Thomas J. Pickard
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2013) |
Thomas J. Pickard | |
---|---|
Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
In office June 25, 2001 – September 4, 2001 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Louis Freeh |
Succeeded by | Robert Mueller |
Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
In office November 1, 1999 – November 30, 2001 | |
President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
Preceded by | William J. Esposito |
Succeeded by | Bruce J. Gebhardt |
Personal details | |
Born | New York City, New York, U.S. | January 6, 1950
Political party | Democratic[1] |
Education | St. Francis College (BBA) St. John's University, New York (MBA) |
Thomas Joseph Pickard (born January 6, 1950) is a former acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 71 days in the summer of 2001 following the resignation of Director Louis Freeh. He is the only Democrat to have ever led the FBI in the 115-year history of the organization.
Early life and education
Born in
FBI career
Pickard began his career as a
In 1989, Pickard was selected for the FBI's
On September 10, 1996, FBI Director Louis Freeh named Pickard to the position of Assistant Director in Charge of the Washington field office. During his tenure there, Pickard supervised such matters as the investigation and arrest of FBI Special Agent
On February 2, 1998, Pickard assumed the position of Assistant Director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters. On November 1, 1999, Pickard was appointed Deputy Director, the number two position at the FBI. On June 25, 2001, upon the resignation of director Louis Freeh, Pickard was appointed Acting Director of the FBI by Attorney General John Ashcroft, and served in that capacity two months until the new Director took office. Pickard retired in November of that year.[2]
The FBI's bureaucracy, and Pickard in particular, has been implicated as an opponent of FBI agent John P. O'Neill who led the FBI's investigation into Osama bin Laden prior to the September 11 attacks. A leak to The New York Times in August 2001 regarding a security breach by O'Neill[3] resulted in O'Neill leaving public service. Pickard has been alleged to be the source of the leak.[4] O'Neill took work as the director of security at the World Trade Center, where he was killed on September 11, 2001.[4]
References
External links
- "Federal Bureau of Investigation: Directors, Then and Now". Retrieved April 26, 2010.