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<\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.817647058824\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"35.590243902439\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/fbi-cyber-division-brett-leatherman-assistant-director\/\"> <span>Government<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Leatherman, a 22-year FBI veteran, has been heavily involved in cyber investigations as section chief and deputy assistant director over the past three years. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/84827\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division-2.jpg 6000w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, 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https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division-2.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division-2.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> (Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"28.056084296397\"><body readability=\"56.037860082305\"><\/p>\n<p>A familiar face is being promoted from within to lead the FBI\u2019s Cyber division.<\/p>\n<p>In a LinkedIn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/bleatherman_fbicyber-activity-7337603152956870656-Eg9-\/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAUJCy8Bnx1TqQSaNm__fDd5U5vw4eJIwg4\">post<\/a> Sunday, Leatherman said that FBI Director Kash Patel had selected him as assistant director and lead official for the FBI\u2019s primary division for investigating cybercrimes. e The role is prominent in national security, espionage and counterintelligence investigations.<\/p>\n<p>The division \u201csits at the intersection of law enforcement, intelligence, and national defense \u2014 uniquely positioned to impose cost on our cyber adversaries while supporting victims of cybercrime,\u201d Leatherman wrote in his announcement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur charge is simple but not easy: make malicious cyber activity unsustainable. That means disrupting criminal and nation-state actors, sharing intelligence that helps victims defend and recover, and shaping the broader operating environment through persistent engagement,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Leatherman, a 22-year FBI veteran, has been heavily involved in cyber investigations as section chief and deputy assistant director over the past three years, often personally briefing the public and news media on high-profile cases.<\/p>\n<p>He was among the leaders of law enforcement efforts <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/radio\/fbi-deputy-assistant-director-for-cyber-operations-brett-leatherman\/\">to unmask<\/a> LockBitSupp, the wealthy primary administrator of the LockBit ransomware, to <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthbusiness.com\/webcast\/cyberattack-are-you-ready\/\">respond<\/a> to the 2021 ransomware attacks on Colonial Pipeline, and oversaw major cybercrime investigations, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/lumma-infostealer-widespread-victims\/\">recent infection<\/a> of millions of devices with LummaC2 malware.<\/p>\n<p>He was also part of the bureau\u2019s efforts over the past year to investigate and unwind a pair of massive Chinese <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/salt-typhoon-chinese-hackers-us-telecom-breach\/\">state-sponsored hacking operations <\/a>\u2014 Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon \u2014 that are <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/salt-typhoon-us-government-response\/\">targeting the U.S. telecommunications<\/a> and other critical infrastructure sectors.<\/p>\n<p>Leatherman takes over the reins from Bryan Vorndran, who led the bureau\u2019s Cyber Division from 2021 until this past spring when he left the federal government to take a job as Microsoft\u2019s deputy chief information security officer. <\/p>\n<p>His elevation provides a measure of stability at the bureau\u2019s Cyber Division as the FBI and federal government more broadly has dealt with widespread firings, personnel shakeups and departures from key staff under the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In addition to Vorndran, Cynthia Kaiser, the bureau\u2019s longtime policy, intelligence and engagement lead at FBI Cyber, <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cynthia-kaiser-fbi-halcyon-ransomware\/\">left this month<\/a> to take a position at cybersecurity firm Halcyon.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.8277886497065\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"13\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Derek B. Johnson\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Derek B. Johnson<\/h4>\n<p> Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. Derek has a bachelor\u2019s degree in print journalism from Hofstra University in New York and a master\u2019s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Virginia. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/fbi-cyber-division-brett-leatherman-assistant-director\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FBI veteran Brett Leatherman to lead Cyber division | CyberScoop<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[282,78,273,117,506],"tags":[286,86,279,119,507],"class_list":["post-7722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cybercrime","category-cybersecurity","category-fbi","category-government","category-workforce","tag-cybercrime","tag-cybersecurity","tag-fbi","tag-government","tag-workforce"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybercrime\/\" rel=\"category tag\">cybercrime<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybersecurity\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/fbi\/\" rel=\"category tag\">FBI<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/workforce\/\" rel=\"category tag\">workforce<\/a>","tag_info":"workforce","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7722"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7722\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":7722,"date":"2025-06-09T11:28:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T16:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=84827"},"modified":"2025-06-09T11:28:46","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T16:28:46","slug":"fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/06\/09\/fbi-veteran-brett-leatherman-to-lead-cyber-division\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI veteran Brett Leatherman to lead Cyber division"},"content":{"rendered":"