Louis Bladel, III named special agent in charge of FBI’s New York counterintelligence division

FBI Director James Comey announced on October 12 that he has named Louis Bladel, III as the special agent in charge of the Counterintelligence Division of the New York Field Office. Mr. Bladel most recently served as the section chief of the Counter-Proliferation Center (CPC).

Mr. Bladel entered on duty with the FBI in 1996 and was assigned to the New York Field Office, where he investigated foreign counterintelligence matters. During this time, Mr. Bladel also completed temporary duty assignments in Guam and Kenya.

Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Mr. Bladel was assigned to an investigative response squad, which focused on pending international terrorist threats in the New York City area.

In 2002, Mr. Bladel was promoted to a supervisory special agent in the Eurasian Section at FBI Headquarters, where he handled several major counterintelligence and espionage investigations. In December 2003, Mr. Bladel was promoted to unit chief of the Middle Eastern counterintelligence unit. During this time, he developed and provided national leadership on programs concerning various Middle Eastern countries.

In 2005, Mr. Bladel was promoted to field supervisor of a Eurasian counterintelligence squad at the Washington Field Office. In this capacity, Mr. Bladel was in charge of a significant recruitment operation that benefited all United States counterintelligence community partners. In 2008, Mr. Bladel was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterespionage and counterproliferation program.

In 2012, Mr. Bladel was promoted to section chief of the counterespionage section at FBI Headquarters, where he led the FBI’s national counterespionage program, including the FBI’s investigative efforts regarding high profile media leaks, insider threat, and economic espionage.

Mr. Bladel earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Sciences from Illinois State University. In 2015, Mr. Bladel was nominated and subsequently inducted into the Illinois State University, College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame for his career achievements.

Before joining the FBI, Mr. Bladel served as a special deputy U.S. marshal in the Eastern District of Virginia. He departed the U.S. Marshals Service in 1991 after being selected for a special agent position with Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). During his tenure with NCIS, Mr. Bladel was the case agent on two successfully prosecuted murder investigations that were jointly investigated by the NCIS Great Lakes Field Office and the Chicago Division of the FBI. Mr. Bladel also currently serves as the President of the Board of Trustees for the Kingsbury Day School.

Mr. Bladel reports to New York at the end of November.

Source: FBI