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About Us - FBI Executives

J. Stephen Tidwell – Executive Assistant Director, Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch

Mr. Tidwell entered on duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in June 1983. Prior to entering the FBI, he served as a police officer with the Richardson, Texas, Police Department for eight years, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served in the Dallas, Mobile, and Baltimore Field Offices, investigating narcotics, violent crime, and gang matters. He served as a team member on the Mobile and Baltimore Field Office's SWAT teams. In Baltimore, he was an Assistant Team Leader and also served as the SWAT Coordinator.

Mr. Tidwell served in six FBI field offices and five FBI Headquarters divisions. He has been assigned to, or supervised every FBI program, including counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber, and criminal.

Mr. Tidwell served as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City Division from 1999 to 2001 and as Inspector, Inspection Division, from 2001 to 2002.

In March 2002, Mr. Tidwell was appointed Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Field Office. He served as an on-scene commander for the FBI during the sniper investigation in the Washington, D.C., area.

In May 2003, Director Mueller designated Mr. Tidwell as Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI Headquarters.

In November 2003, Director Mueller appointed Mr. Tidwell Special Agent in Charge, Critical Incident Response Group. He served as the FBI's on-scene commander for personnel deployed to support the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. He is a 2005 National Defense University Pinnacle Course Fellow. 

In August 2005, Mr. Tidwell was designated Assistant Director in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Office. He is a recipient of the 2005 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive.

On December 19, 2007, Director Mueller announced Mr. Tidwell's appointment as Executive Assistant Director for the Bureau's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch.

Mr. Tidwell was born in Big Spring, Texas. He is a 1974 graduate of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He is married to Paula N. Tidwell and is the father of Josh and Meghan.