David A. Thomas Named SAC Columbia

David A. Thomas has been named Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Columbia, South Carolina, Division. Director Robert S. Mueller, III, appointed him to this position to replace former SAC Brian D. Lamkin, who now serves as the Assistant Director of the Training Division at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Most recently, Mr. Thomas served as Deputy Assistant Director for the FBI’s Science and Technology Branch.

Mr. Thomas entered on duty as a special agent with the FBI in 1989. Upon completion of training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, he reported to the Tampa Division. After completing more than a dozen years of supervisory and leadership roles in areas such as violent crime, domestic terrorism, and national infrastructure protection, Mr. Thomas was appointed Chief of the Cyber Division's Criminal Computer Intrusion Unit at FBI Headquarters in 2001.

In April 2003, Mr. Thomas was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Field Office. He returned to FBI Headquarters in July 2004 as Chief of Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Criminal computer intrusion investigations. In this capacity, Mr. Thomas directed the FBI's efforts on all major transnational cyber investigations. He is also responsible for the creation of Cyber Action Teams, which deploy domestically and internationally in response to major cyber events.

Mr. Thomas was selected as the Deputy Assistant Director for the Science and Technology Branch in September 2006. In this post, he was responsible for providing the vision, leadership, and direction for the Branch, as well as ensuring the operational availability of state-of-the-art technologies, support, and expertise necessary to enable and enhance the FBI’s intelligence and investigative mandates. Mr. Thomas also oversaw the application of forensics services related to the collection, processing, and exploitation of computer and audio visual media in the counterintelligence, counterterrorism, criminal Investigative, and cyber program areas.

Mr. Thomas was born in Richmond, Virginia, and raised in Dunlap, Tennessee. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Thomas was the Assistant Director of the 12th Judicial District Drug Task Force in Jasper, Tennessee.