The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced senior
leadership for its new National Security Branch, which
combines its counter terrorism, counterintelligence, and
intelligence programs as recommended by the WMD commission
and a June 2005 presidential memo.
Counterterrorism and counterintelligence director Gary M.
Bald has been tapped to head the NSB. Bald has served in
a variety of investigative and management positions since
joining the FBI in 1977, and his new role will include
being the point man for integrating the FBI’s national
security mission with the Director of National
Intelligence and the broader intelligence community,
according to the FBI.
“As head of the NSB, Mr. Bald will work to further the
integration of our intelligence collection and analysis
capabilities, and will direct our national security
resources in accordance with the leadership of the DNI,”
said FBI director Robert S. Mueller.
FBI also appointed Philip Mudd, second in command of the
Central Intelligence Agency’s Counterterrorism Center,
to serve as deputy head of the NSB.
“Philip Mudd brings extensive expertise in both
intelligence operations and intelligence analysis, as well
as in-depth knowledge of international terrorism and the
Middle East,” Mueller said.
The appointees will be responsible for the FBI’s national
security mission, including the development of a
specialized national security workforce, according to the
FBI.
