John G. Kavanagh Named Special Agent in Charge in Omaha

John G. Kavanagh has been named special agent in charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Omaha Division. Director Robert S. Mueller, III, appointed him to this position to replace retiring SAC Paul C. LaCotti, Jr. Most recently, Mr. Kavanagh served as section chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section II in the Counterterrorism Division.

Mr. Kavanagh entered on duty with the FBI as special agent in July 1989. Upon graduating from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, he was assigned to the Bridgeport, Connecticut Resident Agency, where he served until 1997. During his tenure in Bridgeport, Mr. Kavanagh primarily investigated violent crimes and narcotics matters.

In 1997, Mr. Kavanagh was promoted to supervisory special agent and assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division’s Violent Crimes and Major Offenders Section at FBI Headquarters. In January 2000, Mr. Kavanagh was designated as the supervisory senior resident agent of the Burlington, Vermont Resident Agency.

In July 2003, Mr. Kavanagh was named assistant special agent in charge of the Cleveland Division. From July 2004 to January 2005, Mr. Kavanagh served as on-scene commander of FBI forces deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. In April 2005, he was appointed section chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section II in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters. In this capacity, Mr. Kavanagh had oversight responsibility for a wide range of counterterrorism investigations.

Mr. Kavanagh was born in 1959 in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Levittown, New York. Mr. Kavanagh graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John's University in 1981 and Hofstra University School of Law in 1984. Mr. Kavanagh has been a member of the New York Bar since 1984. Mr. Kavanagh served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1984 to 1987, obtaining the rank of Captain. Mr. Kavanagh later served as an assistant district attorney in Westchester County, New York, from 1987 to 1989.