Robert W. Patterson

Robert Patterson had a distinguished 30-year career with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which culminated in his final position as the appointed Acting Administrator. As the Acting Administrator, Patterson was responsible for directing and prioritizing all functions regarding enforcement, regulatory, legal, and intelligence operations for the agency, and served as the Principal Advisor to the Attorney General on international drug control policy and related operations of the United States. Prior to his appointment as Acting Administrator, Patterson served as DEA's Principal Deputy Administrator. In that role, he managed the DEA workforce of 11,000 men and women in 300 locations worldwide, and collaborated with international, federal, and more than 1400 state and local law enforcement partner agencies to combat transnational organized crime. Among other duties, he recognized the importance to work and coordinate with private industry to advance mutual goals related to combatting national threats. Patterson served in a variety other positions within DEA, including DEA's Chief Inspector, where he had oversight of DEA's internal affairs, compliance, and security programs functions; as Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC), and later Acting Special Agent in Charge, of the Special Operations Division (SOD), where he oversaw classified programs, and communication exploitation tools, in support of field operations and served as DEA's expert on emerging technology and law enforcement capabilities. He also served as a Group Supervisor in the Miami Division, where he led the operations of the Orlando District Office Task Force, and later served as acting ASAC. Patterson began his career with DEA in 1988 in the New York Division. With his 30 years of experience serving, and leading, the DEA, Patterson is an expert on transnational criminal networks, narcotics trafficking and trends, as well as governing policy and agency oversight matters. He continued to support the public safety community when he served as Senior Executive Director for Public Safety Solutions at AT&T for over six years following his retirement from the DEA. In addition, for more than two decades, Patterson has been a certified Trauma Team member, dealing with employees and extended families during life-changing critical events across a wide spectrum of issues. He continues to support that program today within the Federal community. Patterson is a native of New Jersey, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, where he graduated with honors.