ATF NAMES NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR FIELD OPERATIONS

WASHINGTON, DC - Special Agent Michael R. Bouchard, who supervised ATF's investigation and apprehension of convicted Beltway snipers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, has been chosen to head ATF's Office of Field Operations.

As Assistant Director for Field Operations, Mr. Bouchard will oversee regulatory and criminal enforcement for 23 field divisions throughout the country. This includes personnel who inspect federally licensed firearms and explosives dealers and manufacturers, all criminal investigators focusing on illegal firearms and explosives matters, arson, violent gangs, and alcohol and tobacco diversion. He will also oversee the resource deployment of ATF's National Response Teams, which respond to major arsons and bombings nationwide. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Bouchard was the Deputy Assistant Director for Strategic Intelligence and Information.

Mr. Bouchard began his career as a police officer and detective with a local police department in Connecticut in 1979. He joined ATF in 1987, and served in numerous positions at ATF Headquarters and across the country. Mr. Bouchard was the Special Agent in Charge of the Baltimore Field Division where he was responsible for criminal and regulatory enforcement issues in Maryland and Delaware. While Resident Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division covering western Massachusetts, ATF increased its resources to combat firearms trafficking and gangs in the city. Mr. Bouchard also handled the investigation into one of the largest arson for profit fires in the history of Massachusetts. While Special Agent in Charge of the Resource Management Branch, he oversaw the logistics for the Oklahoma City deployment and all church fires in the mid to late 1990s. He was Special Agent in Charge, Arson Enforcement Branch; Chief, Arson and Explosives Programs Division; and Director, Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative.

As a member of the National Response Team, Mr. Bouchard supervised ATF's efforts at several major incidents, including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon.

A native of Connecticut, Mr. Bouchard received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire/Arson Investigation from the University of New Haven, New Haven, Conn.; Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College, Washington, D.C.

He serves on the Arson and Explosives Committee with the International Association of Police Chiefs, and previously served on committees with the National Fire Protection Association and the International Association of Arson Investigators.

###