DEA History, 1980 - 1985 -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 1/1/1980
Last Visited: 7/15/2008
Francis M. "Bud" Mullen, Jr., a career FBI agent of almost 20 years, was appointed Acting Administrator of the DEA on July 10, 1981.He began his FBI career in May 1962 at the Bureau's Los Angeles office, serving from 1963 to 1969.From there, he was assigned to the Administrative Services Division in Washington (1969-1972), the Planning and Inspection Division (1972), and was Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Denver, Colorado (1973-1975).Later, he served as Special Agent in Charge in Tampa, Florida (1975-1976) and in New Orleans, Louisiana (1976-1978), and he was the FBI's Inspector and Deputy Assistant Director, Organized Crime & White Collar Crime (1978-1979); Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division (1979-80); and Executive Assistant Director, Investigations from 1980 until his appointment to DEA Administrator.He continued to serve in an acting capacity from July 1981 until he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 30, 1983, and sworn in as the DEA's third administrator on November 10, 1983.He is currently the Director of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Administrator Mullen began his term at a time when the tremendous impact of drug abuse was being felt across the United States.The problem was especially acute in southern Florida, where unprecendented drug-related violence accompanied the cocaine transit routes of the Colombian cartels.It was clear to the Reagan Administration that U.S. drug fighting agencies needed help.
Acting Administrator Mullen stressed multi-agency cooperation with other members of the enforcement and intelligence communities.He made the policy official in a July 14, 1981, memo to DEA employees: "On policy, strategy and tactical levels, your cooperation with other agencies in all current and future DEA efforts is hereby ordered."
...
The DEA would continue to be the principal drug enforcement agency and continue to be headed by an administrator, but instead of reporting directly to Associate Attorney General Rudy Giuliani, as Administrator Bensinger had, Administrator Mullen would report to FBI Director William H. Webster.
...
Administrator Mullen was the first FBI special agent to head the DEA.
...
1983: FBI Director William Webster (left) and DEA Acting Administrator Francis Mullen are shown at the unveiling of an exhibit focusing on the cooperative DEA/FBI efforts to enforce drug laws.
...
With the FBI being assigned concurrent jurisdiction, Administrator Mullen reorganized the nine-year-old DEA structure to centralize operations.Upper-level management positions were moved from the regional offices to headquarters.Field divisions reported directly to headquarters in accordance with FBI management procedures.Administrator Mullen also raised the qualifications bar for new recruits, making college degrees mandatory for new agents, and reorganized the office responsible for investigating internal cooperation.Cross-training programs were developed and each of the 10 field offices received a training coordinator (previously, training coordinators were located only at the five regional offices).The major policy shift, however, was to eliminate quotas or arrest goals once mandated for all DEA regions, and then to establish pursuing major traffickers as an agency-wide goal."In the past," Mullen explained, "we concentrated on arrests.
...
Acting Administrator Mullen also participated as a member of the board.
...
Deputy Administrator Lawn (foreground) and Administrator Mullen are shown warming up for the National High School Coaches Association 1984 "Fun Run."
17 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ this is me ]
