Cassandra M. Chandler - Assistant Director of Public Affairs

Mrs. Chandler was born in Los Angeles, California. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English. Later, she earned a Juris Doctorate from the Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana, and became a member of the Louisiana Bar. Prior to joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Mrs. Chandler enjoyed a career as a television news anchorperson, reporter and talk show host for the NBC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She also practiced law with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mrs. Chandler began her investigative career as a Special Agent in January, 1985. She has served in the FBI's New Orleans and Los Angeles Field Offices investigating white-collar crimes, violent crimes and civil rights violations.

Mrs. Chandler was promoted in 1991 to Supervisory Special Agent in the Legal Counsel Division at FBI Headquarters to support the defense of the agency and its personnel in civil litigation matters. She was later assigned as a manager in the Criminal Investigative Division, White-Collar Crimes Section, where she assisted with the creation of the Health Care Fraud Unit and the development of the FBI's Health Care Fraud Program.

In 1994, Mrs. Chandler was promoted to supervisor of white-collar crimes in the FBI's San Diego Field Office. While in San Diego, she oversaw the investigation of one of this country's first international health care fraud undercover operations. She also managed the division's El Centro Resident Agency office which primarily focused on violent crimes, including cross border kidnaping and environmental crimes.

In 1997, she was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Office's White-Collar Crimes, Civil Rights, Finance and Administrative Programs. Later, she managed the office's National Foreign Intelligence Program, Computer Intrusion investigations and the Domestic and International Terrorism Programs. She also oversaw the division's largest Resident Agency office in Oakland, California.

In April 2000, Mrs. Chandler was again promoted to Section Chief at FBI Headquarters. In that capacity she directed the Bureau's analytical intelligence program for criminal and domestic terrorism issues. On February 5, 2002, Director Mueller promoted Mrs. Chandler as Assistant Director, Training Division, where she managed 400 employees at the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia, and directed the training of Federal, state, local and International police, along with New Agents training, analysts training and the training of Law Enforcement Executives.

On December 11, 2002, Director Mueller assigned Mrs. Chandler temporarily as Assistant Director of the Office of Public Affairs and the FBI's National Spokesperson. On August 7, 2003, Mrs. Chandler was permanently assigned to the position by Director Mueller. Mrs. Chandler is a national speaker, a recipient of numerous awards and recognitions and a member of various national and international law enforcement organizations.