FBI names new head of Salt Lake office

The FBI has named a former Marine aviator who is the son of a CIA case officer as the special agent-in-charge of its Salt Lake field office.

James McTighe replaces Tim Fuhrman, whose final day as special agent-in-charge in Salt Lake City was Friday. Fuhrman has been tapped to lead the bureau's office in Mobile, Ala.

McTighe will lead the largest geographical division in the FBI, which also encompasses Idaho and Montana. The office's area of responsibility stretches from St. George in the south to Glasgow, Mont., in the north, covering 10 percent of the continental United States with roughly 135 investigators.

McTighe's service as an FBI agent began in November 1983. He has worked in the bureau's Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver and Miami divisions. He also served as a pilot with the Special Operations Group and was qualified to fly helicopters, single-engine and multi-engine airplanes.

Most recently, McTighe was posted as special assistant for the deputy director at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.

As the son of a CIA case officer, McTighe received his early education in the Netherlands, France and Ecuador. He earned a bachelor's degree from Notre Dame and after graduation was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He served as a helicopter pilot with the Marines from 1978 through 1983. During his military service, he completed graduate work for a master's degree in systems management at the University of Southern California.

McTighe is expected to arrive in Salt Lake City within the next few weeks.

— Geoff Liesik