Paul M. Abbate Named Special Agent in Charge of the Counterterrorism Division, Washington Field Office

Director Robert S. Mueller, III has named Paul M. Abbate special agent in charge of the Counterterrorism Division at the Washington Field Office. He most recently served as chief of International Terrorism Operations Section II at FBI Headquarters, where he had oversight of all FBI extraterritorial international terrorism investigations.

Mr. Abbate began his career as a special agent in March 1996. He first reported to the New York City Field Office and investigated a range of criminal violations in the white-collar crime program. He was also a member of the SWAT Team.

In December 2003, Mr. Abbate transferred to FBI Headquarters, where he served as supervisory special agent in the Iraq Unit of the Counterterrorism Division. While there, he provided program management for counterterrorism and counterintelligence investigations within certain areas of the world and managed FBI counterterrorism operations and personnel deployments within Iraq.

From October 2005 to January 2006, Mr. Abbate deployed to Iraq to serve as the senior FBI liaison officer to U.S. Department of Defense Special Forces components and led a group of FBI personnel conducting counterterrorism investigations in theater.

From February 2006 to December 2009, Mr. Abbate served as a supervisory special agent on the Newark Division Joint Terrorism Task Force. In this role, he had management responsibility for all international terrorism matters in Essex, Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. In September 2007, Mr. Abbate was temporarily detailed to the Directorate of Intelligence in Washington, D.C., where he provided support and assistance in the implementation of several significant intelligence-related initiatives on a national level.

From February 2008 to May 2008, Mr. Abbate deployed to Afghanistan to serve as FBI deputy on-scene commander, leading FBI counterterrorism operations and personnel in theater.

In December 2009, Mr. Abbate returned to the Counterterrorism Division as assistant section chief for International Terrorism Operations Section I and provided national-level management and oversight for all international terrorism investigations within the United States. During this assignment, Mr. Abbate was a member of a team that received the 2010 Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service.

In July 2010, Mr. Abbate reported to the Los Angeles Field Office to serve as an assistant special agent in charge for counterterrorism matters, managing and overseeing the primary branch of the Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Mr. Abbate is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law and is a member of the Connecticut Bar.