Salvador Hernandez appointed to OKC FBI office

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A native of Mexico will take over as special agent in charge for the Oklahoma City division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. <br/><br/>FBI Director Robert Mueller III announced

Saturday, July 10th 2004, 10:27 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A native of Mexico will take over as special agent in charge for the Oklahoma City division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

FBI Director Robert Mueller III announced Friday that Salvador Hernandez had been appointed to the post.

Hernandez, who was born in Mexico City, comes to Oklahoma after a 2002 stint as the legal attache in the Legal Attache Office in Mexico City. In 2000, Hernandez was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville (Ky.) division, where he was responsible for the criminal, counterterrorism and national foreign intelligence programs.

Hernandez said Friday that his international background will help him promote the FBI's main objectives in Oklahoma.

``I think it capitalizes on what the (FBI) director has been trying to do in the last several years, and that is increase our overseas presence,'' he said.

Hernandez succeeds John E. Lewis, who was promoted three months ago to an inspector-deputy assistant director position in the counterterrorism division in Washington.

In Oklahoma City, Hernandez will serve as one of 56 bureau chiefs nationwide. His authority encompasses the state's 12 FBI satellite offices.

``This is a natural progression for someone that's had my background and my experience,'' he said. ``This is a good fit.''