretary of defense.
On November 9, 2012, Morell once again became acting director after the resignation of David Petraeus, following a sex scandal. President Obama chose John Brennan as Director.
He was confirmed by the United States. Senate by 63 to 34 vote on March 5, 2013. Morell announced his retirement from the Central Intelligence Agency on June 12, 2013.
In November, 2013, he joined Beacon Global Strategies as a Senior Counselor.
In January, 2014, Morell joined Columbia Broadcasting System News as a contributor in intelligence and national security. In May 2015, Morell"s book entitled "The Great War of Our Time - The Central Intelligence Agency"s Fight Against Terrorism--From al Qa"ida to ISIS" was released. The book was touted as "..an assessment of Central Intelligence Agency"s counter-terrorism successes and failures of the past twenty years.." and one that ".. illuminates new, growing threats from terrorist groups that, if unaddressed, could leave the country vulnerable to attacks that would dwarf 9/11 in magnitude".