Christopher Raia
American law enforcement officer (born 1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christopher Gilbert Raia (born April 17, 1976) is an American law enforcement officer who has served as a Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2026.[1] Raia served as the assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York City field office from March 2025 to January 2026, before being sworn in as deputy director.
April 17, 1976
Christopher Raia | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2026 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Director | Kash Patel |
| Preceded by | Dan Bongino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christopher Gilbert Raia April 17, 1976 Illinois, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Kristen Mason (m. 2003) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | United States Coast Guard Academy (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1998-2003 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Early life and education (1976–1998)
Christopher Gilbert Raia[2] was born on April 17, 1976,[3] in Illinois.[2] He attended Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Indiana[4] and the United States Coast Guard Academy.[5]
Career
United States Coast Guard (1994–2003)
He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1998.[6] He then served in Florida as a United States Coast Guard Lieutenant.[6][7][8]
FBI Counterterrorism Division (2003–2026)
In 2003, Raia joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a special agent in 2003.[5] He was an early informant of the 2011 alleged Iran assassination plot by a Drug Enforcement Administration agent.[9]
Raia was involved in the investigation into the 2025 New Orleans truck attack.[10] In March 2025, Kash Patel, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, fired James Dennehy, the assistant director in charge of the New York City field office. Raia succeeded Dennehy.[7] He led the prosecution of the pro-Palestinian activist Tarek Bazrouk[11] and the 2025 NBA illegal gambling prosecution.[12]
Deputy Director of the FBI (2026–present)
In January 2026, The New York Times reported that Raia had been named as the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, succeeding Dan Bongino.[7]