Eric Smithmier
Supervisory Special Agent, Threat Analytics Collaboration Unit
Cyber Division, FBI
Mr. Smithmier was born in Detroit, MI. He received an M.S. in Law Enforcement Intelligence & Analysis from Michigan State University in 2012 and a B.A. in Computer Science from Coe College in 2000. Prior to working for the FBI, Mr. Smithmier was a network engineer employed by Communications Engineering Company in Iowa City, IA.
Mr. Smithmier entered on duty as a Special Agent (SA) of the FBI on February 9, 2003. From 2003 through 2006, SA Smithmier was assigned to the Minneapolis Division, where he worked Theft of Intellectual Property, Crimes Against Children, and Criminal Computer Intrusions. In 2006, SA Smithmier transferred to the Houston Division where he was assigned to the Houston Area Cyber Crime Task Force focusing on Criminal and National Security Cyber investigations. In 2007, SA Smithmier was selected as a member of the FBI's Cyber Action Team (CAT), a highly trained technical response unit responsible for domestic and international rapid deployment.
In 2009, SA Smithmier was promoted to a Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) position in the Eurasian Cyber Unit at Cyber Division (CyD) where he created and chaired the Industrial Control Systems Threat Focus Cell and led the FBI's participation in Cyber Storm III, a national-level cyber exercise. In 2011, SA Smithmier returned to Houston and in 2013 was promoted to SSA of a Cyber Squad responsible for Cyber Criminal and Cyber National Security matters where he also maintained program and task force coordinator responsibilities.
In 2019, SSA Smithmier reported to London, United Kingdom as an Assistant Legal Attaché where he oversaw the FBI’s Cyber National Security portfolio. ALAT Smithmier was responsible for the coordination of all cyber national security matters between the FBI and UKIC partners. In 2023, SSA Smithmier transferred back to CyD where he helped stand up the Global Partnerships Program (GPP) which oversees the Cyber ALAT program and manages all CyD’s international partnerships.
In 2024, SSA Smithmier moved to CyD’s Threat Analytics Collaboration Unit (TACU) where he is tasked with establishing and managing systemically important relationships with critical private sector organizations and the U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) to build partnerships, tools, and intelligence focused on securing our Nation’s most sensitive networks.
