Bob BlecksmithRaised in the Sierra foothills of northern California, Bob grew up in a law enforcement family, his father being a California Highway Patrolman (CHP). In 1980 Bob had the joy of marrying Teresa, his best friend with whom he has since shared this jourey through life. After completing college, he served four years as a Deputy Sheriff in Nevada County, California and in 1985 realized his childhood dream of becoming a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Over the next 28 years, Bob rose through the FBI ranks, beginning as a street agent in Dallas investigating violent crimes and counterterrorism matters. His FBI journey took him to FBIHQ in Washington, DC as a supervisor in the Domestic Terrorism/Weapons of Mass Destruction (DT/WMD) Section and in 2001, he was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the Washington Field Office. On September 11, 2001 he was dispatched to the Pentagon as the FBI's initial senior representative and On-Scene Commander. In 2003, Bob was promoted to Chief of the DT/WMD Section in the Counterterrorism Division and the following year he was tasked by FBI Director Robert Mueller to develop the final protocols for the FBI's assumption of the nation's domestic WMD Render Safe Mission (RSM) from the Department of Defense. In 2005, he was transferred to the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) and in 2008, Director Mueller named Bob as CIRG's Assistant Director where he served for the next five years until his retirement in 2013. In retirement, Bob and Teresa reside in northern Virginia, volunteering their time at their church, various community projects and making memories with their six wonderful grandchildren whom their four daughters and sons-in-laws have gifted them. Read More Read Less