Frank Libutti

Frank Libutti is a retired Marine Corps Liutenant General who also served as deputy police commissioner and headed NYPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau and oversaw the Department of Homeland Security's intelligence operations. Libutti was a graduate of The Citadel and he entered the Marine Corps in August 1966 beginning a long career of military service that included time spent in Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Kenya and Somalia among assignments within the United States during which he oversaw more than 80,000 Marines.

Military career

1960s and 70s

Libutti was promoted to captain in November 1969 and upon completion of his duties at Quantico, he remained to attend the Amphibious Warfare School. In 1972, Libutti transferred to Amphibious Squadron THREE in San Diego, California for duty as Squadron Combat Cargo Officer. In 1974 he was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as an Infantry Company Commander for 14 months, followed by staff positions at the Battalion Headquarters where he served as the Logistics Officer and later as the Operations Officer. Libutti was promoted to major in May 1977 and reassigned as the Executive Officer, Marine Barracks, Naples, Italy. He returned from overseas in August 1980 to attend the Command and Staff College at Quantico. Following graduation, he was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., for duty as the Head of the Career Management Section, Manpower Department. In May 1982, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and reassigned as the Assistant Secretary of the General Staff for the Office of the Assistant Commandant and Chief of Staff, where he served through May 1983. He was reassigned in June 1983 as the Senior Marine Aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

1980s and 90s

From August 1985 until June 1986, Libutti attended the National War College, Washington, D.C. Following graduation, he was assigned as the Executive Officer, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. General Libutti was reassigned as the Commanding Officer of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, where he remained in command until October 1987, when he was designated as the Commanding Officer, Contingency MAGTF 1-88 and promoted to colonel. Returning to Camp Pendleton in May 1988, Libutti served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, 1st Marine Division.Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE5DC143BF930A3575AC0A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|title=New Breed of Sergeants: Less Spit, More Polish|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=1987-09-03|author=Richard Halloran|work=The New York Times] He assumed command of the 11th MEU in August 1988 and remained in command until July 1990. The following month, Libutti was reassigned to the Office of the Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff, for duty as the Marine Corps Member of the Chairman's Staff Group. While serving in this capacity, he was selected in December for promotion to brigadier general and was promoted to that grade in March 1992. Libutti was then assigned as the Commander, Forward Headquarters Element/Inspector General of the United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida, in July 1992. The following month he was designated Commanding General, Joint Task Force Provide Relief (emergency airlift of food to Somalia and Kenya),Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DD143EF93AA2575BC0A964958260|title=First of U.S. Relief Planes for Somalia Lands in Kenya|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=1992-08-19|author=Jane Perlez|work=The New York Times] a position he held until November 1992.

At the time of his retirement, Libutti was the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Bases, Pacific headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.Cite web|url=http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/0/2F1A33E98021297985256A1B006FD6F8?opendocument|title=Official Biography for Frank Libutti|accessdate=2008-04-29|publisher=United States Marine Corps|year=2004-03] Cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2002/01/16/2002-01-16_kelly_picks_marine_to_aid_te.html|title=Kelly Picks Marine to Aid Terror Fight|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=2002-01-16|author=John Marzulli|work=Daily News] Libutti's awards include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Purple Heart with two gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Republic of Korea Chonsu Medal.Cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/01/29/usat-new-york.htm|title=NYPD Adds CIA, Military Experts|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=2002-01-28|author=Kevin Johnson|work=USA Today] General Libutti was also presented with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, by the Emperor of Japan for service dedicated to the security of Japan and the mutual cooperation between Japan and the United States.

Deputy Police Commissioner

As New York City's deputy police commissioner, Libutti oversaw more than 300 people working in the Counter Terrorism Bureau, which aims to prevent and prepare for any possible terrorism attack.Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907EED61F31F931A15750C0A9659C8B63|title=Terror Expert With the City Police is in Line for Federal Post|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=2003-03-22|author=William K. Rashbaum|work=The New York Times] He was named to this post in January 2002 by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly who planned to increase the number of detectives assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force and reorganize the police contingent assigned to the task force, which works with the FBI. In his role, Libutti was responsible for counterterrorism training, prevention and investigations and served as a liaison to state and federal agencies. Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A07EEDA1338F935A25752C0A9649C8B63|title=Kelly Picks Marine for Counterterrorism Unit|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=2002-01-16|author=William K. Rashbaum|work=The New York Times]

Department of Homeland Security

Libutti was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2003 to serve as the Undersecretary for information analysis and infrastructure protection at the Department of Homeland Security. He was the first person nominated for the new position in the then two-month-old Homeland Security Department. In addition to traditional counterterrorism and security measures, Libutti's tenure included the launch of a cyber alert system that was part of the initiative to secure cyberspaceCite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,114487-page,1/article.html|title=Can the Feds Fight Viruses?|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=2004-01-28|author=Paul Roberts|work=PC World] as well as initiatives designed to protect stadiums and sporting event attendees.Cite web|url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/management/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=551DZAMJBPHCKQSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=57300603&_requestid=15718|title=Homeland Security Offers Online Tool to Assess Stadium Security|accessdate=2008-04-29|year=2005-01-07|author=Eric Chabrow|work=InformationWeek]

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