James H. Burrus, Jr. Appointed Assistant Director Criminal Investigative Division

Burrus will lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Investigative Division

Washington, D.C. – On August 15, 2006, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III named James H. “Chip” Burrus to be Assistant Director (AD) for the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) at FBI Headquarters. The CID is responsible for coordinating, managing, and directing all criminal investigative programs nationwide. These investigations focus on public corruption, violation of civil rights, gangs, organized crime, financial crimes including corporate fraud and health care fraud, violent crimes and the Office of Victim Assistance. AD Burrus had been the Acting AD since February 2006.

Director Mueller said, “Chip brings an extensive background in criminal investigations and great leadership qualities to the AD position. He has the skills and vision to lead the intelligence and technology driven work of today’s FBI, and I’m confident he will help us stay a step ahead of new threats and trends in the criminal arena.”

Mr. Burrus joined the FBI as a Special Agent in August 1983 and was assigned to El Paso and Midland, Texas offices where he focused on public corruption and bank fraud investigations. After transfer to the Washington, D.C. field office in 1988, he was promoted and assigned to the Attorney General’s Security Detail where he worked with Edwin Meese, Richard Thornburgh, and William Barr. In 1991, he was assigned to the FBI’s Internal Affairs Unit in Washington, D.C., where he remained until his promotion and transfer to Orlando, Florida in November 1993, as a Supervisory Special Agent. Mr. Burrus was named the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis Division in March 1998. The Minneapolis territory included fourteen Indian reservations and in July 2001, he received the FBI Director's Award for Special Achievement for his work in Indian Country. In August 2001 he was transferred to FBI Headquarters where he served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Director and developed a new hiring process for FBI Special Agents.

In June 2002, Mr. Burrus was appointed the Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City Division. His efforts in Salt Lake City included the formation of a Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory and the recovery of kidnaping victim Elizabeth Smart. In August 2004, he was promoted and transferred to FBI Headquarters to be the Deputy Assistant Director of the Criminal Division’s National Crimes Branch. He oversaw all cases involving public corruption, civil rights, white collar crime including mortgage fraud, violent crime, as well as the FBI’s undercover operations. In February 2006, Director Mueller appointed Mr. Burrus the Acting Assistant Director of the Criminal Division.

Mr. Burrus, a native of Shelby, North Carolina, obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University in May 1983.