Special Agent in Charge Shelly Howe began her law enforcement career in 1999 as a Special Agent with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, where she worked with the local Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office on numerous federal narcotics investigations. 

In 2003, Mrs. Howe began her career as a Special Agent with the DEA in the Minneapolis/St. Paul District Office.  In 2012, she was promoted to Group Supervisor of the San Ysidro Resident Office and in 2015 was named as the Resident Agent in Charge.  As a supervisor, Mrs. Howe led Special Agents, Task Force Officers, Intelligence Research Specialists and support personnel in support of DEA’s mission. 

In 2017, Mrs. Howe was selected to serve as an Inspector for the Office of Professional Responsibility in Arlington, Virginia.  In 2018, she was promoted to the Executive Assistant for the Operational Support Division and for the Principal Deputy Administrator of DEA. 

In 2019, Mrs. Howe was selected to be the Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the San Diego Field Division.  In 2022, Mrs. Howe was promoted to the Senior Executive Service as the Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Division.  As the Special Agent in Charge, Mrs. Howe is responsible for DEA operations in San Diego and Imperial Counties. 

During her law enforcement career, Mrs. Howe has received numerous awards for exceptional service, including City of St. Paul Chief’s Award, Minnesota State Association Narcotics Investigators Group of the Year Award, and the DEA Administrator’s Outstanding Group Achievement Award. 

Mrs. Howe holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.