FBI Director Mueller Names Assistant Directors for Congressional and Public Affairs

Washington, DC - FBI Director Robert S. Mueller today announced the official reorganization of the Bureau's Office of Public and Congressional Affairs (OPCA) into two offices with separate leadership. Director Mueller named Eleni P. Kalisch to be Assistant Director in charge of the FBI's Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA). He named Cassandra M. Chandler to be Assistant Director in charge of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA).

According to Director Mueller, "We made the change to improve our communication with both lawmakers and the public during this time of change for the Bureau and heightened concern for national security."

"I have relied on Eleni to respond to Congressional oversight on sensitive law enforcement and national security issues," Mueller said. "Her experience on Capitol Hill coupled with her knowledge of the FBI makes her an invaluable asset to the Bureau."

Ms. Kalisch has been serving as Acting Assistant Director of OCA since January and was previously Section Chief of FBI Government Relations. She joined the FBI in 1995 as Assistant General Counsel after serving as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations chaired by former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia. In 1998, she joined the FBI's OPCA as Special Counsel, where she worked closely with the U.S. Congress and with other federal agencies.

Prior to joining the FBI, Ms. Kalisch served as Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County, Georgia and worked as a news writer for CNN in Atlanta. She earned a law degree from Georgia State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia.

Cassandra M. Chandler is an 18-year veteran of the Bureau. Director Mueller said, "Cassi brings a wide range of experience and tremendous energy to Public Affairs. She was serving as the Assistant Director of the Training Division last December, when I persuaded her to take a temporary assignment at OPA. It was supposed to be a 90-day assignment, but she has done a tremendous job and I have asked her to stay on at OPA."

Prior to joining the FBI, Mrs. Chandler worked as a television news anchor, reporter, and talk show host for the NBC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She also practiced law with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mrs. Chandler began her investigative career as a Special Agent in January 1985, and initially served in the FBI's New Orleans and Los Angeles Field Offices investigating white-collar crimes, violent crimes and civil rights violations. In 1991, she was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent in the Legal Counsel Division at FBI Headquarters. She was later assigned as a manager in the Criminal Investigative Division, White-Collar Crimes Section, where she assisted with the creation of the Health Care Fraud Unit and the development of the FBI's Health Care Fraud Program.

In 1994, Mrs. Chandler was promoted to supervisor of a white-collar crime squad in the FBI's San Diego Field Office. While in San Diego, she oversaw the investigation of one of this country's first international/cross border health care fraud undercover operations. She also managed the division's El Centro Resident Agency, which primarily focused on violent crimes, including cross border kidnapping, and environmental crimes.

In 1997, she was named as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Office, responsible for the White-Collar Crimes, Civil Rights, Finance, and Administrative Programs. Later, she managed the office's National Foreign Intelligence Program, Computer Intrusion investigations, and the Domestic and International Terrorism Programs. She also managed the division's largest Resident Agency in Oakland, California.

In April 2000, Mrs. Chandler was promoted to Section Chief in the Investigative Services Division at FBI Headquarters. In that capacity she oversaw the Bureau's analytical intelligence program for criminal and domestic terrorism issues. On February 5, 2002, Director Mueller appointed Mrs. Chandler as Assistant Director, Training Division where she managed 400 employees at the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia, and directed the training of new Agents; analysts; federal, state, local and international police; and law enforcement executives.

Mrs. Chandler has a B.A. in Journalism and English from Louisiana State University and a law degree from Loyola University School of Law.