EPIC Leadership
Special Agent in Charge (SAC) James R. Reed was hired by DEA in 1987, reporting to the DEA Chicago Division Office upon graduation from Basic Agent Training Class 55. SAC Reed served in the Chicago office until 1990, at which time he transferred to the Springfield, Illinois, Resident Office.
In 1999, SAC Reed was promoted and served as a Group Supervisor at the Omaha District Office (DO). During his tenure at the Omaha DO, SAC Reed was instrumental in the formulation of the division-wide Retail Pseudoephedrine Initiative and the implementation of a response system, which greatly improved the quality of highway interdiction cases.
In 2003, SAC Reed was transferred to DEA Headquarters and served as an Inspector in the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). In 2006, SAC Reed was promoted to Senior Inspector, OPR, and was subsequently promoted to OPR Associate Deputy Chief Inspector in July 2008. While serving in OPR, SAC Reed was instrumental in the development and implementation of the DEA self-sealing evidence envelope for handling seized currency.
In August 2009, SAC Reed was transferred to the Human Resources Division and served as the Deciding Official.
In April 2015, SAC Reed transferred to the Houston Division as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Laredo District Office. SAC Reed had direct oversight for the Laredo District Office, Eagle Pass Resident Office, and the Del Rio Post of Duty.
In June 2019, SAC Reed entered the Senior Executive Service as the Director of the El Paso Intelligence Center.
SAC Reed is a graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice.
