ATF VETERAN SELECTED AS BUREAU'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR

WASHINGTON - Edgar A. Domenech, who led the New York Field Division's recovery after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against the World Trade Towers, has been selected as the deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF Director Carl J. Truscott announced today.

Although no personnel were lost, the attacks in New York destroyed ATF's office in Manhattan. Domenech's leadership was instrumental in rebuilding the critical field division's operations, and inspirational to the ATF men and women assigned there.

"Deputy Director Domenech's widespread reputation for excellence and his dedication to law enforcement demonstrate the experience, leadership and talents he brings to this position," Truscott said in a message to ATF employees. "My personal dealings with the Deputy have revealed these outstanding attributes, and I am equally impressed with his energy, enthusiasm and deep commitment to the entire ATF family and to the mission of the Bureau."

Domenech, 41, began his career with ATF in 1985 as a special agent in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He subsequently served as group supervisor of a firearms enforcement group in Miami, and as a supervisor for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area/Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in southern Florida.

In 1995, Domenech was promoted to headquarters, where he held a number of positions that diversified his management experience. He became assistant special agent in charge in New York in 1998 and special agent in charge the following year. In 2001, he was appointed a career member of the federal government's Senior Executive Service.

Domenech returned to headquarters in 2002 to serve as a deputy assistant director of field operations. He was named ATF's acting deputy director Sept. 29, 2003, and served as acting director until Director Truscott took the helm April 19, 2004. Domenech, of Puerto Rican descent, is ATF's first Hispanic deputy director and a founder and former president of the Hispanic Agents Association. A native of New York, he graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice there.