David (Dave) Scout, a retired Homeland Security Investigations Supervisory Tactical Officer who led the Shadow Wolves unit along the U.S.-Mexico border, died on Jan. 23, 2026. He was 52.
Scout was born May 14, 1973, and retired in 2023 after a career that culminated in leadership of the Shadow Wolves – an elite, all-Native American tracking and interdiction unit based in Sells, Arizona, on the Tohono O’odham Nation.
The Association of Customs and HSI Special Agents (ACHSIA) announced Scout’s death and described him as a leader deeply committed to his team and to the Tohono O’odham Nation, where the unit operates in some of the most remote and rugged terrain along the border.
The Shadow Wolves were established by congressional mandate in 1974 under the U.S. Customs Service to counter smuggling activity through the Sonoran Desert and across the 76-mile stretch of border that runs through the Tohono O’odham Nation. After the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the unit became part of DHS in 2003 and is now assigned to Homeland Security Investigations.
The Shadow Wolves are widely recognized as DHS’ only Native American tracking unit specifically utilized for targeted interdiction operations. Members must have at least one-fourth Native American ancestry. Their work centers on locating and disrupting human and drug smuggling routes that exploit the desert landscape.
Between 2010 and 2020, interdiction and investigative efforts the Shadow Wolves led or supported resulted in 437 drug and immigration arrests, as well as the seizure of more than 117,264 pounds of drugs, 45 weapons, 251 vehicles, and $847,928 in U.S. currency, according to figures cited in the unit’s history.
During Scout’s tenure, the Shadow Wolves also navigated a significant structural shift tied to federal personnel classification.
Following the evolution of the U.S. Customs Service into Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Shadow Wolves were classified as tactical officers. According to ACHSIA, HSI Arizona worked extensively to reclassify the unit into special agent roles.
That effort gained momentum with the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act, signed into law April 19, 2022, creating a pathway for the unit’s current and future members to be reclassified from GS-1801 Tactical Officers to GS-1811 Special Agents. The legislation originated as H.R. 5681, introduced in the 117th Congress in December 2021.
Scout was also featured in a 2014 FOX 10 Phoenix interview about the Shadow Wolves and their mission along the border.
Scout’s service continued to be recognized after his retirement. In March 2024, he was honored with the HSI Executive Associate Director Award for Innovation in Leadership.
Funeral services for Scout will be held Saturday, Jan. 31 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1555 N. Colorado Street in Casa Grande, Arizona. Burial services will follow in Santa Rosa, Arizona.
(AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)