Who We Are

Last Updated: Wednesday August 27, 2025

The Drug Enforcement Administration is the only federal agency with a single mission dedicated to drug law enforcement. With unique operational and intelligence capabilities, DEA staff identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations; remove drugs and violent criminals from communities; and fight the diversion of illegal drugs. For more information, visit www.dea.gov.

Special agents are a select group of men and women from diverse backgrounds who enforce the controlled substance laws by conducting complex criminal investigations, working undercover, carrying out financial investigations, arresting violators, confiscating illegal drugs, and more. Some combine this work with providing drug use prevention education to youth in their community.

Public information officers provide information about DEA to the media and the public as required by law according to the standards of their profession.

DEA’s community outreach specialists work with individuals and groups such as community coalitions, civic leaders, state and local drug use prevention organizations, treatment experts, and the public. By joining DEA's law enforcement credibility and insights with communities' know-how, drug use prevention efforts have been strengthened in urban, suburban, and rural areas across America. To view a list of community outreach specialist by state, click here.

Terrance C. "Terry" Cole

Administrator

Terrance C. “Terry” Cole was sworn in as Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on July 23, 2025, following his confirmation by the United States Senate. A veteran law enforcement leader with more than 31 years of public service, Administrator Cole brings deep operational experience and a lifelong commitment to public safety.

Mr. Cole began his DEA career as a DEA Special Agent and rose through the ranks over two decades, serving in a range of domestic and international assignments including Oklahoma, New York, Washington, D.C., Colombia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. At the time of his retirement from federal service in 2020, he was serving as DEA's Acting Regional Director for Mexico, Canada, and Central America. Before joining the DEA, Mr. Cole served as a Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer and was a certified Police Officer in the State of New York.

Read the full bio on DEA.gov.