Leading FBI Official to Head Bishops" Office For Child Protection
WASHINGTON (November 7, 2002) -- Kathleen L. McChesney, number three official in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has been named executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Office for Child and Youth Protection.
Her appointment becomes effective December 1, 2002.
Ms. McChesney's appointment was announced in Washington, November 7, by Msgr. William P. Fay, USCCB General Secretary.
"Kathleen McChesney brings extraordinary background and dedication to this vital position," Msgr. Fay said. "We look forward to her leadership in addressing the problem of child and youth sexual abuse so that there can be no question about the protection of children and young people in our church. I look forward to welcoming her as a full member of the senior staff of the USCCB." Attorney Robert S. Bennett, chairman of the search committee of the National Review Board, cited her proven administrative talent and ability to work in a national organization with a vast outreach.
"After a far reaching and extensive search, the National Review Board was pleased to recommend to the Bishops" Conference this outstanding public official. Kathleen McChesney"s career path shows her to have unusually fine talent for inspiring people to work together. She created the FBI"s Office of Law Enforcement Coordination to establish more productive relationships between the FBI and the nation"s 18,000 police agencies, and the National Intel Share project to promote information sharing among the nation"s 680,000 law enforcement officers. She managed the FBI"s international operations in 44 foreign countries and spearheaded the FBI"s efforts to add 11 additional offices through interactions with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Congress. These abilities bode well for her work with the bishops and the National Review Board in seeing to it that there is full and meaningful compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," Bennett said.
Ms. McChesney, currently the FBI"s Executive Assistant Director, Law Enforcement Services Division, holds a doctorate in public administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco; a master"s degree in public administration from Seattle University, and a bachelor"s degree in Police Science/Administration from Washington State University.
Ms. McChesney has over 30 years" experience in law enforcement. In the early 1970s she worked as a detective with the King County (Seattle) police department where she was assigned to investigate sex crimes, robberies, assaults and homicides. She joined the FBI in 1978. Her assignments as a Special Agent included work in San Francisco, Washington, Los Angeles and Detroit. In September 1996, she became head of the FBI"s Portland, Oregon, field office. In January 1999, she was named Special Agent in Charge in the Chicago field office. In June 2001, she was appointed Assistant Director of the Training Division, Quantico, Virginia.
In her current position since December 2001, Ms. McChesney oversees the activities of 4,700 employees and multiple budgets totaling over $1.1 billion.
The Office for Child and Youth Protection was established by the U.S. bishops last June in Dallas when they passed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The work of Ms. McChesney will be assisted and monitored by the National Review Board.
According to the Charter, the tasks of the office are to assist individual diocese/eparchies in the implementation of safe environment programs, assist provinces and regions in the development of appropriate mechanisms to audit adherence to policies and produce an annual public report on the progress made in implementing the standards in the charter.
Ms. McChesney has represented the FBI with members of Congress, public officials, national and international law enforcement, government and public organizations and the media.
She has won numerous professional awards, including the Presidential Meritorious Achievement Award, 1997; Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Center for Women in Policing, 2002; International Citizens Award, Portland Consular Corps., 1999; Anti-Defamation League Public Service Award, 2001; Illinois Security Chiefs Association Public Service Award, 2000; and Department of Justice Meritorious Achievement Award, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001.
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