Richard C. Powers, a 17-year FBI veteran and esteemed law enforcement officer, has been named as the new Assistant Director of the FBI's Office of Congressional Affairs.

Powers previously served as the special agent in charge of the FBI's Denver division, where his responsibilities included providing oversight for all FBI operations in the states of Colorado and Wyoming. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, announced the appointment earlier this week.

Powers star rose early in his stellar career. Prior to joining the FBI, he served the Chicago area as a police officer and drug task force supervisor. In 2004, he received the Director's Award for Distinguished Service to the Law Enforcement Community.

During his tenure as the special assistant agent in charge for the Houston division, he oversaw a variety of programs including counterintelligence and cybercrime, FBI efforts along the Texas Gulf coast, an FBI sponsored violent crime task force, and coordination of interagency policy issues, international initiatives, and major investigations in the Organized Crime/Drug Section, FBIHQ.

An expert in crisis management and law enforcement hostage/crisis negotiations, Powers completed initial and advanced negotiation training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. A graduate of the National Negotiators Course at Scotland Yard, London, he has trained numerous state and local officers. Various assignments have included terrorist kidnappings in Kashmir, India, and numerous U.S. hostage/barricade incidents.