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13 June 2014

Masterspy Appoints Counterspy and Press Spinner


http://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/198-press-releases-
2014/1073-dni-appoints-new-national-counterintelligence-executive

DNI Appoints New National Counterintelligence Executive

Thursday, June 12, 2014

ODNI News Release No. 26-14

Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper has appointed William “Bill” Evanina to serve as the National Counterintelligence Executive.

Evanina, a career FBI special agent, most recently served as the chief of CIA’s Counterespionage Group, where he led efforts to identify, prevent and neutralize the espionage related activities of foreign intelligence services.

“Bill is a career FBI agent with 18 years of experience working in the areas of counterintelligence, counterterrorism, insider threat and security-related programs,” said Clapper. “The Intelligence Community will rely heavily on Bill and the entire Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive team as we continue to make swift advances in the areas of counterintelligence, damage assessments, security clearance reform and insider threat programs.”

Evanina replaces Frank Montoya whom the FBI selected to serve as the special agent in charge of the Seattle Field Office. “Frank provided steadfast leadership during one of the worst intelligence breaches in our nation’s history,” said Clapper. “He and his leadership team worked tirelessly to provide scope, perspective, and direction on vital issues such as security clearance reform, insider threat initiatives, and damage assessments.”

The 2002 Counterintelligence Enhancement Act established the NCIX as the head of the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive and made the NCIX responsible for counterintelligence and security for the United States government. The 2004 Intelligence and Terrorism Prevention Act aligned the NCIX and ONCIX with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The NCIX sets the priorities for counterintelligence collection, investigations, and operations, and conducts in-depth espionage damage assessments. To ensure the effectiveness of these programs, the NCIX also performs periodic reviews of all U.S. counterintelligence programs, evaluates progress against strategic and budgetary goals, and makes fiscal recommendations to the DNI.

Evanina joined the ODNI on May 22.

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Bill Evanina Career Highlights

Bill Evanina has 25 years of service in the U.S. government, 18 in the FBI. Prior to his selection as NCIX, he served as the chief of CIA’s Counterespionage Group where he led personnel from multiple Intelligence Community agencies in an effort to identify, prevent and neutralize espionage related activities by foreign intelligence services.

Prior to his CIA assignment, Evanina served for two years as the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, where he led operations in both the Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Divisions.

In 2010, Evanina served as special assistant in the FBI’s National Security Branch where he oversaw policy formulation, training, and finance of the National Security Branch. Prior to this role, he served as assistant section chief of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division.

Evanina began his FBI career in 1996 and was assigned to the FBI’s Newark, N.J. Division where he investigated organized crime and violent crime matters. Subsequent to 9/11, he was assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force investigating counterterrorism matters and participated in the Flight 93, Anthrax and Daniel Pearl investigations. Mr. Evanina was selected as a supervisory special agent within the JTTF in 2004 and led the espionage investigation of convicted spy Leandro Aragoncillo.

In 2006, Evanina served as the senior supervisory special agent of the FBI’s Trenton, N.J. Resident Agency.

Evanina was born and raised in Peckville, Pa. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, Pa. and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Arcadia University in Philadelphia, Pa. Evanina is married and has one child.

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http://www.dni.gov/index.php/about/leadership/director-of-public-affairs

DNI Appoints New Director of Public Affairs

Thursday, June 12, 2014

NEWS RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 27-14

June 12, 2014

DNI APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Veteran public communicator Brian P. Hale has joined the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as its director of public affairs.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Brian’s caliber with over 20 years of professional communications experience across both the private and public sector,” said Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper. “I commend Brian for his professional accomplishments and look forward to leveraging his strategic communications experience across the Intelligence Community.”

Prior to joining ODNI, Hale served as the assistant director of the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for ICE's internal and external communications.

He previously served in the National Press Office in the Office of Public Affairs at the FBI in Washington, D.C., where he handled international and national media inquiries and served as a spokesman for the FBI on matters related to counterterrorism, weapons of mass destruction and operational technology.

Hale replaces Shawn Turner who recently joined the White House Press Office as deputy press secretary. “Shawn is a true visionary who unified and strengthened public affairs across the Intelligence Community and helped us become a more transparent IC,” said Clapper. “He set a high bar for poise and professionalism through one of the toughest years in IC history. While we will miss him and his calm demeanor, I know he will continue to do great things for our nation.”

Prior to joining the FBI, Hale was press relations manager for Patton Boggs as the primary media liaison and spokesperson for the firm. Before joining Patton Boggs, Hale served as a field producer for ABC's 20/20 news magazine, where he worked on several international and national stories, including Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Washington, D.C. sniper investigation and the 9/11 attacks.

Hale has received several broadcast journalism team coverage awards for 9/11 coverage, including a News Emmy Award 2002, the George S. Peabody Award 2002 and a Columbia DuPont Journalism Award 2002. He also received the CINE Eagle Award 2001 for coverage of the "Bombing of USS Cole," and a News Emmy nomination 2003 for "Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Event. At ICE, Hale’s strategic communications team created the Operation Predator App which was nominated for the 2014 App of the Year by PR News.

Hale holds a master’s degree in international relations and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Kentucky.

Hale began work June 2.

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Brian Hale

Brian P. Hale was appointed director of public affairs for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence June 2, 2014. Mr. Hale is responsible for managing all U.S. National Intelligence communication efforts and ensuring coordinated communication outreach on behalf of the 16 agencies and components that make up the Intelligence Community.

Prior to joining ODNI, Mr. Hale served as the assistant director of the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for ICE's internal and external communications in support of the agency's mission. While at ICE, he oversaw a team of communications professionals who handled press inquiries, developed and distributed news releases and provided writing and multimedia services.

Mr. Hale previously served in the National Press Office in the Office of Public Affairs at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington, D.C. Mr. Hale handled international and national media inquires and served as a spokesman for the FBI on matters related to counterterrorism, weapons of mass destruction and operational technology. He also was the Office of Public Affairs' primary media training instructor.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Hale was press relations manager for Patton Boggs, LLP, an international law firm based in Washington, D.C. As the primary media liaison and spokesperson for the firm, he coordinated responses to media inquiries and maintained relationships with reporters from both general and legal media outlets. In addition, he provided crisis communications planning for the firm and select high-profile clients.

Before joining Patton Boggs, Mr. Hale served as a field producer for ABC News 20/20, where he worked on several international and national stories, including the Iraq War, the Washington, D.C., sniper investigation, the September 11th attacks, the Concorde crash and the Columbine school shootings.

He has received several broadcast journalism team coverage awards, including a News Emmy 2002 for "Sept. 11th Coverage," the George S. Peabody Award 2002 for "Sept. 11th Coverage," a Columbia DuPont Journalism Award 2002 for "Sept. 11th Coverage," the CINE Eagle 2001 for coverage of the "Bombing of USS Cole," and a News Emmy nomination 2003 for "Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Event. At ICE, Mr. Hale’s strategic communications team created the Operation Predator App which was nominated for the 2014 App of the Year by PR News.

Mr. Hale previously worked as a program instructor at Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. At Meridian, he coordinated itineraries for foreign government officials and multiregional groups traveling in the U.S. and led intercultural training sessions with students from developing countries.

Mr. Hale graduated from the University of Kentucky, where he earned a master's degree in international relations and a bachelor's degree in political science.

Mr. Hale is a member of the National Press Club.