Michael J. Heimbach Named Associate Director of National Intelligence Detailed to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, selected Michael J. Heimbach to serve as an Associate Director of National Intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Mr. Heimbach will serve as one of the DNI’s senior advisors responsible for providing advice and assistance on a variety of intelligence community initiatives. Most recently, Mr. Heimbach served as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division.

“Mike understands completely the important role the FBI plays as an integral member of the U.S. intelligence community,” said Director Mueller. “I know he will put his significant experience and leadership to work to further enhance collaboration and the FBI’s integration with the rest of the intelligence community.”

Mr. Heimbach entered on duty as a special agent with the FBI on November 20, 1988. Upon completion of training at Quantico, Mr. Heimbach was assigned to the New Orleans Field Office, where he investigated a variety of criminal violations including international drug trafficking, organized crime, and violent crime. In 1996, Mr. Heimbach was appointed Supervisory Special Agent of the New Orleans Special Operations Group, having oversight of all technical ground and aviation surveillance operations. In 1997, he was appointed as the supervisor of the New Orleans Gang Task Force. In 2000, Mr. Heimbach was awarded the Director’s Award for Excellence in Management which is one of the highest honors bestowed upon an FBI agent.

In August 2000, Mr. Heimbach was appointed unit chief of the Crimes Against Children Unit within the Criminal Investigative Division at FBIHQ. His responsibilities included coordination of the FBI’s Innocent Images National Initiative, involving on-line child sexual exploitation and all child-related abductions. In October 2002, Mr. Heimbach served as the Assistant Section Chief of the Violent Crimes and Major Offenders Section.

Mr. Heimbach was appointed in January 2003 as the Assistant Section Chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section within the Counterterrorism Division. His responsibilities included oversight of all FBI domestic and international terrorism investigations related to al Qaeda and other extremist organizations. He was awarded the 2004 Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service for his involvement in the major disruption of an international terrorist network.

In March 2004, Mr. Heimbach was selected as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence Division. He was responsible for the office’s Counterintelligence Program, having oversight of numerous classified intelligence investigations and responsible for over 225 agent and support personnel.

Mr. Heimbach was appointed the Section Chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section in March 2005, having oversight of all FBI domestic and international terrorism investigations involving al Qaeda and other extremist organizations. During this time frame, Mr. Heimbach became one of the first FBI certified intelligence officers.

In January 2007, Mr. Heimbach returned to the Washington Field Office as Special Agent in Charge over the office’s Counterterrorism Division. Mr. Heimbach oversaw all domestic and international terrorism investigations in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.

Mr. Heimbach was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Heimbach also received an Associate Degree in Police Administration from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to his appointment with the FBI, he served in the United States Army from 1976 – 1979 as a military policeman. Mr. Heimbach also worked as a Police/K-9 Officer for eight-and-a-half years in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.