New FBI Deputy Director

Director Robert S. Mueller, III has announced that after 23 years of service, Deputy Director Timothy P. Murphy will retire from the FBI next month to take a position in the private sector. He has appointed Executive Assistant Director Sean M. Joyce to serve as the FBI’s next deputy director.

Director Mueller noted, “Tim Murphy has earned the respect and admiration of his FBI colleagues and that of the entire law enforcement and intelligence community. He will be missed.”

Mr. Murphy entered on duty as a special agent in September 1988. Since joining the FBI, his assignments included work in the Newark, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. Field Offices. He also served as special agent in charge of the Cincinnati Field Office. His positions at FBI Headquarters included assistant director of the Finance Division and associate deputy director. In the field, he managed investigative matters ranging from counterterrorism and organized crime to special operations.

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Mr. Joyce began his Bureau career as a special agent in 1987. He was first assigned to the Dallas Division, where he investigated violent crimes. He later worked on Colombian drug matters out of the Miami Field Office. In 1994, he became a member of the Bureau’s Hostage Rescue Team.

In 1998, Mr. Joyce returned to the Dallas Field Office and become a supervisory special agent over the violent crimes squad in 2001. He earned the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in 2004 for his work on a Dallas Division counterterrorism squad. He received the same award again a year later for his work on another counterterrorism matter.

In 2007, he joined the Washington Field Office as an assistant special agent in charge. The following year, he was named chief of the Counterterrorism Division’s International Terrorism Operations Section, with responsibility for international terrorism matters within the United States.

In 2009, Mr. Joyce was appointed assistant director of the FBI’s International Operations Division. He had previously served as the legal attaché in Prague and received an award for investigative excellence for his work in that country.

Since 2010, Mr. Joyce has been serving as executive assistant director of the National Security Branch, where he is responsible for the Bureau’s national security and intelligence operations.

Director Mueller said, “Sean Joyce has made tremendous contributions to the Bureau and met tough challenges head-on. I have every expectation that he will do the same as deputy director.”