- Debra Evans Smith/fbi photo
By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
WASHINGTON — Debra Evans Smith, who worked on the high-profile spy case involving FBI agent Robert Hanssen, was named special agent in charge of the Administrative Division at FBI’s Washington Field Office, the agency announced Monday.
Smith most recently served as a special assistant to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III.
Smith started her career with the FBI in May 1984 as a professional staff employee and in 1987 completed new agents’ training and was assigned to the New Orleans Field Office, where she worked different cases in such areas as civil rights and white-collar crime.
In 1989, she attended the Foreign Service Institute in Rosslyn, Va. and studied Russia. She later went to the Los Angeles FBI office to worked Russian Foreign counterintelligence and Russian organized crime.
In 1996, she went to the Washington Field Office, where she worked Russian foreign counterintelligence investigations.
She was then promoted to supervisor in the Overseas Espionage Unit position at FBI headquarters, where she managed multiple espionage cases.
In 2000, she was assigned to supervise an espionage squad at the Washington Field Office and worked on the high-profile spy probe involving FBI Special Agent Robert Hanssen.
In 2002, she received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence for her work on the Hanssen investigation, and the National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction, the FBI said.
In August 2006, Smith became an assistant special agent in charge of the San Diego Division and oversaw responsibility for the intelligence, border liaison, security, media and community outreach programs, the FBI said.
She then became chief of the Counterespionage Group, Central Intelligence Agency and oversaw investigators, analysts, security, National Clandestine Service officers, and individuals detailed from within the intelligence community, the FBI said.
