Brian Ray Hoke (April 4, 1974 – October 21, 2016) was an American Navy SEAL and CIA paramilitary officer who served on the front lines of counterterrorism operations. He was killed in action during an assault on an
Islamic State
The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS ...
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen () is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 28,495. making it the third-most populous city in the state. Aberdeen is home of Northern State University. ...
, where he developed a love for the outdoors, engaging in activities like hiking and fishing. He attended Aberdeen Central High School, excelling in academics, sports, and the arts. Hoke participated in football, basketball, tennis, and swimming, and was an accomplished violinist, earning a place in the All-State Orchestra. He was posthumously inducted in the Aberdeen High Hall of Fame for the Class of 1992.
After his family moved to Minnesota before his senior year, Hoke graduated from high school and received a congressional nomination to attend the
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...
. He graduated in 1996 with a degree in oceanography.
Military career
Fulfilling his aspiration to become a Navy SEAL, Hoke completed the rigorous Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training with Class 210 in April 1997. He served in SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two and SEAL Teams Three and Seven, undertaking deployments to various regions, including Europe and the Middle East.
CIA career
In 2003, Hoke transitioned to the
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...
(CIA), joining its elite
Special Activities Division
The Special Activities Center (SAC) is the center of the United States Central Intelligence Agency responsible for covert operations. The unit was named Special Activities Division (SAD) prior to a 2015 reorganization. Within SAC there are at le ...
(SAD), now known as the Special Activities Center. His role involved leading combat missions and gathering intelligence in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as assignments in Europe.
Death
On October 21, 2016, Hoke was killed in action during an operation against Islamic State militants near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was 42 years old. Hoke's death, along with that of his colleague Nathaniel Delemarre, highlighted the significant sacrifices made by CIA operatives in Afghanistan. Both men were honored with stars on the
CIA Memorial Wall
The Memorial Wall is a memorial at the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. He was awarded an
Intelligence Star
The Intelligence Star is an award given by the Central Intelligence Agency to its officers for "voluntary acts of courage performed under hazardous conditions or for outstanding achievements or services rendered with distinction under conditions ...
. He is buried at
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia.
...
.
Legacy
His wife and friends ran the Antarctic Ice Marathon in his memory. In 2014, Hoke ran the Polar Circle Half Marathon to benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation.
His family has worked with the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation.
Personal life
At the time of his death, he lived in
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a town in and the county seat of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is part of both the Northern Virginia region of the state and the Washington metropolitan area, including Washington, D.C., the nation's capital.
European se ...
. He was married with three children. Hoke enjoyed painting.