By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
The Department of Justice has named Robert W. Patterson the new acting director of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He replaces acting Director Chuck Rosenberg, who stepped down.
Patterson was appointed as DEA’s principal deputy administrator in November 2016, serving as DEA’s chief operating officer, overseeing all of the agency’s enforcement, intelligence, administrative and regulatory activities worldwide, a press release said. He is the highest ranking career special agent at DEA.
Patterson came to this position after serving as DEA’s chief inspector, beginning in November 2015.
Before that, Patterson served in a variety positions in the DEA, including assistant special agent in charge, and later acting special agent in charge of the DEA Special Operations Division, where he oversaw classified programs, and communication exploitation tools in support of field operations.
