Robert Swan Mueller III is an American lawyer and former government official. He served as the sixth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013. A decorated Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, Mueller's career has been largely dedicated to public service, including roles as a federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney, and Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He is widely recognized for his leadership of the FBI during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and for his efforts in transforming the agency to focus on counterterrorism and national security threats. Following his tenure at the FBI, Mueller was appointed as Special Counsel by the Department of Justice in May 2017 to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and potential coordination with the Trump campaign. The investigation concluded in March 2019 with the submission of the Mueller Report, resulting in numerous indictments and convictions, though it did not establish a criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. His work as Special Counsel was met with both praise for its thoroughness and criticism regarding its scope and conclusions.