Laurie J. Bennett was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and raised on a dairy farm along with her eight brothers and sisters.

    In 1980, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse with a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon college graduation, Ms. Bennett was commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant and served throughout the United States and Germany.

    In 1985, Ms. Bennett worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at Georgia State University where she earned Master of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees.

    In 1986, as the Exercise Physiologist for the State of Georgia, Department of Public Safety, Ms. Bennett trained police officers, sheriff deputies, agents, and firefighters in health, physical fitness, stress management, wellness, and scuba diving for the search and recovery of human remains and evidence.

    Ms. Bennett entered on duty with the FBI in 1990 and was assigned to the Washington, DC, Field Office (WFO) where she investigated International Terrorism, Drug Trafficking, Violent Crime, and Organized Crime. As an Evidence Response Team Leader at WFO, she deployed to Saudi Arabia for the Khobar Towers bombing. In 1997, the FBI promoted Ms. Bennett to Supervisory Special Agent at FBI Headquarters where she worked in the areas of Russian, Eastern European and Asian Organized Crime, La Costra Nostra (LCN), and Labor Racketeering.

    In 1999, Ms. Bennett continued working in a supervisory capacity when she transferred to the Minneapolis Division to manage investigative programs involving White Collar Crime, Internet Fraud, Identity Theft, Hate Crimes, Civil Rights violations, and a Joint Terrorism Task Force investigating the funding of terrorist organizations and activities.

    In 2002, the Bureau promoted Ms. Bennett to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Portland Division where she managed all investigative, intelligence and administrative programs. In 2004, the FBI appointed Ms. Bennett to the ranks of the Senior Executive Service as a Section Chief in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC.

    In March 2006, Director Robert S. Mueller promoted Ms. Bennett to the position of Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo, New York, Division.

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