WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rolf Mowatt-Larssen announced his plans to leave government service in January 2009 to assume a position as a senior fellow at Harvard University Belfer Center. Mr. Mowatt-Larssen has served as the Director of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) since November 2005.

“Under Rolf’s leadership, we improved the intelligence collaboration between DOE programs and the National Laboratories, strengthened ties with our intelligence community colleagues, and opened new relationships with foreign partners,” stated Samuel Bodman, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary. “DOE intelligence and counterintelligence has played an increasingly significant role in areas relating to nuclear terrorism and counter-proliferation, energy and environmental security, science and technology, counterintelligence, and cyber security. Rolf was integral to the success of those efforts.”

Mowatt-Larssen said, "It has been a great privilege to serve in the Department of Energy for the past three years. I am especially grateful to have had the opportunity to work for Secretary Bodman. We could not have accomplished our mission without Secretary Bodman's leadership, confidence and support for our program. The work of DOE Intelligence and Counterintelligence is crucial to U.S. national security. I am proud of what my officers have accomplished in doing their part to keep our country safe. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the men and women of DOE and the intelligence community with whom I have worked so closely for their professionalism, hard work, and dedication to public service. It has been an exciting, rewarding experience every step of the way.”

Key accomplishments during Mowatt-Larssen’s tenure at DOE include the consolidation of all intelligence activity of the Department into one office; significant increases in resources and personnel; upgrading of facilities; and, creation of a common intelligence network spanning all intelligence-related entities in the DOE complex. Additionally, Mr. Mowatt-Larssen chaired the senior interagency group that helped manage the nuclear terrorism threat on behalf of the intelligence community, and oversaw implementation of a worldwide nuclear materials information program on behalf of the U.S. government that began in August 2006.

Mr. Mowatt-Larssen is the former head of the Central Intelligence Agency's WMD terrorism efforts. Prior to his appointment to the top intelligence position at the Department of Energy, Mowatt-Larssen served for 23 years as a CIA intelligence officer in various domestic and international posts. These included deputy associate director of Central Intelligence for Military Support, chief of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Department, Counterterrorism Center, and most recently chief of the Europe Division in the Directorate of Operations. His overseas assignments included service in Moscow, Stockholm, Athens, Zurich, and Oslo, among others. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Mowatt-Larssen is the recipient of a number of awards including the CIA Director's Award, Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Commendation Medal, and Secretary of Defense Civilian Distinguished Service Medal.

Media contact(s):
Healy Baumgardner, (202) 586-4940