Weldon L. Kennedy, the veteran FBI official who is directing the Oklahoma City bombing investigation, was named Tuesday to the bureau's No. 2 position.

He succeeds Larry A. Potts, who was removed by FBI Director Louis J. Freeh because of a controversy over his role in overseeing a 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge, Ida., where a white separatist's wife was killed by an FBI sharpshooter.

Citing Kennedy's more than 30 years of FBI experience, Freeh called him "superbly qualified" and said that he will continue to head up the Oklahoma City inquiry while serving as deputy FBI director.