Bryan Anthony Sierra, Justice Department Spokesman

Bryan Sierra, a long-time spokesman for the Justice Department, passed away Friday, January 25, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bryan had been the chief spokesman for the Department's Criminal Division since December 2001, handling media relations and outreach on high-profile cases against Enron, Jose Padilla, Jack Abramoff, Richard Reid, and Zacarias Moussaoui.

In 2006, Bryan received the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Department of Justice. He also was given numerous other citations from the Department for his dedication, skill and professionalism, in particular following his diagnosis with cancer in 2005.

As a member of the Office of Public Affairs, Bryan spearheaded the press announcement for the installation of the newly created Assistant Attorney General for National Security and the National Security Division. He also accompanied the Attorney General to Baghdad Iraq in July 2005.

Prior to entering government service, he was a reporter for Fox News Channel covering the Justice beat, where he reported on stories including the Microsoft antitrust trial and the federal response to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Bryan attended the State University of New York at Albany and in 1990 began working as a correspondent for United Press International in Albany, N.Y., covering state government. He also spent time in UPI's Boston bureau before moving to Washington, D.C., in 1993 and serving as UPI's chief congressional correspondent, and later as an editor at Congressional Quarterly.