Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller has stated that counterterrorism skills or Middle East experience will not be a criterion on which promotions in counterterrorist units are based.

Let me tell you that we want to develop that within the bureau, but making that an absolute requirement – if you do not have it you would be precluded from advancing in counter-terrorism – no. — Robert Mueller)

Mueller made the statement while giving testimony in the employment discrimination lawsuit filed by FBI agent Bassem Youssef, who claims he was repeatedly passed over for promotion in favor of agents with less counterterrorism experience. Youssef worked in the FBI’s Riyadh field office.

So, what is required to advance in counterterrorism in the FBI? Leadership ability. And that’s about it.

Leadership ability is transferable. And often you can pick up the subject matter if you’ve got leadership skills. — Robert Mueller

Knowing how to lead is a valuable skill for any SAC or anyone else in a leadership role, or looking to move into such a role, but if you don’t actually have any experience with the task at hand, how effective can you really be?

The manager can “make a pretty good go of it,” Deputy Assistant Director John Lewis testified. “But at the end of the season, he’s not going to be able to win over the guy on the other side of the field who has all those same things — plus 20 years of major experience.” — AP

OK, so we have a bunch of FBI counterterrorism managers who have no idea what they’re doing, but they can lead. I hope they can actually manage to get anything done. I’ll take the person with leadership ability and experience over the person with leadership ability and no experience.