George Venizelos Named Assistant Director in Charge of New York Division

Director Robert S. Mueller, III has named George Venizelos assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York Division. As leader of the Bureau’s largest field office, Mr. Venizelos will oversee all operations and personnel in the five boroughs of New York City, eight counties in New York state, and La Guardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. He most recently served as special agent in charge of the Philadelphia Division.

Mr. Venizelos entered on duty as a special agent in April 1991 and was assigned to the Boston Division working white-collar crime. He was promoted in August 1997 to supervisory special agent in the Russian Organized Crime Unit at FBI Headquarters.

Mr. Venizelos was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of FBI New York’s Criminal Division in August 2002, where he managed the drug program. In 2003, he was designated assistant special agent in charge of the Counterterrorism Division and managed the domestic terrorism program, including terrorism threats to New York City and the surrounding area. While in New York, he handled responsibilities for several major special events, including the 2004 Republican National Convention.

In 2005, Mr. Venizelos was promoted to inspector at FBI Headquarters, where he led inspection teams to FBI field offices and its legal attaché offices around the world.

Mr. Venizelos was appointed as special agent in charge of FBI New York’s Administrative Division in 2006. He led a team of professionals covering a region comprised of New York City, Long Island, and surrounding counties. He served as acting assistant director in charge of the New York Division from March 1-August 9, 2010.

Before joining the FBI, Mr. Venizelos was a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration and worked as an accountant at KPMG Peat Marwick. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fordham University.