David W. Szady
National Counterintelligence Executive
Mr. Szady currently serves as the National Counterintelligence Executive, a position created by Presidential Decision Directive in December 2000. Mr. Szady was appointed by the Counterintelligence Board of Directors and was affirmed by the Director of Central Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General in March 2001. He formally assumed that role on 7 May 2001 when the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX) became operational.
Mr. Szady has more than 28 years of service in the FBI, with 25 years experience in espionage and foreign counterintelligence investigations. He entered on duty with the FBI in September 1972 and was assigned to the FBI's Mobile, Alabama, Field Division where he worked general criminal investigative matters. From 1975 until 1980 he served in the FBI's Washington Field Office and worked in the FBI's Foreign Counterintelligence (FCI) program and established himself as an FCI Soviet expert. In 1980, Mr. Szady was assigned as a supervisor in the FBI Headquarters Intelligence Division during which time he was commended for his supervision and personal attention to the John Walker espionage investigation. In 1985, he was assigned to the FBI's San Francisco Division where he served in a supervisory capacity for both criminal investigative and FCI matters. He was recognized for his grasp of counterintelligence issues associated with the hostile intelligence threat in Silicon Valley. In 1995, Mr. Szady was appointed to the position of Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Division with responsibility for San Francisco's FCI and Terrorism Programs. In 1997, he was appointed to the position of Chief of the CIA's Counterintelligence Center's Counterespionage Group (CEG), a position mandated by Presidential Decision Directive to be held by a senior executive of the FBI. For his service in this capacity, Mr. Szady was awarded the CIA's Directorate of Operations (DO) Donovan Award and the CIA's Agency Seal Medallion. In May 1999, Mr. Szady was appointed Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Portland Division where he was responsible for all FBI operations in Oregon.
Mr. Szady was born and raised in Massachusetts. He received a B.A. degree in biology from St. Michaels College in Vermont in 1966, an M.Ed. degree in administration from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts in 1969, and an M.S.T. degree in chemistry from the University of New Hampshire in 1972.
Mr. Szady is married and has three sons.