Kash Patel is a prominent figure in U.S. law and national security. Born on Long Island, New York, to Indian immigrant parents of Gujarati ancestry, Patel grew up in a culturally diverse background. He graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in criminal justice and history in 2002. Later, he earned a law degree from Pace University and a certificate in international law from University College London[1][3][4]. Patel began his career as a public defender in Miami-Dade County, Florida, handling complex cases such as murder and drug trafficking. He later transitioned to the U.S. Department of Justice, where he worked as a terrorism prosecutor and liaison officer to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), overseeing investigations against Al-Qaida and ISIS[1][2][3]. Notably, Patel served as the national security advisor and senior counsel for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), playing a key role in the investigation into Russia's influence on the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He was also a principal author of the controversial "Nunes memo" related to this investigation[3][4]. In recent years, Patel became chief of staff to the acting Secretary of Defense during the Trump administration. He has also been involved in publishing, writing books such as the "Plot Against the King" series and "Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy"[4]. As of February 2025, Patel became the ninth Director of the FBI, marking a significant shift in his career trajectory. His appointment and subsequent actions have garnered attention due to his background and political affiliations[1][6].