John Otto (FBI acting director)
Encyclopedia
John E. Otto was the acting director of the FBI
in 1987.
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Otto served in the Marine Corps
and attended the University of Minnesota
before transferring to St. Cloud State College, where he earned a B.S. in 1960, followed by four years of graduate study in educational administration. As a grad student, he worked as a deputy sheriff for Ramsey County, Minnesota
and for the Arden Hills, Minnesota
police department, while teaching at a junior high school in St. Paul.
In 1964, Otto joined the FBI, moving up through the ranks to inspector and supervisor positions. After serving as special agent in charge of the Minneapolis and then Chicago
field offices, Otto was promoted into management positions, becoming executive assistant director of Law Enforcement Services in 1981.
He became acting director of the FBI when director William H. Webster was appointed to Director of Central Intelligence
, and stepped down when William Sessions
gained Senate approval.
In 1990, Director Sessions awarded Otto the first Medal of Meritorious Achievement. On his retirement the same year, Otto became a security official for Delta Air Lines
.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
in 1987.
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Otto served in the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
before transferring to St. Cloud State College, where he earned a B.S. in 1960, followed by four years of graduate study in educational administration. As a grad student, he worked as a deputy sheriff for Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
and for the Arden Hills, Minnesota
Arden Hills, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,652 people, 2,959 households, and 2,228 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,087.3 people per square mile . There were 3,017 housing units at an average density of 339.9 per square mile...
police department, while teaching at a junior high school in St. Paul.
In 1964, Otto joined the FBI, moving up through the ranks to inspector and supervisor positions. After serving as special agent in charge of the Minneapolis and then Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
field offices, Otto was promoted into management positions, becoming executive assistant director of Law Enforcement Services in 1981.
He became acting director of the FBI when director William H. Webster was appointed to Director of Central Intelligence
Director of Central Intelligence
The Office of United States Director of Central Intelligence was the head of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the principal intelligence advisor to the President and the National Security Council, and the coordinator of intelligence activities among and between the various United...
, and stepped down when William Sessions
William Sessions
William Sessions may refer to:*William K. Sessions III, U.S. District Court Judge*William S. Sessions, former director of the FBI...
gained Senate approval.
In 1990, Director Sessions awarded Otto the first Medal of Meritorious Achievement. On his retirement the same year, Otto became a security official for Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
.