United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON – Terrance C. “Terry” Cole was sworn in as DEA Administrator on July 23, 2025, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Mr. Cole is a distinguished public servant who has spent more than 31 years in law enforcement, 22 of which were at DEA fighting the drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations.  Since 2023, Mr. Cole has served as Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security in Governor Youngkin’s cabinet overseeing 11 state public safety agencies, comprising more than 19,000 employees.

Mr. Cole’s appointment by the Trump Administration to lead the nation’s largest drug enforcement agency places him at the forefront of the fight against Foreign Terrorist Organizations, which use drugs, violence, and crime to threaten public safety and national security.

Administrator Cole's strategic priorities reflect a renewed focus on enforcement, partnership, and public safety to meet the evolving threats of the global drug crisis. These priorities include:

• Affirming DEA’s Commitment to Enforcement – targeting traffickers, removing poison from the streets of this country, and protecting the vulnerable.
• Dismantling the Mexican Cartels, which operate as terrorist organizations, by targeting and breaking their command, control, and distribution networks that drive the fentanyl crisis.
• Disrupting the Criminal Chemical Supply Chain that supply the chemical ingredients used in the manufacture of fentanyl.
• Reducing Drug-Fueled Violence in America’s most affected cities through expanded partnerships with state and local law enforcement.
• Following the Money – targeting illicit finance and the growing use of cryptocurrency.
• Leading the Fight on the Cyber and Dark Web Frontlines by targeting the digital pipelines that fuel drug trafficking.
• Strengthening Partnerships Across the Country and with Foreign Counterparts to drive coordinated enforcement efforts against transnational criminal organizations.
• Prioritizing the Wellness of DEA's Workforce, recognizing that the agency's greatest strength is its people.

Drug overdoses and poisonings remain the leading cause of deaths for Americans ages 18–45.  The majority of drug-related deaths involve a synthetic opioid, primarily fentanyl. Drug trafficking organizations mix fentanyl with other illicit drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, and press fentanyl into pills made to look like prescription medications. This is all in an effort to deceive Americans and drive addiction in the United States.   

Mr. Cole is no stranger to narcotics enforcement. Over the course of his career at DEA, he held critical operational and leadership roles – both at home and abroad – driving major enforcement efforts and advancing DEA’s mission to protect communities from the deadly impact of illegal drugs. During his 22-year career as a DEA Special Agent, he advanced quickly among the ranks, serving in a range of domestic and international posts including Oklahoma, New York, and Washington D.C., as well as Colombia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. At the time of his retirement from federal service in 2020, Mr. Cole was serving as DEA’s Acting Regional Director of 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.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cole forged strong partnerships with international, federal, state, tribal, and local partners to drive strategic operations focused on dismantling the cartels.  During his time serving as Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security in Governor Youngkin’s cabinet, he spearheaded initiatives that drove a 44% reduction in overdose deaths. Between November 2023 and November 2024, Virginia led the nation in the largest year-over-year percentage decline in drug-related deaths.

Mr. Cole graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and holds certificates in Leadership from the University of Virginia and the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business. Mr. Cole has also pursued continuing education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan Executive School for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

As DEA Administrator, Mr. Cole is responsible for leading the enforcement, intelligence, regulatory, and public outreach efforts of the agency. Administrator Cole’s top priority is to increase the pressure on the drug cartels and combat the deadly drug crisis with urgency and resolve. 

“As I once again walk through the doors of DEA, I am reminded of the passion and commitment I carried as a Special Agent, the same passion that drives the men and women in this agency.  The gravity of DEA’s mission was clear as I stood witness to President Donald Trump signing the Halt Fentanyl Act surrounded by Angel Families holding onto the memories of those they lost. They are the reason we remain focused, determined, and unwavering.” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole. “The cartels and Foreign Terrorist Organizations fueling this crisis are global in reach – and so is the DEA. With the support of the Trump Administration, the Department of Justice, and our international, federal, state, local, and tribal partners, we will dismantle these violent cartels and make America Safe Again.”

A proud public servant, Mr. Cole has consistently placed the safety of the public and law enforcement officers above all else. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to working alongside law enforcement at every level, collaborating with international allies and the intelligence community, and driving the fight directly to the drug cartels. 

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