FBI Officer gets Cybercrime fighter award

WASHINGTON: McAfee, Inc. has presented the McAfee Cybercrime Fighter Award to Shawn Henry, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. The award recognizes Henry for his efforts protecting the nation from cybercrime and his role in revamping cyberstrategy and investigative programs.

“When considering candidates for this award, McAfee assesses only those who have exhibited leadership and made a significant impact in protecting the public from vicious cyberattacks,” said DeWalt. “Shawn Henry has engineered innovative strategies and redesigned investigative programs to protect the nation and its citizens from cybercrime and make real strides for law enforcement combating this relatively new type of crime.”

The noted accomplishments Henry spearheaded for the FBI include development and implementation of the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF); the FBI was subsequently designated the executive agent of the NCIJTF by the President of the United States, leading the domestic response against cyberexploitation. It also includes full time international deployment of FBI cyberagents into the national police agencies of foreign law enforcement agencies, resulting in unprecedented success in mitigating foreign criminal threats to US interests.

Broad coordination and collaboration with the private sector, resulting in joint intelligence products being produced and disseminated which prevented some cyberattacks.

“I’m very proud of the FBI’s accomplishments in the area of cybercrime and thank McAfee for the recognition, which I share with all the people at the FBI who work tirelessly to protect our nation and its citizens from criminals,” said Henry. “While we have made great headway in the fight against cybercrime, it continues to be a battle that requires an alliance of good people to fight the fight, starting with a strong public-private partnership.”

Serving the FBI since 1989, Henry was recently appointed assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office. Previously he held the position of assistant director of the FBI Cyber Division. Henry and his team are responsible for protecting the United States against the most harmful Internet fraud, serious computer invasions, the spread of malicious code and operations aiming to obtain U.S. intellectual property.

Henry specializes in cyber program management and defending the nation against advanced cyberattacks. He spent his career improving computer security and developing key initiatives for national security. As a member of the National Cyber Study Group (NCSG), he helped develop the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI). Henry is responsible for transforming the FBI’s cyberstrategies and investigative programs. He contributed to the National Security Branch (NSB), and was selected to serve as Chief of the Executive Staff to the Executive Assistant Director of the NSB.

His current office, the Washington Field Office, has three major national security priorities. It protects the U.S. against terrorist attacks, foreign intelligence operations and espionage and cyberbased attacks and high-technology crimes.

The McAfee Cybercrime Fighter Award is given to an individual from government, industry, academia or a non-governmental organization who has exemplified outstanding leadership in the global effort to combat cybercrime. The honoree has contributed to the effort in a way that may include: raising awareness of cybercrime prevention, leading law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute cybercrime, educating the next generation of cybercrime fighters, creating innovative ways to combat cybercrime, protecting consumers or children from cybercrime threats, or other efforts.