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News Release [printer friendly page] Lifetime Achievement Award Given To Former DEA Administrator Peter Bensinger
CHICAGO – Former DEA Administrator Peter Bensinger has been awarded a lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Former Federal Narcotics Agents (AFFNA) DEA Museum Foundation for “countless years of dedicated services to drug law enforcement and drug abuse prevention education” over the past 30 years. The award was presented last week in Chicago at a foundation dinner event held in conjunction with the opening of the DEA exhibit “Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause” at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Bensinger served as the second DEA Administrator from 1976-1981, and is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Bensinger, DuPont & Associates (BDA), which provides a wide range of consultation, training and employee assistance program services promoting a Drug-Free Workplace. In addition, BDA promotes employee health and safety as well as intervention and treatment for compulsive gambling. Prior to serving as DEA Administrator, Bensinger served as the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Bensinger, along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, was instrumental in bringing the museum exhibit to Chicago. In addition, Mayor Daley proclaimed Friday, August 11th as Peter Bensinger Day in Chicago. The Daley proclamation reads as follows: WHEREAS, Peter Bensinger has been one of our nation’s foremost leaders in the fight against drug trafficking and drug abuse; and WHEREAS, Peter Bensinger was Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for more than five-and-a-half years, serving under Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan; and WHEREAS, during Peter Bensinger’s tenure, significant progress was made in decreasing illegal drug imports and in decreasing drug overdose fatalities; and WHEREAS, under Peter Bensinger’s leadership, the DEA became the premier U.S. drug law enforcement agency; and WHEREAS, through his continuing and tireless efforts, as an author, lecturer, and expert witness, Peter Bensinger has been a major public force in drug abuse education; and WHEREAS, respected by his colleagues, both here and abroad, Peter Bensinger is being honored with the DEA Museum Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award: NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD M. DALEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, do hereby proclaim August 11, 2006, to be PETER BENSINGER DAY IN CHICAGO, in honor of his unwavering commitment to the DEA and its goals.
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