FBI
DIRECTOR MUELLER ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS
WASHINGTON, DC
-- FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III announced appointments for
top executive positions at FBI Headquarters and the New York FBI
office.
Pasquale
J. D'Amuro, Assistant Director in Charge, New York Division. Mr.
D'Amuro was sworn in as a Special Agent of the FBI in 1979.
He began his career in the New York Office and has served in
many different capacities over the last 24 years. Mr. D'Amuro
has investigated white collar and violent crimes, overseen
a national organized crime initiative, served as Assistant
Special Agent in Charge of New York's national security and
counterterrorism programs, and as Associate Special Agent in
Charge of New York's criminal program. Mr. D'Amuro also oversaw
the investigation of some of this country's most well-known
terrorist cases, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,
the embassy bombings in Eastern Africa, and the attack on the
USS Cole. Mr. D'Amuro has served as a supervisor in the Inspection
and Criminal Divisions at FBI Headquarters.
In the wake of
the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Mr. D'Amuro was appointed
by Director Mueller as Assistant Director of Counterterrorism at
Headquarters and later as the Executive Assistant Director of Counterterrorism
and Counterintelligence. He is returning to New York to take on
one of the largest and most demanding operational positions in
law enforcement.
"In early
2002, I asked Pat to leave New York to help me restructure the
FBI to prevent future terrorist attacks," Director Mueller
said. "In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, Pat
has been an instrumental leader in the management and direction
of the FBI's counterterrorism and counterintelligence programs.
Much of the tremendous progress we have achieved in these programs
is attributable to Pat's initiative and vision. As a result, Pat
has become one of my most trusted colleagues. I am confident that
he will bring the same commitment to excellence as he returns to
New York to oversee some of the toughest and most complex cases
and operations in the world."
Larry
A. Mefford, Executive Assistant Director, Counterterrorism
and Counterintelligence. Mr. Mefford joined the FBI in
1979, after serving as a law enforcement officer in Reno, Nevada.
He brings strong credentials to the position. Mr. Mefford has
30 years managing and investigating counterterrorism, criminal,
and crisis management matters. He also oversaw the establishment
of the FBI's Cyber Division. In the course of his career, he
has served in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Diego,
and San Francisco. At FBI Headquarters, he has assisted in
interagency Weapons of Mass Destruction contingency planning
efforts and authored the FBI's emergency plan to address a
chemical/biological terrorist incident. In November 2002, Director
Mueller appointed him as Assistant Director of Counterterrorism,
where he was instrumental in combatting terrorism against the
United States and in improving the collection, analysis, and
sharing of terrorist threat data and intelligence. His experience,
skills, and profound understanding of 21st century threats
are essential to the continued success of the FBI's Counterterrorism
and Counterintelligence programs.
John S. Pistole,
Acting Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division. Mr.
Pistole has been appointed to step into Mr. Mefford's position,
acting as Assistant Director for the Counterterrorism Division
with its myriad responsibilities of overseeing, directing, and
coordinating all FBI efforts to combat and prevent acts of terrorism
aimed against U.S. interests worldwide. Mr. Pistole was sworn
in as a Special Agent in 1983. He has served in Minneapolis,
New York, Indianapolis, and Boston. He also has taken overseas
assignments to assess and train law enforcement officers in Bulgaria
and at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest,
Hungary. Most recently he has served as Deputy Assistant Director
of the Counterterrorism Division, overseeing operations in international
terrorism, domestic terrorism, and terrorist financing.