Tampa FBI gets a new leader

The bureau names a 19-year veteran as the agent in charge.

By CARRIE WEIMAR
Published July 18, 2007

TAMPA - The FBI selected a 19-year veteran to take over as head of its Tampa division Tuesday.

Steven E. Ibison, who joined the bureau in 1988, will replace outgoing special agent in charge Carl Whitehead, who announced his retirement in May.

Whitehead, the first African-American to lead the FBI's Tampa division, was special agent in charge for four years.

Ibison most recently worked as an inspector in the FBI's inspection division. He led teams that reviewed FBI field divisions, headquarters divisions, legal attache offices and critical shooting incidents.

He began his career as a police officer in Weatherford, Texas. After FBI training in Quantico, Va., he was assigned to the Albuquerque division. He transferred to Houston, where he was assigned to white-collar and violent crime, and drug investigations.

In 1997, he was promoted to supervisory special agent in the bureau's headquarters.

In June 1999, the FBI picked Ibison to be a field supervisor in Indianapolis. About four years later, he was named assistant special agent in charge of the San Antonio office.

As head of the Tampa office, Ibison will oversee agents in 18 counties.

Carrie Weimar can be reached at 813 226-3416 or cweimar@sptimes.com.

[Last modified July 17, 2007, 23:50:46]