Steven M. Martinez Named Assistant Director in Charge of the Los Angeles Division

Steven M. Martinez has been named assistant director in charge (ADIC) of the FBI’s Los Angeles Division. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III appointed him to this position to replace ADIC Salvador Hernandez, who retired. Mr. Martinez most recently served as special agent in charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

“Steve’s breadth of experience in his nearly 23 years of service to the FBI makes him well-suited for this role,” said Director Mueller. “After serving as special agent in charge of the Las Vegas Division for more than four years, his leadership will be an asset to the Los Angeles Division, one of the FBI’s largest offices.”

Mr. Martinez entered on duty as an FBI special agent in January 1987. Since that time, he has served in the Phoenix Division, Washington Field Division, and El Paso Division investigating drug and violent crimes cases. He was also assigned to the Los Angeles Division as an assistant special agent in charge, responsible for management of the Organized Crime/Drug Branch and the Cyber Branch.

Mr. Martinez served as the FBI’s first on-scene commander at Central Command in Doha, Qatar and in Baghdad, Iraq during the staging and commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In that role, he was in charge of all deployed FBI personnel and managed the FBI’s counterterrorism and counterintelligence efforts spanning the initial combat phase of the war.

In 2003, Mr. Martinez was assigned to the Cyber Division at FBI Headquarters. He was serving as the acting assistant director of that division when he was appointed SAC of the Las Vegas Division in 2006. Mr. Martinez graduated magna cum laude from St. Mary’s College of California in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. In 1986, he received a master’s degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley.