FBI Director Mueller Names Michael J. Heimbach as Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division

Washington, D.C. - FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III has appointed Michael J. Heimbach, an eighteen-year veteran of the FBI, as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office (WFO) Counterterrorism Division. As head of the WFO Counterterrorism Division, Mr. Heimbach will lead a diverse team of professionals assigned to fighting domestic and international terrorism in one of the FBI’s largest field offices which covers Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.

Mr. Heimbach entered on duty as a Special Agent with the FBI on November 20, 1988 and upon completion of training at Quantico was assigned to the New Orleans Field Office investigating a variety of criminal violations to include International Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime, and Violent Crime. In 1996, Mr. Heimbach was appointed as a Supervisory Special Agent of the New Orleans Special Operations Group having oversight of all technical, ground and aviation surveillance operations. In 1997, he was appointed as the supervisor of the New Orleans Gang Task Force. In 2000, Mr. Heimbach was awarded the Director's Award for Excellence in Management which is one of the highest honors bestowed upon an FBI Agent.

In August of 2000, Mr. Heimbach was appointed as the Unit Chief of the Crimes Against Children Unit within the Criminal Investigative Division at FBIHQ. His responsibilities included coordination of the FBI's Innocent Images National Initiative involving on-line child sexual exploitation and all child related abductions. In October 2002, Mr. Heimbach served as the Assistant Section Chief of the Violent Crimes and Major Offenders Section.

In January 2003, Mr. Heimbach was appointed as the Deputy Section Chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section within Counterterrorism Division. His responsibilities included oversight of all FBI domestic and international terrorism investigations related to Al-Qaeda and other extremist organizations. He was awarded the 2004 Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service for his involvement in the major disruption of an international terrorist network.

In March, 2004, Mr. Heimbach was appointed Assistant Special Agent In-Charge (ASAC) Washington Field Office, Counterintelligence Division. He was responsible for WFO's Counterintelligence (CI) Program having oversight of numerous classified intelligence investigations and responsible for over 225 agent and support personnel.

In March, 2005, Mr. Heimbach was appointed the Section Chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section having oversight of all FBI domestic and international terrorism investigations involving Al-Qaeda and other extremist organizations. During this time frame, Mr. Heimbach became one of the first FBI certified intelligence officers.

Mr. Heimbach was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Alvernia University, Reading, Pennsylvania, with an Associate Degree in Police Administration from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to his appointment with the FBI, he served in the United States Army from 1976 - 1979 as a Military Policeman. He also was a Police/K-9 Officer for 8 ½ years in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.