New York, NY, November 7, 2003…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today recognized former FBI supervisor Kevin Donovan with the ADL Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation Award for his efforts in the fight against terrorism.  The award was presented during the League's 90th annual National Commission Meeting in New York City.

Throughout Mr. Donovan's 25-year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigations he has been involved with the investigations into numerous high-profile terror attacks, including the attacks of September 11, 2001, the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and the anthrax mail attacks.  He had served as the Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division, New York Office, Special Agent in Charge of  the Newark, New Jersey Field Office and as Assistant Director in Charge, New York Field Office.

"In honoring former FBI supervisor Kevin Donovan, we recognize those who are in the trenches of counterterrorism work - the men and women who investigate, build cases against those engaged in terrorism, and whose daily work is to keep our country safe from terrorist plots," said Ilsa Klinghoffer, the daughter of Leon Klinghoffer, a victim of Palestinian terrorism.   "Mr. Donovan's work has made it harder for terrorists to gain a foothold in this country."

Marilyn Klinghoffer and her family established the Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Foundation in late 1985 following the brutal murder of Leon Klinghoffer by Palestinian terrorists aboard the Achille Lauro cruise ship.   The Klinghoffers were on an anniversary cruise in the Mediterranean when Palestinian terrorists seized control of the Italian cruise ship, shot Leon in his wheelchair and threw his body overboard.  In response to an overwhelming outpouring of public support following Leon's death, the Klinghoffer family decided to establish a foundation dedicated to educating the world about the deadly realities of terrorism. 

Past recipients of the ADL Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation Award include former Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick, on behalf of the Clinton Administration, Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Charles Schumer, Rep. Henry Hyde, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, former Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Richard Schifter, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Williams, and former Secretary of State George Schultz.

Mr. Donovan is currently the International Director of Security for Johnson & Johnson Co, having retired from the FBI earlier this year.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.