Acting Administrator D. Christopher Evans

D. Christopher “Chris” Evans assumed responsibility as Acting Administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration on January 20, 2021. 

Previously, Mr. Evans served as Chief of Operations and Assistant Administrator for DEA’s Operations Division where he commanded DEA’s global drug enforcement efforts in 240 domestic offices in 23 divisions throughout the United States and 93 foreign offices in 69 countries, as well as DEA’s Special Operations Division.

Prior to that assignment, he served as the first Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Field Division. Established on Jan. 1, 2018, the division serves Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, strengthening DEA’s presence in the central Appalachia region. In June 2017, Mr. Evans was selected for the position of Associate Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Detroit Field Division where his area of responsibility encompassed the states of Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky.

Mr. Evans is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Studies and a Master’s Degree in Political Science. He also received a Certificate in Senior Executive Leadership from Georgetown University and has completed the DEA SES Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame.

Mr. Evans began his law enforcement career with the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1992 at the Washington Field Division and then transferred to the Los Angeles Field Division, where he was later promoted to be a Supervisory Special Agent (Group Supervisor). In this role, he led international investigations targeting crime syndicates conducting worldwide money laundering schemes and international drug operations. In 2006, Mr. Evans was reassigned to DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, where he was assigned to the Operations Division, Mexico and Central America section. During this assignment, he represented DEA on the Department of Justice’s Committee on International Gangs. Mr. Evans was promoted during his tour at DEA Headquarters, and he served a year as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Operations, followed by two years served as the Executive Assistant to the DEA Administrator.

Mr. Evans returned to the Los Angeles Field Division when appointed as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge in 2010. During his tenure, Mr. Evans also led the establishment of the Los Angeles Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force strike force and served as the first strike force commander.

Principal Deputy Administrator Preston L. Grubbs

Preston L. Grubbs is in his 36th year with the DEA. On October 2, 2017, Mr. Grubbs was elevated to Principal Deputy Administrator. As Principal Deputy Administrator, Mr. Grubbs is responsible for all administrative, intelligence, regulatory, compliance and enforcement functions in DEA. Mr. Grubbs will continue to serve as the Assistant Administrator for the Operational Support Division. He has served in this position since April 2009. In this capacity, Mr. Grubbs is the agency’s Chief Information Officer. As the Assistant Administrator for the Operational Support Division, Mr. Grubbs has oversight responsibilities for DEA’s Office of Information Systems, Office of Administration, Office of Forensic Sciences, and Office of Investigative Technology. He manages DEA’s largest Division, with approximately 1,500 employees (including contractors) and an annual budget of approximately $600 million.

Mr. Grubbs began his law enforcement career in 1979 with the Moon Township Police Department in Pennsylvania before joining DEA in 1983. Mr. Grubbs served as a DEA Special Agent in Pittsburgh, New York City, and Washington, D.C., where he was promoted to the position of Group Supervisor in 1991. In 1995, Mr. Grubbs was reassigned to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) at DEA Headquarters and in 1997 was promoted to the Deputy Chief Inspector in OPR. In 1999, Mr. Grubbs was transferred to serve as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Washington Division Office and later in the Baltimore, Maryland District Office. In 2004, Mr. Grubbs was again promoted to DEA's Senior Executive Service as the Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Division, one of DEA’s largest geographical divisions in the United States.

Mr. Grubbs was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1977, he received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Education from East Stroudsburg University and earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1982 from Robert Morris University. Most recently, Mr. Grubbs graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Executive Institute in October 2010. Mr. Grubbs is currently the Executive Board Chairperson for the National Domestic Communications and Assistance Center.