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Remembering CIA's Heroes: John Gregory Anthony Celli, III
This is a part of our series about CIA employees who have made the
ultimate sacrifice. Here we will look at the lives of the men and women who
have died while serving their country.
Currently, there are 89 stars carved into the marble of the CIA Memorial
Wall. The wall stands as a silent, simple memorial to those employees “who gave
their lives in the service of their country.” The CIA has released the names of
54 employees; the names of the remaining 35 officers must remain secret, even
in death.
Early in his
career as an analyst, John Celli’s superiors tagged him as a leader with
exceptional interpersonal skills. During his four years at the Central
Intelligence Agency, he did not disappoint. In November 1996, John died in a
traffic accident while overseas on a temporary duty assignment.
From Honors to the CIA
John was born
in the Bronx district of New York City. He
grew up in New Milford, Connecticut. At New Milford High School,
John was known as a strong leader and was elected National Honor Society
president. In 1987, he graduated with honors.
In the fall
of 1987, John began his college career at Georgetown University.
He majored in international economics with a concentration in finance and
commerce. At Georgetown’s
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, John was considered a class leader. In
1989, he spent a semester overseas at the University of Spain.
In addition to his studies, John also was involved in many service
organizations. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s
degree in 1991. John was the first person in his family to earn a college
degree.
John joined
the CIA in January 1992 and was selected for the Agency’s Career Training
Program. The program was entry-level training for both Directorate of
Operations (now the National Clandestine Service) and Directorate of
Intelligence (DI) officers. John completed the program in 1993 and was assigned
to the DI where he worked in the Office of Resources, Trade and Technology
(which later became the Office of Transnational Security and Technology Issues)
as an economic analyst. He quickly earned a reputation for being an
intelligent, hardworking and friendly analyst. John was always more than
willing to volunteer for temporary duty stints or extra duties.
Beyond the Job
While John
liked to work hard, he also liked to play hard. He was an avid outdoorsman. Hiking,
skiing and basketball were among a few of his favorite outdoor activities.
One of John’s
colleagues recalled seeing a picture of John jumping center against NBA player
Dikembe Mutembo when he played intramural basketball at Georgetown.
“John wasn’t
a tall guy,” his colleague said. “His team knew that it didn’t matter who they
put against Mutembo. That was the kind of tongue-in-cheek humor John had.”
John also had
a love for martial arts. He earned a third-degree black belt and instructor’s
certificate in Tang Soo Do. At the time of his death, John was head instructor
and proprietor of two Tang Soo Do studios—one in Virginia
and one in Maryland.
He frequently made trips to Philadelphia
to study with Chuck Norris’ trainer. John was also a stamp and coin collector.
Leaving a Lasting Impression
During John’s
brief time with the Agency, he made a lasting impression on his colleagues. After
speaking with many of John’s friends and colleagues about the 12th
anniversary of his death, it is clear that he is still missed and thought of
fondly.
“He had an
uncontainable enthusiasm about him,” said a colleague and lifelong friend. “He
would wake up in the morning with a smile on his face and go to bed with smile
on his face.”
At the
Agency’s 1997 annual memorial ceremony, then Director of Central Intelligence
George Tenet spoke about how John lived his life in abundance:
“And the
greatest thing he did was to give all he had, not just to his job, but to all
those around him. He genuinely cared for people, loved working with people, and
helped others at every opportunity. He lived a life in full abundance; and we
could learn from how he lived a great lesson on how we ourselves should live. That
lesson is love: love of truth and goodness, love for country, love for this
Agency’s family.”
Remembering a Hero
In March
1997, John was posthumously awarded the Exceptional Service Medallion and the
Intelligence Commendation Medal for his distinguished service to the Agency.
John’s memory
is honored with a star on the Agency’s Memorial Wall. His name also appears in
the CIA Book of Honor. John is survived by his parents, brother and sister.
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Posted: Nov 13, 2008 10:41 AM
Last Updated: Nov 14, 2008 07:11 AM
Last Reviewed: Nov 13, 2008 10:41 AM