Thomas Kneir
{{short description|American law enforcement official}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
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| name = Thomas Kneir
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| currentstatus = Retired from law enforcement
| department = Federal Bureau of Investigation
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| birth_place = Battle Creek, Michigan
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| allegiance = United States
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| serviceyears = 1973-2004
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Thomas Kneir is an American law enforcement official who was the Federal Bureau of Investigation office chief in Chicago, Illinois. After his career in the FBI, Kneir became the chief of product security at Abbott Laboratories.
Early life and education
Thomas Kneir was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1949.{{cite news|last1=O'Connor|first1=Matt|title=New FBI boss has roots here|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/09/26/new-fbi-boss-has-roots-here/|access-date=June 16, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 26, 2001}} He played baseball at Western Michigan University, but then transferred to University of Illinois in Chicago after hearing of an opening at the FBI office in Chicago for clerical work. After graduation from UIC with an accounting degree he stayed with the FBI. He was made a special agent in April 1973.
Career
=FBI=
Kneir's first assignment was in Dallas, Texas, where he helped to stop a $25 million fraud scheme. After Dallas, Kneir was moved to Atlanta. After successfully finishing his time in Atlanta, Kneir was moved to the Louisville, Kentucky office in 1979 where he was promoted to supervisor. In 1984, Kneir was assigned to headquarters in Washington D.C. where he supervised the Governmental Fraud Unit. In 1986, Kneir was assigned to the Baltimore FBI office as supervisor. During his tenure in this office, the FBI Baltimore office was tracking the money from the Iran-Contra scandal. Returning to Washington from 1989 to 1991, he headed the Public Corruption unit. In September 1994 he became the No. 2 supervisor in the Albuquerque office and was promoted to head of the office. After Albuquerque, Knier became the head of the Jacksonville office.{{cite news|last1=O'Connor|first1=Matt|title=FBI chief in Chicago retiring after pivotal tenure|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/10/01/fbi-chief-in-chicago-retiring-after-pivotal-tenure/|access-date=June 16, 2015|agency=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=October 1, 2004}} On September 10, 2001, he was appointed head of the Chicago office.
=Head of Chicago office=
The primary focus of Kneir's time in Chicago was dealing with terrorism and public corruption. Working in cooperation with prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, the Chicago office led by Kneir launched several large investigations which lead to trials including the Duffs trial, the Governor Ryan corruption trial, and Operation Family Secrets.{{cite news|last1=Kass|first1=John|title=FBI's been busy since Kneir came to Chicago office|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/10/29/fbis-been-busy-since-kneir-came-to-chicago-office/|access-date=June 16, 2015|agency=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=October 29, 2004}} As head of the Chicago field office, Kneir attended many events related to security including the Prizker Military Museum and Library program "Front & Center with John Callaway: Homeland Security: Is Chicago Prepared?"{{cite web|title=Front & Center with John Callaway: Homeland Security: Is Chicago Prepared?|url=http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents/front-center-john-callaway-homeland-security-chicago-prepared/|website=Pritzker Military Museum and Library|accessdate=June 16, 2015}} Kneir retired from public service in 2004.
= Abbott Laboratories =
After his time with the FBI,{{When|date=September 2023}} Kneir took a job at North Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories as director of product security.
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Abbott Laboratories people
Category:People from Battle Creek, Michigan
Category:Federal Bureau of Investigation agents
Category:Law enforcement officials from Chicago
Category:Law enforcement officials from Florida
Category:Law enforcement officials from New Mexico
Category:Law enforcement officials from Washington, D.C.
Category:University of Illinois Chicago alumni