Uttam Dhillon Explained

Uttam Dhillon
Birth Name:Uttam Anthony Singh Dhillon
Office:Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
President:Donald Trump
Term Start:July 2, 2018
Term End:May 18, 2020
Predecessor:Robert W. Patterson (acting)
Successor:Timothy Shea (acting)
Birth Date:4 September 1960
Birth Place:El Centro, California, U.S.
Education:California State University, Sacramento (BA)
University of California, San Diego (MA)
UC Berkeley School of Law (JD)
Spouse:Janet Dhillon

Uttam Anthony Singh Dhillon (born September 4, 1960) is an American attorney and law enforcement official who served as Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration from July 2, 2018, to May 18, 2020. He is married to Janet Dhillon, a former commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.[1]

Early life and education

Dhillon was born in El Centro, California. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from California State University, Sacramento, a Master of Arts in psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and a Juris Doctor from the UC Berkeley School of Law.

Career

From 1990 to 1997, Dhillon served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, where he prosecuted major narcotics cases. Dhillon was appointed to the United States Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. As part of the task force, he coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to direct investigations of violent gangs and major narcotics trafficking organizations.[2]

Following his time in California, Dhillon served as a senior investigative counsel for the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform from 1997 to 1998, and the policy director for the House Republican Policy Committee in 2002. In 2003, he served as chief counsel and deputy staff director of the United States House Committee on Homeland Security. In 2006, Dhillon became the first director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement at the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Dhillon worked with President Donald Trump as deputy counsel and deputy assistant to the president.[3] In 2018, Dhillon was appointed as the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.[3] [4] He resigned his position to take another DOJ role in May 2020.[5] [6]

In July 2020, Dhillon was selected to serve as the director of Interpol's Washington, D.C. Bureau.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Janet Dhillon . Charlotte . Hayes . The Independent Women's Forum . September 11, 2019.
  2. Web site: Hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. March 31, 2006. October 31, 2019. US Government Printing Office.
  3. Web site: July 2, 2018. Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Uttam Dhillon as New Acting Administrator Of Drug Enforcement Administration. October 31, 2019. US Department of Justice.
  4. Web site: Bender . Michael C. . Trump's DEA Chief Vetted Candidates and Then Took the Job Himself, Riling Police Groups . October 25, 2018 . . May 30, 2020.
  5. Web site: Attorney General Barr announces Timothy J. Shea as new Acting Administrator of Drug Enforcement Administration. National Media Affairs Office, Drug Enforcement Administration. May 19, 2020. Drug Enforcement Administration. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200529064713/https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2020/05/19/attorney-general-barr-announces-timothy-j-shea-new-acting-administrator . 2020-05-29 . May 19, 2020.
  6. Web site: Goodman . Joshua . Mustian . Jim . 'Very unprepared:' DEA shakeup followed mounting criticism . May 21, 2020 . . May 30, 2020.
  7. Web site: 2020-07-20. Former Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration Uttam Dhillon New Interpol Washington Director. 2020-09-23. www.justice.gov. en.