Joseph M. Demarest, Jr. Named Assistant Director in Charge of New York Division

Joseph M. Demarest, Jr. has been named Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBI’s New York Division. Director Robert S. Mueller, III appointed him to this position to replace retiring ADIC Mark Mershon. Mr. Demarest is returning to the FBI after serving as an executive in the private sector. Prior to that, he served as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of Counterterrorism for the New York Division.

“Joe Demarest has a strong national security and criminal investigative background with deep roots in New York,” said Director Mueller.“That, combined with his more recent experiences as a manager and leader both at Headquarters and in New York makes him well prepared to lead our largest office.”

“As Assistant Director in Charge, Joe will follow Mark Mershon, who is retiring form the FBI after an accomplished career as an investigator and manager. Mark has led the New York Division during a time when the office saw major accomplishments in both the criminal and national security areas,” Mueller said.

Mr. Demarest entered on duty as a special agent with the FBI in 1988. U pon completion of training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, he was assigned to the Anchorage Division, where he investigated white collar crime, drug, violent crime, and foreign counterintelligence cases. In 1990, he was transferred to the New York Division, where he was assigned to a Colombian drug squad. He was promoted to squad Supervisor in 1999, and was selected as the SWAT Team Leader. In 2000, he was selected to serve as the Drug Branch's Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC).

After 9/11, Mr. Demarest was selected as one of two Shift Commanders for the PENTTBOM investigation. In that position, he led an ad hoc task force of over 400 federal, state, and local investigators from over 40 agencies to address the more than 5,500 PENTTBOM-related leads daily.

Mr. Demarest was promoted to Unit Chief at FBI Headquarters in 2002, where he served in the International Terrorism Operations Section (ITOS). In 2003, he was promoted to Assistant Section Chief of ITOS. He later served as an Acting Section Chief in ITOS until he was promoted to management positions in the International Terrorism Branch for the New York Division, ultimately becoming SAC for Counterterrorism. He served in that role until early 2008.

Mr. Demarest was employed as a Deputy Sheriff with the Hillsborough County, Florida, Sheriff's Office for five years prior to joining the FBI