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.
