Weldon L. Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Weldon Lynn Kennedy was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and served for 33 years. He is known for his involvement in the Atlanta Prison Riots
and the Oklahoma City bombing
.
He retired as the FBI's No. 2 in command, Deputy Director
, in 1997.
, a small community in Hill County that no longer exists
. After service as an officer in the United States Navy
's Office of Naval Intelligence
, Weldon joined the FBI
in 1963. In 1987, he earned fame as the special agent in charge during a riot
at United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
, where he negotiated a 13 day takeover. He then acted as Special Agent in charge of the arrests and investigation of Timothy McVeigh
and Terry Nichols
of the Oklahoma City bombing
. In 1995, he was appointed Deputy Director by Louis J. Freeh. In 1997, Kennedy retired and left his office to William Esposito, but only for a few months. Thomas J. Pickard
assumed the office officially after Esposito. Kennedy was then hired as Vice Chairman of Guardsmark
by Ira A. Lipman. He now resides with his family in Prescott, Arizona
. His memoir
, On-Scene Commander: From Street Agent to Deputy Director of the FBI, was published by Potomac Books, Inc. on 10 September 2007.
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...
and served for 33 years. He is known for his involvement in the Atlanta Prison Riots
Atlanta Prison Riots
The Atlanta Prison Riots were a series of riots that occurred at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in November of 1987. The riot coincided with a similar riot at the Federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana.-Cause:On November 10, 1987, the U.S...
and the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
.
He retired as the FBI's No. 2 in command, Deputy Director
Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is a senior United States government position in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The office is second in command to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and takes over responsibilities as Director should his/her...
, in 1997.
History
Weldon was born in September 1938 in Menlow, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, a small community in Hill County that no longer exists
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
. After service as an officer in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's Office of Naval Intelligence
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
, Weldon joined the FBI
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 1963. In 1987, he earned fame as the special agent in charge during a riot
Atlanta Prison Riots
The Atlanta Prison Riots were a series of riots that occurred at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in November of 1987. The riot coincided with a similar riot at the Federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana.-Cause:On November 10, 1987, the U.S...
at United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta is a medium-security federal prison for men in Atlanta, Georgia. It also has a detention center for pre-trial and holdover inmates and an adjacent camp for minimum security male inmates...
, where he negotiated a 13 day takeover. He then acted as Special Agent in charge of the arrests and investigation of Timothy McVeigh
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy James McVeigh was a United States Army veteran and security guard who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995...
and Terry Nichols
Terry Nichols
Terry Lynn Nichols is a convicted bomber's accomplice. Prior to his incarceration, he held a variety of short-term jobs, working as a farmer, grain elevator manager, real estate salesman, ranch hand, and house husband. He met his future co-conspirator, Timothy McVeigh, during a brief stint in the...
of the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
. In 1995, he was appointed Deputy Director by Louis J. Freeh. In 1997, Kennedy retired and left his office to William Esposito, but only for a few months. Thomas J. Pickard
Thomas J. Pickard
Thomas J. Pickard was an acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 71 days in the summer of 2001 following the tenure of Director Louis Freeh. He was replaced just one week before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers and The Pentagon. Born in Woodside, Queens,...
assumed the office officially after Esposito. Kennedy was then hired as Vice Chairman of Guardsmark
Guardsmark
Guardsmark is a major provider of security services in North America, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.Guardsmark is the fourth largest security company and the only major provider that is privately held. The family-run company employs more than 18,900 with reported revenues of more than...
by Ira A. Lipman. He now resides with his family in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
. His memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
, On-Scene Commander: From Street Agent to Deputy Director of the FBI, was published by Potomac Books, Inc. on 10 September 2007.