James McJunkin Named Assistant Director in Charge of FBI’s Washington Field Office

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III has named James W. McJunkin the assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office. Mr. McJunkin most recently served as the assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division.

“Jim has extensive experience and a record of success in managing counterterrorism investigations and creating successful partnerships,” said Director Mueller “His talents are well-suited for this new role and he is well positioned to lead one of the FBI’s largest divisions.”

Mr. McJunkin became a special agent in 1987 and has served in the San Antonio, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. Field Offices. During these assignments, he led investigations in the organized crime, white-collar crime, violent crime, drug trafficking, civil rights, and counterterrorism arenas.

In 2003, Mr. McJunkin was promoted from supervisory senior resident agent, Atlanta Division, to a unit chief position within the International Terrorism Operations Section (ITOS I) at FBI Headquarters. In the years that followed, he earned the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation, and he was also later recognized with the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for his direction of a multi-agency task force assembled to address threats to the presidential election. That same year, Mr. McJunkin was selected as an assistant section chief of ITOS I, where he provided direction and supervision to the FBI’s counterterrorism operations within the continental United States.

In 2005, Mr. McJunkin was selected as the assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office, where he led the efforts of the Joint Terrorism Task Force; managed substantive counterterrorism investigations conducted within the national capital region; and oversaw significant overseas investigations involving terrorism attacks against U.S. citizens. For example, in March 2006, he led a team of FBI personnel with the on-scene investigation of a terrorist attack against the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan that claimed the life of a career diplomat and several foreign nationals. In August 2006, Mr. McJunkin was designated acting special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office, Counterterrorism Division.

In January 2007, Mr. McJunkin was selected as a member of the Senior Executive Service, and after a brief period as the deputy director for law enforcement at the Central Intelligence Agency, he was appointed the section chief of ITOS I. In January, 2008, Director Mueller designated Mr. McJunkin as the deputy assistant director for FBI Counterterrorism Operations - Branch I where he served until appointment in January, 2010, to the position of assistant director - Counterterrorism Division.

Before joining the Bureau, he was a trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police. Mr. McJunkin has a Bachelor of Science degree in administration of justice from the Pennsylvania State University.