Maureen A. Baginski
Executive assistant director for intelligence, F.B.I.As part of the F.B.I.'s reorganization, Mr. Mueller created the new intelligence
position and named Ms. Baginski to fill it. She has sought to bolster the agency's ability to analyze, integrate and prioritize intelligence, areas that Congressional investigators found badly lacking before the Sept. 11 attacks. She came to the bureau from the National Security Agency.Maureen Baginski New FBI Intelligence Director
Maureen A. Baginski was appointed to head the nation's intelligence spy network in the FBI as executive assistant director for intelligence with complete authority for the FBI's new national intelligence program.
Baginski, who was the director of Signals Intelligence for the National Security Agency/Central Security Service until this month, was with the agency for 25 years.
She started out as a Russian language teacher in 1979 for the agency, having graduated from Stony Brook University of the State University of New York in Albany with a master's degree in Slavic Languages.
In her former position she learned the rudiments of the famous German Enigma code machine which three Poles had cracked during World War II.
Baginski, who testified before the 9/11 Commission last week, said that all 56 field offices of the FBI were attuned into the art of intelligence work of which she is now the director.
As Director at the NSA/CSS Baginski successfully established and directed a unified program to exploit encrypted (denied information) in global networks. She has held various operational management positions including intelligence officer concentrating on Russian affairs. Her leadership assignments include being chief of the office of director.
FBI Director Robert Mueller said Baginski will "enhance the already strong relationship between the FBI and the National Security Agency."
Mueller said that Baginski brings "a wealth of experience and demonstrated successes to this critical post. She has distinguished herself in a number of investigative, management and leadership positions and is uniquely qualified. Baginski will ensure that information which could help prevent efforts attack is collected, analyzed and exploited to protect our national security."
Baginski said that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ways that our enemies moved around the world and it continued with the use of the internet which also expanded the ways they talked to each other from all corners of the globe.
At NSA she led a staff of 9,000 people around the world who served as the eyes and ears in the fight against global terrorism.
At the FBI, she is in change of the acquisition of foreign signal intelligence for policy makers to war fighters.
In whatever free time she has, Maureen Baginski enjoys kayaking and is a rabid football fan.
Source: Polish American World, Apr. 23, 2004