UR alum confirmed to head FBI

University of Richmond alum Kash Patel has been confirmed by the United States Senate to lead the FBI. He also is the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A 2002 graduate in history and criminal justice, Patel served multiple senior roles in government under both Republican and Democrat presidents. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff to the Department of Defense and previously served as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council. He also served as Principal Deputy to the Acting Director of National Intelligence.

Patel was the National Security Advisor and Senior Counsel for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He joined the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence following his tenure as a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice. He also served as the DOJ Liaison Officer to Joint Special Operations Command.

After completing his undergraduate studies at UR, Patel returned to his native New York to earn his law degree from Pace University and a Certificate in International Law from University College London Faculty of Laws in the United Kingdom. He began his career as a public defender trying cases in jury trials in state and federal courts.

Patel is among a group of Spider alumni who are engaged in important public service at the federal, state, and local levels.