Christopher G. Raia, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent since 2003, has been named Co-Deputy Director of the FBI, the bureau confirmed on Friday, January 9. Raia, who has led the FBI’s New York Field Office since March 2025, began his new role today, January 12, and shares the Deputy Director position with Andrew Bailey, former Missouri Attorney General and a political appointee installed September 15k, 2025, by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The appointment follows the departure of Dan Bongino, who left the position on January 3 to return to civilian life.
Decades in Public Service and Law Enforcement
Raia’s law enforcement career spans more than 20 years, as well as over nine years as a U.S. Coast Guard officer following his graduation from the Coast Guard Academy.
He joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 2003, initially assigned to the Texas City Resident Agency under the Houston Field Office. During his first decade with the bureau, he investigated violent crime, gangs, drugs, and white-collar crime while coordinating the Safe Streets Task Force.
Raia moved to FBI Headquarters in 2012 as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Counterterrorism Division, overseeing international terrorism cases across field offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Jackson, and Mobile. He was promoted in 2014 to Senior Supervisory Resident Agent at the Bryan/College Station Resident Agency, managing national security programs.
His career advanced through several leadership positions: Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Field Office’s Violent Crime Branch in 2020, then its National Security Branch in 2021. In 2023, he became Chief of Staff for the Executive Assistant Director of the National Security Branch at FBI Headquarters, coordinating with Congress and the White House on major initiatives.
Raia was promoted to Deputy Assistant Director in the Counterterrorism Division in April 2024 before being named to lead the New York Field Office by FBI Director Kash Patel. In his role with the Counterterrorism Division, he was part of the team leading the response to the deadly New Year’s Day 2025 truck attack in New Orleans.
“He represents the kind of grounded, mission-first professionalism that strengthens public trust and reinforces the highest standards of federal law enforcement,” said the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation.