Deputy Director Thomas E. Brandon
Effective October 28, 2015, Thomas E. Brandon became Deputy Director, Head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). As the Head of ATF, Mr. Brandon is in charge of the Bureau and responsible for the unique law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Justice charged with enforcing firearms and explosives laws and regulations that protect communities from violent criminals and criminal organizations.
Mr. Brandon continues to lead ATF after having served as Acting Director since April 1, 2015. Mr. Brandon has been part of the senior leadership team since October 2011, when he was selected as Deputy to the Director, while serving as the Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division, directing field operations for ATF in Arizona and New Mexico.
A member of the Senior Executive Service and a seasoned law enforcement professional, Mr. Brandon began his ATF career as a Special Agent in 1989, with Detroit as his first office assignment. Rising through the ranks at ATF, he served in many management positions including Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division and Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division; Supervisory Special Agent of the Detroit Arson and Explosives Enforcement Group; Special Agent with the Office of Inspection in Washington, DC; Supervisory Special Agent of the Achilles Enforcement Group in Los Angeles, California; and as the Division Intelligence Officer with the Phoenix, Arizona, Field Division. Mr. Brandon also held the position of Chief, ATF National Academy, in Glynco, Georgia.
Mr. Brandon is a member of several professional organizations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, in 1987.
Mr. Brandon proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1978 to 1982, where his assignments included Embassy duty in Rome, Italy, and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Mr. Brandon is a native of New Jersey.
Associate Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer Ronald B. Turk
Ronald B. Turk was named Associate Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer within the Office of the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on October 28, 2015. In this capacity, Mr. Turk is second in command and is responsible for leading an agency of men and women charged with enforcing laws and regulations related to firearms, explosives, arson, and alcohol and tobacco trafficking.
Mr. Turk continues as second in command, previously serving as the Acting Deputy Director since April 2015. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Director, Field Operations, beginning in March 2012, where he was responsible for executing ATF’s mission to fight violent crime and regulate the firearms and explosives industries throughout the United States. This included executive oversight of all 25 ATF Field Divisions and over 3,800 special agents, investigators, and support staff. He also oversaw several Bureau Headquarters programs including the Special Operations Division; and the Firearms, Explosives, Arson, and Tobacco program areas.
Mr. Turk has also served as Deputy Assistant Director, Field Operations, supervising enforcement operations in the central region of the country, and as Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s New York Field Division, where he was responsible for all operations in the State of New York. His prior duty assignments include 5 years as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Nashville, Tennessee; more than 4 years as a Resident Agent in Charge in Bowling Green, Kentucky; and as a project officer in the asset forfeiture program in ATF’s Headquarters. His ATF career began in Trenton, New Jersey, where he spent 8 years as a street agent. Mr. Turk was also assigned to the Northeast Special Response Team as a forward observer for more than 5 years.
Mr. Turk is also a Brigadier General in the Air National Guard, assigned as the Chief of Staff, Maryland Air National Guard where he directs the assigned Air Staff at Joint Force Headquarters and ensures higher headquarters support to over 1,500 personnel. He first enlisted to active duty as an E–1, and has approximately 30 years of combined active duty and guard status service in the Security Forces career field. He has over 15 years of command experience. Mr. Turk’s most recent deployment was to Iraq where he was awarded the Bronze Star.
Mr. Turk received his Masters in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. He has also completed programs in the Air Force War College and the Air Force Command and Staff College, and is both a qualified Level II Joint Officer and a trained/experienced Joint Task Force Commander.