FBI Counterintelligence Division

The Counterintelligence Division (CD) is a division of the National Security Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The division protects the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage. It accomplishes its mission of hunting spies and preventing espionage through the use of investigation and interaction with local law enforcement and other members of the United States Intelligence Community. In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the division's funding and manpower have significantly increased.

Leadership

The Counterintelligence Division is headed by an assistant director, who reports to the executive assistant director (EAD) of the FBI National Security Branch (NSB).

The current NSB EAD is Jill Sanborn, who has been leading the NSB since May 7, 2021. FBI Director Christopher A. Wray appointed Sanborn EAD.

On December 21, 2015 FBI Director James B. Comey named E. W. Priestap, also known as Bill Priestap, assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division. Mr. Priestap most recently was deputy assistant director of the Intelligence Operations Branch in the Directorate of Intelligence at FBIHQ.

On February 19, 2019, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray named John Brown assistant director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division.

On April 24, 2020, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray named Alan E. Kohler Jr. assistant director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division.

Organization

The Counterintelligence Division has three branches, each headed by a Deputy Assistant Director:
* Intelligence Branch
* Operations Branch I
* Operations Branch II

Each branch oversees various sections, each headed by a Section Chief. Some sections include:
* Counterespionage (CE) Section – prevents foreign intelligence agencies from gathering and collecting intelligence. Investigation of media leaks and insider threats
* Counterproliferation (CP) Section – detect, deter, and defeat the threat posed by state-sponsored groups, individuals, and organizations attempting to acquire weapons of mass destruction or other sensitive technologies
* Counterintelligence Strategy and Domain (CSD) Section – coordinates all FBI counterintelligence outreach to the United States Intelligence Community, academia, and the private sector
* Economic Espionage (EE) Section – investigating economic espionage under the Economic Espionage Act
* Cyber Counterintelligence Coordination (C3S) Section – Leading the integration of Cyber and Counterintelligence Programs.
* Global Section – Responsible for counterintelligence matters related to all countries except Russia and China.
* China Operations (COS3) Section
* China Counterespionage and Technology Transfer (C2T2) Section
* Counterintelligence Training Center (CITC) Section
* Foreign Investment (FIU) Unit
* National Counterintelligence Task Force (NCITF) Section
* China Intelligence Section
* Russia Operations Section
* Foreign Influence Task Force Section
* Counterintelligence Analysis Section
* Counterintelligence Cyberspace Operations Section
* Clandestine Operations Section

History

The division was first established by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover in 1939 as the General Intelligence Division, to handle foreign counterintelligence and other intelligence related investigations. In 1941, the unit was renamed the National Defense Division. In 1943, the division's name was once again changed, this time to Security Division. After 10 years of operating as the Security Division, the unit was renamed as the Domestic Security Division in 1953. In 1973, the organization became the Intelligence Division and in 1976 transferred some of its responsibilities, including domestic terrorism investigations, to the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division. In 1993, the unit was renamed the National Security Division (NSD). The following year, the responsibility for domestic terrorism moved back to the NSD. In 1999, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division was created and took over responsibility for terrorism related investigations. In 2001, the NSD was renamed the Counterintelligence Division and three other units were branched off, the Security Division, Cyber Division and the Office of Intelligence (later the Directorate of Intelligence).

See also

*Central Intelligence Agency
*MI5
*Counter Terrorism Command (SO15)
*Direction de la surveillance du territoire (DST)
*General Commissariat of Information (CGI)
*Civil Guard Information Service (SIGC)
*Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Public Security Bureau
* Intelligence Bureau
*INTERPOL

References

External links

Federal Bureau of Investigation website

National Security Branch Website
*
FBI Counterintelligence website

{{FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Counterintelligence agencies