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NOTABLE SENIOR FEMALE SPECIAL AGENTS
Presented here are a few of the FBI’s most senior and successful female Special Agents.
Cassandra Chandler
Cassandra Chandler is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Loyola University School of Law and became a member of the Louisiana State Bar. Prior to joining the FBI, Mrs. Chandler enjoyed a career as a television news anchorperson, reporter, and talk show host for a major network affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She also practiced law with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. Chandler began her investigative career as a Special Agent in 1985. She first served in the FBI’s New Orleans and Los Angeles Field Offices, where she investigated white-collar crimes, violent crimes, and civil rights violations.
Mrs. Chandler has held numerous managerial positions throughout her career with the FBI, both in the field and at FBI Headquarters. In 1991 Mrs. Chandler was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent in the Legal Counsel Division at FBI Headquarters to support the defense of the Bureau and its personnel in civil litigation matters. She was later assigned as a manager in the Criminal Investigative Division, where she assisted with the creation of the FBI’s Health Care Fraud Program. Following a promotion to supervisor of white-collar crimes in the San Diego Field Office, Mrs. Chandler oversaw numerous joint agency operations, including one of the country’s first international health care fraud undercover operations. She also managed the El Centro Resident Agency, which investigated violent crimes, including cross border kidnappings, and environmental crimes.
In 1997 she was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the San Francisco Field Office where she oversaw the office’s White-Collar Crime Program, National Foreign Intelligence Program, and Terrorism Program. She also managed the division’s largest Resident Agency in Oakland, California. Her next promotion was to Section Chief in the Investigative Services Division, where she oversaw the FBI's Analytical Intelligence Program for Criminal and Domestic Terrorism. She then was appointed Assistant Director of the Training Division, where she was responsible for managing the FBI Academy and the FBI’s other training and career development programs. In 2002, Mrs. Chandler was appointed Assistant Director of the Office of Public Affairs. In that capacity she was responsible for managing all of the FBI’s public affairs operations and serving as the FBI’s National Spokesperson. In 2005 Mrs. Chandler was appointed Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk Field Office. In that role, she is responsible for managing and leading all of the FBI’s investigations and operations in Norfolk, VA and the 17 surrounding counties.
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Kimberly K. Mertz
Kimberly Mertz is a graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate degree. Ms. Mertz became an FBI Special Agent in 1989, and her first assignment was to the San Diego Field Office. She later served as the Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of the El Centro Resident Agency, San Diego Field Office.
Ms. Mertz has held numerous managerial positions throughout her career with the FBI, both in the field and at FBI Headquarters. In 1999, Ms. Mertz was promoted to the Public Corruption Unit at FBI Headquarters, where she served as a Supervisory Special Agent. She was later promoted to Chief of the Public Corruption Unit. In 2001, Ms. Mertz was appointed Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Honolulu Division. In 2003 Ms. Mertz became an Inspector in the Inspection Division, and in early 2005 she was designated as the Chief Inspector. In November 2005, Ms. Mertz was appointed to serve as the Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Field Office. In that capacity she is responsible for managing all FBI operations and investigations in the state of Connecticut.
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Charlene B. Thornton
Charlene Thornton is a graduate of Marion College, Marion, Indiana, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science. She later received a Juris Doctorate degree from Indiana University’s School of Law, and a Master's from the University of San Diego’s School of Law. Prior to joining the FBI, she worked as an Intern in the Marion County Prosecutors office. Mrs. Thornton's first assignment with the FBI was to the Indianapolis Field Office, where she was responsible for investigating bank robberies and property crimes. Next, she transferred to the Los Angeles Field Office, where she investigated white-collar crime, counterterrorism, and drug matters.
Mrs. Thornton has held numerous managerial positions throughout her career with the FBI, both in the field and at FBI Headquarters. She began her managerial career as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Legal Research Unit at Headquarters, and was later promoted to Chief of this unit. She then served as an Assistant Inspector in the Inspection Division, and as a Supervisor in the Baltimore Field Office and in the Southern Maryland Metropolitan Resident Agency. Her next promotion was to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Honolulu Division, where she oversaw the FBI’s extraterritorial investigations throughout Asia and the Pacific.
In 1997 Mrs. Thornton was promoted to Deputy General Counsel, where she oversaw the FBI's Legal Training, Legal Forfeiture, and Legal Advice programs. Next, she became an Inspector in the Inspection Division and in 1999 she was named Special Agent in Charge of the Birmingham Field Office, where she was responsible for managing all FBI operations and investigations in northern Alabama. In 2002 Mrs. Thornton became Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office, where she was responsible for managing all FBI operations and investigations in the state of Arizona. In 2004, Mrs. Thornton was promoted to Assistant Director of the FBI’s Inspection Division. In that capacity she was responsible for managing all Inspection Division operations and providing independent, evaluative oversight of all FBI investigative and administrative operations. In August 2006, Mrs. Thornton was appointed Special Agent in Charge of our San Francisco field office, where she manages investigations and operations for the northern and central coast regions of California.
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