Albuquerque Security Manager Receives FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

Albuquerque FBI Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee presented the 2011 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award today to Thomas O. Craig, the security manager and fraud investigator for New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union.

Each of the FBI’s 56 field offices annually selects an individual or organization to receive the award, which recognizes efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America.

“This is a tremendous honor and I am truly grateful to those in the Albuquerque Field Office responsible for my selection,” Mr. Craig said. “As a retired law enforcement officer, it’s always a pleasure to know that I may have assisted someone in some way with an investigation or the apprehension of an offender. I’m just very lucky to be working in a position for a company that allows me these opportunities.”

SAC Lee presented a certificate to Mr. Craig at the Albuquerque FBI Field Office. Mr. Craig has been invited to a March 16 ceremony in Washington, D.C., where FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III will present him and other recipients with crystal awards.

Since retiring from a 20-year career with the Albuquerque Police Department, Mr. Craig has volunteered his time assisting state, local, and federal law enforcement. During the past couple of years, Mr. Craig has helped the FBI with several ongoing cyber investigations involving multi-million-dollar losses at financial institutions in the community.

Mr. Craig has been a co-chair of the Financial Institution Security Officers Association (FISOA) for more than 10 years. The organization informs local financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, and consumers of financial fraud and identity theft trends and developments.

In July 2010, Mr. Craig played a crucial role in the preparation of a press release that advised small businesses, financial institutions, and consumers on how to protect themselves from a recent string of cyber attacks. The press release was issued in coordination with the FBI, Better Business Bureau, FISOA, Albuquerque Retail Assets Protection Association and New Mexico Restaurant Association.

Mr. Craig has coordinated opportunities for Albuquerque FBI special agents to meet officials at local financial institutions to make the businesses aware of ongoing threats.

Mr. Craig’s co-workers said “he has always demonstrated a commitment to doing what is right.”

“He is a champion for a teller who deals with a verbally abusive customer. He is an educator for the customer who cashes a check from the Nigerian lottery, and he is a liaison for other financial institutions and law enforcement,” the workers said in a statement. “Tom can see a case, with all of its nuances, and give others clarity to allow for the perpetrator to be caught, and the victim to get closure. With a witty charm and willingness to share stories from his bike trips or his days on the force, Tom Craig is an asset to our organization—and those of us who know him are better for the experience.”

SAC Lee said: “Tom Craig is a very deserving recipient of this year’s FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. He has helped the Albuquerque FBI and our law enforcement partners protect financial institutions and consumers from expensive cyber attacks. We also value his participation in our investigations.”