The chief of the FBI’s counterterrorism unit will serve as the next leader of the bureau’s Washington Field Office.
James W. McJunkin will take over as head of the Washington office next month.
“Jim has extensive experience and a record of success in managing counterterrorism investigations and creating successful partnerships,” FBI Director Robert S. Mueller said in a statement announcing the appointment. “His talents are well-suited for this new role and he is well-positioned to lead one of the FBI’s largest divisions.”
McJunkin has led the FBI’s counterterrorism division since January and was the deputy assistant director of counterterrorism operations from January 2008 until this year.
The appointment marks a return for McJunkin to the Washington Field Office. From 2005 to 2006, he was a special agent in charge at the office and led the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the office’s counterterrorism unit.
During that time, he led the FBI team that handled the on-scene investigation of a terrorist attack at the U.S. Consulate in Pakistan that killed several diplomats.
McJunkin also served on a multiagency task force that combatted threats to the 2004 presidential election and was briefly the deputy director for law enforcement at the CIA in 2007.
He joined the FBI in 1987. Before working for the bureau, McJunkin was a trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police. He earned a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Pennsylvania State University.
McJunkin is the second high-profile appointment at the FBI’s Washington office in the past month. In mid-October, Ronald T. Hosko was named the head of the office’s criminal division.
McJunkin succeeds acting Washington Field Office chief John G. Perren.
