J. Chris Warrener Named Special Agent in Charge of Minneapolis Division

Director Robert S. Mueller, III has named J. Chris Warrener special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Division. Here, he will be responsible for FBI operations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Mr. Warrener most recently served as section chief in the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters since 2010.

Mr. Warrener began his career as an FBI agent in 1988. His first assignment was to the Washington Field Office, where he investigated violent street gangs and counterintelligence matters. Here, Mr. Warrener was selected to represent the FBI on the National Advisory Commission on Law Enforcement (NACLE). The NACLE recommendations to improve pay and benefits of federal law enforcement officers have been subsequently enacted into law.

In 1996, Mr. Warrener was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs at FBI Headquarters. While assigned there, he represented the FBI before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and garnered legislation beneficial to the Bureau.

In 2001, Mr. Warrener transferred to the Albuquerque Division, where he focused on terrorism, white-collar crime, violent crime, and narcotics. In 2003, he was promoted to supervisory special agent of the violent crime/drug squad as well as program coordinator of the criminal enterprise and violent crime programs. In 2005, he was appointed as supervisor of the New Mexico Joint Terrorism Task Force as well as program coordinator of the international and domestic terrorism programs.

In 2007, Mr. Warrener was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of the Kansas City Division, where he managed all national security, intelligence, and technical programs and all resident agencies in Kansas. In 2010, Mr. Warrener was promoted to section chief of the Terrorist Financing Section, Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters.

Mr. Warrener is a native of Rock Tavern, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Oklahoma City University in 1981. He subsequently worked as a youth counselor in Oklahoma for several years. In 1986, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma, and he practiced law for two years  prior to joining the FBI. He currently maintains a license to practice law in the state of Oklahoma. Mr. Warrener is married to Special Agent Gayla Warrener and has two sons, Reed and Cole.