Robert “Bear” Bryant was named the National Counterintelligence Executive on September 18, 2009. Since his appointment, Mr. Bryant has established a U.S. Counterintelligence program that reflects the evolving threats to American interests, with a strong focus on Insider Threats, emerging technical threats, Cybersecurity and Economic Espionage. As the National Counterintelligence Executive, Mr. Bryant is also responsible for providing the President and Congress with the damage assessment from the ongoing WikiLeaks investigation.
Mr. Bryant is the lead for security within the Intelligence Community and oversees the DNI’s authorities as Security Executive Agent. In this role, he is responsible for security clearance reform, reciprocity, and access across the United States government. A former Deputy Director of the FBI, Mr. Bryant’s career in counterintelligence spans more than 40 years, and includes the successful investigations and prosecutions of the spies Aldrich Ames, Earl Pitts, and Harold Nicholson.
In addition to his counterintelligence work, Mr. Bryant oversaw the investigations into the bombings of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City and Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. His crime prevention program in the 1990s advanced the safety of American streets, particularly in major U.S. cities. He created the Safe Streets Program, a partnership with local authorities, which led to over 170 anti‐crime task forces throughout the country. In 1996, Mr. Bryant successfully negotiated a peaceful resolution to the 81‐day standoff between Federal authorities and the armed Montana Freeman.
Prior to being appointed the National Counterintelligence Executive, Mr. Bryant served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Mr. Bryant worked closely with insurance executives and law enforcement officials to detect, prevent, and deter insurance‐related crime.
Bryant holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, and a Law degree from the University of Arkansas.
