For Immediate Release
November 2, 1999

Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office

FBI Director Louis J. Freeh today announced that Deputy Director Robert M. Bryant will retire from the FBI on November 30, 1999 after 31 years of service. The Deputy Director is the second highest ranking position in the FBI.

Director Freeh said, "Bob Bryant has enjoyed an extraordinary career with the FBI. He has earned a reputation for integrity and achievement few obtain. For many years he has unselfishly dedicated himself to protecting public safety and national security. For example, Bob Bryant's leadership in writing and implementing the FBI's Strategic Plan for the next five years is one of his most significant accomplishments on behalf of the FBI. Initiatives like these, as well as his strong leadership in the area of automation and information technology, will serve the nation well for many years to come. Other efforts Bob initiated, like the FBI's Safe Streets Anti-Violent Crime Program, have united law enforcement in ways that have demonstrably impacted on the crime rates in our cities. We are most thankful to Bob and his family for 31 years of dedicated service to the FBI. While everyone in the FBI wishes him great success, he will sorely be missed by the entire law enforcement community."

Attorney General Janet Reno said, "For as long as I have known Bob, I have found his commitment to criminal justice and public safety to be top notch. He is terrific. Our nation owes Bob Bryant an enormous debt of gratitude for his dedicated service to public safety and combating terrorism, and for his commitment to the fine agents of the FBI, and the people of America."

Mr. Bryant was born June 30, 1943 in Springfield, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1965 and a Law Degree in 1968 from the University of Arkansas.

Mr. Bryant became an FBI Special Agent in October, 1968 and was first assigned to the Seattle Field Office. He then transferred to the Dallas Field Office where he served until 1975. From 1975 until 1977, Mr. Bryant was a supervisor in the Criminal Investigative and Records Management Divisions at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C.

In 1977, Mr. Bryant was assigned to the Planning and Inspection Division. In 1978, he began another tour of field duty when he became a supervisor in the Las Vegas Field Office.

He was named Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City, Missouri Field Office in 1980. In March 1984, he was named a Permanent Inspector and later designated Acting Chief Inspector.

In 1985, Mr. Bryant was appointed Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City Field Office. He served there until 1989 when he returned to FBI Headquarters as a Deputy Assistant Director in the Criminal Investigative Division.

In 1991, Mr. Bryant was named Special Agent in Charge of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Field Office. In 1993, he was designated Assistant Director of the National Security Division and in 1997, Director Freeh appointed him to be Deputy Director.

During his distinguished career, Mr. Bryant directed many high-profile investigations including the Oklahoma City bombing investigation in 1995 and the bombing of the Al-Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996. He also headed the successful espionage investigations of Aldrich Ames, a CIA employee arrested in 1994 and now serving a life term in prison, Earl Edwin Pitts, an FBI agent and Harold Nicholson, a CIA employee, who pleaded guilty to espionage charges in 1997 in separate cases and are serving long prison terms.

Mr. Bryant also supervised the FBI operation that resulted in the peaceful surrender and arrest of the Freemen in Montana after a long standoff in 1996.

Mr. Bryant is married and has three children.

After retiring from the FBI, Mr. Bryant will become the Chief Executive Officer with the National Insurance Crime Bureau in Chicago, Illinois.