FBI Director James B. Comey has announced the following leadership appointments:

Paul Abbate Named Executive Assistant Director for the Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch

In this position, Mr. Abbate oversees all FBI criminal and cyber investigations worldwide, international operations, critical incident response, and victim assistance. He most recently served as the assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office.

Mr. Abbate began his FBI career as a special agent in March 1996 and was assigned to the New York Field Office, where he worked in the criminal division and served as a member of the SWAT team.

In 2004, Mr. Abbate joined the Counterterrorism Division as a supervisory special agent overseeing FBI operations in Iraq. Since then, Mr. Abbate has led the counterterrorism program in various positions at FBI Headquarters and has served in leadership roles in the Los Angeles and Newark Division Joint Terrorism Task Forces. Mr. Abbate has also directed FBI operations overseas while deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.

In 2012, Mr. Abbate was appointed special agent in charge of counterterrorism at the Washington Field Office and in 2013, special agent in charge of the Detroit Division.

Mr. Abbate will assume this position in late January 2017.

Andrew Vale Named Assistant Director in Charge of the Washington Field Office

Mr. Vale most recently served as the special agent in charge of the Albany Division.

Mr. Vale entered on duty with the FBI as a special agent in 1991 and was first assigned to the Newark Division, where he investigated terrorism, background, and civil rights matters. He also served as the supervisor of the Albany Joint Terrorism Task Force, overseeing all domestic and international terrorism investigations.

Throughout his career, Mr. Vale has held leadership positions in the Counterterrorism Division, the Director’s Research Group, the Albany Division, and as special assistant to the FBI deputy director in 2011.

Mr. Vale will assume this position in January 2017.