What Is the FBI Second in Command
The FBI second in command is the Deputy Director, the senior-most career leader below the Director. The Deputy Director oversees daily operations, coordinates national security and criminal investigations, and represents the Bureau in interagency settings. The role is defined by the Department of Justice and the FBI Charter, with responsibilities spanning intelligence collection, counterterrorism, cybercrime, and criminal enforcement.
The Deputy Director manages the FBI's operational priorities, sets performance expectations for field offices, and reviews major cases and sensitive investigations. The position also supervises the Executive Assistant Directors who lead branches such as National Security Branch, Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, Science and Technology Branch, and Information and Technology Branch. This structure ensures that the second in command has direct oversight of the Bureau's primary mission areas.
Current Leadership and Appointment Process
As of the most recent public data, the FBI Deputy Director is appointed by the President of the United States with Senate confirmation. The Deputy Director serves at the pleasure of the Director and the Attorney General, and the position is subject to the same federal ethics, security clearance, and background investigation requirements as the Director.
The appointment process includes a thorough review by the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility, the Department of Justice Office of Ethics, and the FBI Office of the General Counsel. The Deputy Director must meet eligibility criteria for Top Secret/SCI clearance, pass a full-field polygraph examination, and comply with the FBI's financial disclosure and recusal rules. More details on the structure of the FBI leadership can be found on the FBI Leadership page.
Responsibilities, Compensation, and Organizational Impact
The Deputy Director sets the Bureau's strategic priorities in coordination with the Director, chairs senior executive meetings, and directs the allocation of investigative resources across domestic and international operations. The role also manages congressional and public affairs coordination, oversees the FBI's budget execution, and ensures compliance with the Attorney General's Guidelines and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act framework.
The FBI Deputy Director's compensation is governed by the Executive Schedule under federal law, with the exact level tied to the pay band for Level III of the Executive Schedule. The position does not involve direct management of private companies, but the Deputy Director works closely with entities such as Forbes on public reporting of financial crime trends and with technology firms on cyber threat intelligence sharing. The Deputy Director also coordinates with the SEC on matters involving securities fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation investigations that fall within the FBI's jurisdiction.