Chief Administrative Officer Center for Internet Security
Richard J. Licht is the Chief Administrative Officer at the Center for Internet Security (CIS). In this capacity, Mr. Licht leverages his extensive legal and law enforcement background to oversee and manage the collective efforts of the Centers Information Technology, Human Resources, Policy and Outreach, Communications, Chief Information Security Officer, Security, and Administrative Professional program areas. Mr. Licht began employment at the Center as the Vice President of Security Operations, a role he held from December, 2012, until July, 2015, when he assumed his present position Prior to his appointment at CIS, Mr. Licht served for six years as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). During that time, he was responsible for all Criminal, Cyber, Finance, and Administrative Programs. He additionally administered and deployed the Albany Division SWAT, Evidence Recovery, Victim Assistance, EEO, EAP, and Security assets as required. Mr. Licht began his career in the Tampa Division of the FBI in the Orlando Resident Agency, assigned to investigate fugitives, bank robberies, and other reactive crimes. In 1988, he was assigned to investigate Foreign Counterintelligence matters. In 1989, Mr. Licht was selected for assignment to a major espionage investigation in Tampa Division headquarters city. His investigative efforts resulted in his being awarded the Director of Central Intelligence Exceptional Intelligence Collector award in 1990. Mr. Licht was a member of the Tampa Division SWAT team from 1989 to 1991. In 1991, he received a one-year appointment to attend the Department of Defense, Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. In 1992, Mr. Licht received his second field assignment to the Chicago Division, where he served on a joint FBI/Chicago Police Department narcotics investigation task force. In 1996, he received a promotion to FBI Headquarters, and was detailed to the National Drug Intelligence Center as the Security Programs Manager, overseeing the Personnel, Computer, and Physical Security programs for the 200 person multi-agency center. In August of 1999, Mr. Licht was promoted to the position of Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of the Lansing and Traverse City Residence Agencies, Detroit Division. His assignment there required oversight for all Bureau investigative programs within these territories. He was Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the Detroit Division from August through December 2004.
Mr. Licht is a 1984 graduate of the State University of New York at Albany. He received his law degree from Union University, Albany Law School, in 1987.