Born in 1945 in Zvenigorod, Moscow Region.
Education: university degree in Engineering.
Since 1971: work for state security agencies.
1974-1992: held various posts in the Foreign Intelligence Service and spent three and a half years working in South East Asia.
1992-1997: Head of several FSB district subdivisions in St Petersburg.
1997: Deputy Head of the FSB Directorate for St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.
Joined the FSB headquarters as First Deputy Head of the Economic Counter-Intelligence Department.
May 18, 2000: appointed Head of the Federal Guard Service.
General of the Army.
Holds state decorations.
Married, with a son.