KIRK HOWARD
Tampa
Summary
Experienced with criminal investigations, surveillance, and evidence collection. Uses strategic problem-solving to resolve complex cases efficiently. Track record of collaboration, adaptability, and maintaining confidentiality.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, SES
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
05.2023 - Current
- LEAD TAMPA FIELD DIVISION, providing ATF criminal enforcement and industry regulatory activities in 58 of the 67 counties in the state of Florida, covering over 44,370 square miles, and supporting a population of 12M+ people
- Oversee operations of TFD’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center
- The Tampa Field Division consists of two federal judicial districts, the Northern and Middle Judicial Districts of Florida
- LEAD MANAGEMENT TEAM of 2 Assistant Special Agents in Charge, our Director of Industry Operations, and our Public Information Officer
- Oversee 150 personnel, including special agents, investigators, intelligence research specialists, analysts, and other staff
- Ensure proper allocation of work and evaluation of performance; select/recommend selections for vacancies; hear grievances, complaints, and disciplinary issues; and approve training and awards
- Engage in recruitment
- PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP FOR RESOURCES, including our $1.4M budget, state and local law enforcement overtime (SLOT) funds, travel, Investigative Services, and supplies, as well as the division’s Agent Cashier Funds and special grants
- SERVE AS SPOKESPERSON/LIAISON for TFD, engaging with ATF executive leaders, Field Division peers across the US, state and local law enforcement as well as Federal prosecutors serving the Northern and Middle Judicial Districts of Florida, and elected officials, with respect to enforcement of the nation’s firearms laws
- Led operations by effectively managing personnel and resources.
- Coordinated investigations for successful resolution of high-profile cases.
- Conducted thorough investigations to gather evidence and solve complex cases.
Acting SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
01.2023 - 05.2023
- COORDINATED ATF OPERATIONS in Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, overseeing 175 law enforcement professionals, to include two Assistant Special Agents in Charge and Director of Industry Operations (GS 15), and 15 first line supervisors (GS14) distributed across 4 states
- Primary focus of this role is to plan, implement and direct ATF investigation of violations under federal laws and regulations governing firearms, explosives, arson, and tobacco
- PROVIDED FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP for an annual budget in excess of $1M; worked with the budget analyst to prepare the Division’s annual spending plan
- COLLABORATED with local and state law enforcement throughout the territory, including the partnership at the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN) to combat firearms related violence in the Denver Metro area
CHIEF, ATF NATIONAL ACADEMY (ATF NA), GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
11.2019 - 12.2022
- PROVIDED LEADERSHIP FOR ATF NA, overseeing training for new ATF Special Agents (SAs) and Industry Operations Investigators (IOIs)
- Provided comprehensive and high-quality basic law enforcement and regulatory training as ATF’s lead representative at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), which hosts training for 60+ law enforcement organizations
- SUPERVISED a Deputy Chief (GS-15), 5 branch chiefs (GS-14), with oversight for 65+ Special Agents, Industry Operations Investigators, contractors, and professional support staff who design and deliver the ATF National Academy’s curriculum to new ATF SAs and IOIs
- PROVIDED STEWARDSHIP FOR $15.7M BUDGET, which supported training at 2 venues and our vehicle fleet, enabled us to procure training and investigative equipment, reimbursed us for travel, maintained ATF facilities, and supported our interagency agreement with FLETC
- DEVELOPED & MAINTAINED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
- Developed and carried out training strategies with FLETC
- Maintained robust relations our other federal partners at FLETC
- SPEARHEADED & IMPLEMENTED 10-year plan designed to revolutionize ATF training space at FLETC by upgrading training technologies, overhauling foundational infrastructure, and modernizing classrooms
- After noting that highly qualified female and minority trainees had higher rates of training failures, adopted repeat training protocols to better support all candidates
- FORGED TRAINING SOLUTION to address exigencies of COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed access to training
- LEVERAGED TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES to provide better workforce support by enhancing options for firearms training when FLETC firearms ranges are not accessible
ACTING DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
10.2021 - 02.2022
- LED 3 HEADQUARTERS DIVISIONS, spanning 11 branches and 90 personnel who carried out recruiting, hiring, and training of Special Agents and Industry Operations Investigators
- While providing oversight for ATF National Academy, oversaw Leadership and Professional Development Division (LPDD), which provides ongoing training after National Academy training is complete
- LED CHANGE IN MODEL FOR ONGOING TRAINING
- Addressed environmental risks presented by Continuing Resolutions to make organization more resilient
ASSISTANT SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
11.2015 - 11.2019
- LEAD ATF ACTIVITIES in Minnesota and North Dakota
- Assisted/advised Special Agent in Charge on management and coordination of SPFD operations and programs
- Provided accountability for operations of 3 criminal enforcement groups and Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC)
- Reviewed tactical operational plans for undercover deals and service of search and arrest warrants
- Served as on-scene commander and incident commander for high-risk operations
- SUPERVISED LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS, consisting of 44 special agents, including 4 supervisory special agents, 33 tasks force officers and 23 support personnel who investigated armed criminal offenders and illegal firearms traffickers
- Assigned work; evaluated performance
- Selected and recommended selections for vacancies
- Provided guidance, mentorship, and leadership development
- Managed complaints and disciplinary matters
- MANAGED $880K BUDGET in concurrence with Special Agent in Charge
- Worked with budget analyst to prepare Division’s annual and Continuing Resolution budget requests
- Co-managed $330K in State and Local Overtime funds and $125K in HIDTA supplemental funding
- Served as Division’s Agent Cashier providing oversight and accountability for $100K of investigative funds
- BUILT & MAINTAINED RELATIONSHIPS with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners throughout the SPFD
- TRANSFORMED VIOLENT CRIME STRATEGY in Minneapolis
- EXPANDED CRIME GUN INTELLIGENCE capabilities in the Twin Cities in concert with the state and local partners
- ADDRESSED CONFLICT & TEAM COHESION
- IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF 2 NIBIN ACQUISITION SITES in Minnesota
- RESTORED STEWARDSHIP FOR BUREAU RESOURCES
- FORGED MORE EFFICIENT RELATIONSHIPS with our state, local and Federal partners
- RESTORED RELATIONS with Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO)
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR, GS-1811-14
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
07.2013 - 11.2015
- MANAGED SENSITIVE & COMPLEX INTEGRITY RELATED INVESTIGATIONS, serving as a criminal investigator for the ATF Internal Affairs Division
- Investigated violations of ATF and DOJ policy in integrity-related matters and professional misconduct cases
- CONDUCTED SENSITIVE INTERVIEWS of ATF and non-ATF employees, while documenting the results of these interviews in fair and impartial reports
- COLLABORATED WITH OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL (IG) to conduct joint investigations of potential criminal violations of federal law as well as collaborating investigative efforts with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies
- SERVED AS GUEST INSTRUCTOR at the ATF National Academy provided blocks of instruction to new industry operations investigators and special agents on integrity and prevention of misconduct on behalf of OPRSO
GROUP SUPERVISOR, Columbus I Field Office, GS-1811-14
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
05.2010 - 07.2013
- DIRECTED INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY of violent crime, firearm, narcotics, arson and explosives investigations within ATF’s authority in the Southern District of Ohio
- Oversaw confidential informant requests, operational plans, electronic surveillance requests, case reports, monitored case briefings, search warrants, criminal complaints, affidavits, and daily operations of enforcement group
- Coordinated joint investigative efforts with Industry Operations
- Planned, organized, and led large-scale enforcement operations, including deployment of ATFs National Response Team and Special Response Teams
- LED 11-MEMBER TEAM, supervising Special Agents and an Investigative Analyst, and managing the efforts of police officers from the Columbus Division of Police assigned as full-time Task Force Officers
- Evaluated employees, initiated employee personnel actions, and recommended employees for awards
- Ensured compliance with ATF-mandated training
- MANAGED $5K–$25K/MO IN AGENT CASHIER FUNDS
- Assembled required resources and identified goals, objectives, and investigative plans
Detective
Carmel Police Department
05.1998 - 09.2003
Patrol Officer
Carmel Police Department
02.1994 - 05.1998
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Hanover College
Hanover05-1993
Skills
- Investigation oversight
- Team leadership
- Risk management
- Incident response
- Operational planning
- Crisis management
- Conflict resolution
- Decision making
- Problem solving
Timeline
SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, SES
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
05.2023 - Current
Acting SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
01.2023 - 05.2023
ACTING DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
10.2021 - 02.2022
CHIEF, ATF NATIONAL ACADEMY (ATF NA), GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
11.2019 - 12.2022
ASSISTANT SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, GS-1811-15
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
11.2015 - 11.2019
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR, GS-1811-14
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
07.2013 - 11.2015
GROUP SUPERVISOR, Columbus I Field Office, GS-1811-14
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
05.2010 - 07.2013
Detective
Carmel Police Department
05.1998 - 09.2003
Patrol Officer
Carmel Police Department
02.1994 - 05.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Hanover College
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