FBI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF
SAC JAMES BERNAZZANI

New Orleans, La- The FBI announced today that Special Agent in Charge (SAC) James Bernazzani retired from the FBI effective today, May 9, 2008. Mr. Bernazzani entered on duty as a Special Agent on June 18, 1984. He served as SAC in the New Orleans Division for the past three years and gallantly led the FBI through Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Bernazzani's career in the FBI has centered on leading efforts to identify, penetrate and neutralize organized criminal groups, notably international terrorism organizations. He graduated from a Master's Degree Program at Harvard University on June 7, 1984 and immediately reported for duty at the FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia.

Mr. Bernazzani's first assignment was in the New Orleans Division where he worked international and domestic terrorism investigations. He was also a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. During January 1991, Special Agent Bernazzani was transferred to Washington D.C. where he worked extraterritorial cases involving terrorist actions taken against US citizens in Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

He was subsequently promoted to FBI Headquarters, Counterterrorism Section where he was responsible for the development and maintenance of National Strategies countering the international terrorist threat. Special Agent Bernazzani then worked a number of counter terrorism related jobs including his leading a Joint Terrorism Task Force in Houston, Texas and Chief of Iran/Hizballah operations at FBIHQ.

He then assumed the position of Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division where he was responsible for investigations and operations targeting international drug cartels and other organized crime groups.

On September 12, 2001 Special Agent Bernazzani was again transferred to assist in countering any further actions taken against United States interests. During May 2002, he was promoted to Deputy Director for Law Enforcement at the Counterterrorism Center, Central Intelligence Agency. During May 2003, he was again promoted to Principal Deputy Director of the newly formed Terrorist Threat Integration Center. At the time of his appointment as Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Division, Special Agent Bernazzani acted as Deputy Assistant Director for international terrorism investigations and operations handled by the FBI.

Mr. Bernazzani was awarded the 2006 Presidential Award for Meritorious Service.