James Darnell

Former Special Agent (USSS)
Team Leader

James Darnell is a recently retired U.S. Secret Service computer crime, cyber defense, and digital forensic expert who previously led the computer forensic component of the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Special Agent Program (ECSAP).

U.S. Secret Service. Special Agent Darnell spent 21 years with the Secret Service, 16 of which in different roles with the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) and the National Computer Forensic Institute (NCFI). Special Agent Darnell administered the computer forensics program, as well as created, taught, and administered the mobile device and skimmer forensics programs. Additionally, Special Agent Darnell led Secret Service digital forensics research projects and performed digital evidence examinations that could not be completed by field agents.

Training & Certificates. Special Agent Darnell graduated from the Treasury Computer Forensics Training Program in 2003. This program consists of agent examiners representing the U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations. Special Agent Darnell was also a certified American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD-LAB) assessor. He teaches digital forensics at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences, Forensic Science.

Education & Affiliations. Special Agent Darnell is the former Chair of the Scientific Workgroup on Digital Evidence (SWGDE), former Forensic Committee Chair of the Organization of Scientific Area Committee (OSAC), a member of the Computer Crime And Digital Evidence Committee at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and a member of the Industry Advisory Board at the Washington State Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE). He received a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada.