David Joanson

Background

About David Joanson

I am the Executive Director for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania. In my role, I leverage my 20+ years of experience as a former federal prosecutor and federal law enforcement agent (FBI Special Agent) to lead CERL on research projects, publications, conferences, symposia, and advocacy projects, with a focus on preserving and promoting ethics and the rule of law. I joined the FBI in 1998 as a Special Agent and was assigned to the Philadelphia Division’s general white-collar crime squad where I served as a case agent on some of the division’s most significant white-collar investigations and successful prosecutions for economic crimes. I received 10 awards from the FBI Director and the US Attorney’s Office for investigative excellence during my tenure as a Special Agent.In 2007, I was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where I litigated federal criminal matters involving fugitives and complex securities fraud. In 2010, I was promoted to Associate Division Counsel Supervisory Special Agent, and subsequently promoted in 2014 to serve as Chief Division Counsel (highest-ranking legal officer) for the Philadelphia Division of the FBI, the 9th largest office with over 320 agents and 700 employees. I additionally served as the Chief Ethics and Compliance and Privacy Officer, where I advised on compliance and ethics programs and conducted training on government ethics regulations and policies.Over the course of my 20+ years at the FBI, I prosecuted and investigated federal cyber, international/domestic terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, and white-collar crimes. I handled some of the most high-profile and sensitive matters, developing deep knowledge across a wide range of compliance, ethics, and national security issues. I also gained significant federal trial and federal grand jury experience, as well as personally drafted and filed 400+ motions, applications, arrest and search warrants.I retired from the FBI in 2022, after almost 24 years of public service, and proudly serving my country.In my spare time, I maintain an extensive roster of public presentations, teaching, and panelist experience on federal legal issues, including lecturing at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, as well as at other law schools (Villanova, Drexel, and Temple), the FBI Philadelphia Citizen’s Academy, and numerous NGOs.I hold the Leadership Professional in Ethics & Compliance (LPEC) certification, and I am an active member of the State Bar of California.