NOAA Enforcement Fills Leadership Spots, Launches West Coast Division
OutdoorHub 01.31.14
The Office of Law Enforcement continues to meet the goals outlined in its National Staffing Plan to improve fisheries law enforcement activities. A key aspect in achieving our goals is to surround our staff with leaders who can effectively promote the vision of NOAA Fisheries. I am pleased to announce the fulfillment of the following permanent leadership positions at the headquarters and divisional level which will help us on this journey:
Headquarters, Deputy Director – Matthew Brandt
Mr. Brandt comes to the Office of Law Enforcement from his position as the Deputy Assistant Director for Operations with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service Headquarters where he oversaw all law enforcement operational units to include; Criminal Investigations, Uniformed Operations, Communications, Specials Ops/K9 and Risk Management. He is a 10 year veteran of the U.S. Navy and has 22 years of law enforcement experience.
Southeast Division, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) – Tracy Dunn
SAC Dunn served in the NOAA Corps and has been an agent and supervisor in the Office of Law Enforcement since June of 1990. Most recently he has served us all very well as Acting Deputy Director since September 2011 providing stable leadership for our operations. His strong personal and professional integrity is demonstrated in his commitment to operational excellence and accountability.
West Coast Division, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) – William Giles
SAC Giles has served more than 37 years in federal and local law enforcement and has been the Acting SAC of the Northwest Division since December 2012. His law enforcement service includes working as a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, as well as a California police officer and detective.
SAC Giles will help turn the page on a new chapter at the Office of Law Enforcement as he oversees the newly formed West Coast Division located in Seattle, Washington. As NOAA Fisheries moves forward with the unification of its Northwest and Southwest Regions to operate as a single West Coast Region, so will the Office of Law Enforcement. The goal of the integration is to pursue closer program coordination throughout the West Coast. This reorganization is designed to maintain consistency with the overall organizational structure.
I am looking forward to working with this dynamic leadership team. By leveraging their combined mission knowledge, I am confident we will continue to meet key milestones and objectives outlined in our National and Division priorities and advance NOAA’s overall mission.
I would also like to thank those individuals on our leadership team that have been in Acting status during this transition. I am extremely grateful for their dedication and willingness to fill these roles and maintain a progressive operational status. – Bruce Buckson
