Kelly W Krieghbaum
Summary
Trusted professional with integrity, tenacity, and extensive experience conducting investigations and training which advance organizational interests in the US and overseas. Honest, compassionate supervisor who works shoulder-to-shoulder with people at every level to get to the heart of each situation and deliver results—reducing risks, eradicating threats, capacity building and improving compliance. Roll-up-your-sleeves leader, investigator and trainer known for creating programs, providing detailed training programs and steering complex, sensitive investigations that address issues of fraud, noncompliance, and criminal activity—inside and outside of organizations. Reliable partner to top officials in government, law enforcement, and industry. Team builder and mentor who brings out the best in people by combining compassionate leadership with high standards.
Law enforcement professional with proven track record in managing and executing critical investigative operations. Known for fostering team collaboration and achieving mission objectives under dynamic conditions. Skilled in strategic planning and adept at adapting to evolving challenges with reliability and focus.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) | DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
01.2024 - Current
- Put in place to maintain an organized and people-centric environment, while overseeing all international trainings and personnel recovery courses conducted worldwide
- Lead and support over 50 employees, in providing training to international partners in topics such as narcotics investigations, money laundering, cyber / crypto investigations, intelligence gathering and analysis, tactical medical, the diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances, clandestine laboratories, and precursor chemical investigations, among many others
- Manage multi-million dollar training budget
- Lead and coordinate international training courses—educating foreign counterparts to address threats and improving capabilities
- Evaluate, plan and execute complex training courses with national and global impact, to assist our global partners to disrupt the largest drug cartels, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of drug traffickers, money launderers, and other criminals
- Supervisor of 4 International Training Unit Chiefs and 2 Personnel Recovery Unit Chiefs
- Primary liaison for executive leadership to other federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies as it pertains to training DEA's global partners
- Serve as the Primary Spokesperson for the DEA International Training Unit through public appearances at international training venues, community events, private sector, media appearances and other law enforcement venues pertaining to the opioid epidemic and trafficking trends
- Partner with foreign and federal agencies to streamline and customize training to increase our global partner's capacity to confront the ever-evolving threats faced from the drug trafficking organizations fueling the world's illegal drug crisis
- Balance business operations with hands-on leadership
- Leading numerous training programs that have successfully assisted in disrupting the largest drug cartels and money laundering criminal organizations
- Develop and manage multiple projects relating to data collection and analytics to optimize limited resources for maximum results during the opioid epidemic incorporating new technology into law enforcement
- Foster the sharing of actionable intelligence between multiple domestic and international law enforcement agencies and strengthen partnerships
- Develop policies consistent with international and federal law to ensure public safety and improve performance of investigators and analysts within foreign offices
Section Chief | Latin America and the Caribbean
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) | DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
Arlington, VA
06.2022 - 01.2024
- Coordinated and assisted foreign investigations throughout the U.S Territories, and Foreign Countries, by communicating with relevant foreign DEA offices and the respective federal law enforcement agencies and embassies in Washington D.C
- Regularly briefed U.S Ambassadors from Latin America and the Caribbean on current threats in their countries and how DEA was attacking that threat
- Counseled on compliance matters—enforcing laws, policies, and best practices
- Provided oversight, risk assessments and guidance to Senior and Field level managers related to DEA policy in the foreign arena
- Worked closely with Human Resources, Policy, Compliance and Medical Staff
- Advised and recommended policy changes to senior level management
- Worked closely with other Federal Agencies and Foreign Embassies relating to the DEA foreign mission
Section Chief | Foreign Support Section
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) | DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
Arlington, VA
12.2021 - 06.2022
- Promoted to lead a team of 40 employees, which provided Administrative Support to all DEA employees in 93 foreign countries
- Managed and allocated a multi-million dollar budget
- Supervised an exceptional team—one of the top-performing sections in DEA Headquarters
- Provided administrative support for the relocation of every DEA employee transferring to an overseas post
- Coordination with HR, Budgeting, Medical, the Department of State, the respective U.S Embassy and DEA Senior leadership
- Processed and provided guidance on all U.S Passports and foreign visas for every employee in DEA, both domestic and foreign
- Coordination with the Department of State and the respective foreign embassy in Washington D.C
- Created, interpreted and provided guidance on DEA policy and compliance to all foreign offices and senior DEA leadership
- Provided oversight for DEA employees during U.S
- Embassy evacuations during times of severe crisis
- Coordinated Personnel Recovery Training for all DEA employees being relocated overseas with the International Training Section in Quantico, VA
- Conducted analysis of the entire foreign relocation process and administrative support programs to determine if assigned functional programs and activities were managed and directed to meet goals
Staff Coordinator | Money Latin America and the Caribbean
Office of Foreign Operations
Arlington, VA
06.2021 - 12.2021
- Guided and collaborated with DEA offices in the foreign arena to provide supplemental funding and coordinated operational discussions for investigations and programs throughout the Caribbean Corridor and all of South America
- Collaborated with DEA foreign offices and international law enforcement
- Provided guidance and expertise on targeting air and maritime drug movements from South America to destinations in the U.S., the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Africa and Europe
- Managed and evaluated Drug Trafficking Operations and Intelligence throughout South America
- Cultivated and managed human sources throughout South America
- Provided training sessions in Portuguese/Spanish/English to multi-agency investigators and foreign counterparts on emerging threats and trends
Country Attaché | Brasilia, Brazil Country Office
United States Embassy Brasilia
03.2015 - 06.2021
- Supervised 3 offices within Brazil, Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, consisting of 35 employees and a combined yearly budget of 1.5 million dollars
- Collaborated to raise the bar for the DEA mission in Brazil
- Regularly advised the U.S Ambassador in Brazil on narcotics and money laundering related issues and strategies to further the mission in Brazil
- Presented training for the Brazilian Federal Police and Brazilian Prosecutors ton increase their capacity to conduct long term, complex drug trafficking investigations
- Authored several Memorandums of Understanding between the United States Government and the Brazilian Government, initiating projects between the DEA and the Brazilian Federal Police, to include, intelligence exchange, cocaine signature program and laundering initiatives
- Collaborated with members of the Brazilian Federal Police at the highest levels to increase and further the mission of DEA in Brazil and South America
Group Supervisor | HIDTA Chicago PD Gang Enforcement Team
DEA Chicago Division
09.2012 - 03.2015
- Supervised a Gang Enforcement Team, comprised of 10 Chicago Police Department officers and 5 DEA Special Agents, which worked collaboratively towards the collection of intelligence and evidence, targeting the CJNG and Sinaloa Cartels from Mexico, who were operating in Chicago
- Led the DEA Chicago Division in the fight against the influence of the largest Mexican Cartels
- Commander of a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, targeting the two most powerful Mexican Cartels and their collaboration with the most violent gangs operating in Chicago, Illinois
- Managed an annual budget of $600,000.00 per year
Special Agent | DEA Sao Paulo Resident Office
United States Consulate Sao Paulo
02.2007 - 09.2012
- Guided and collaborated with members of the Brazilian Federal Police to investigate and dismantle the largest Drug Trafficking Organizations operating with Brazil
- Collaborated with counterparts to attack some of the largest sources of supply for cocaine in the world
- Directed and supervised the activities and budget for the Brazilian Special Investigative Unit in Sao Paulo
- Directed numerous maritime and air bridge investigations targeting illegal drugs and the chemicals utilized to produce the drugs, resulting in the seizure of multi-ton quantities of cocaine and chemicals
- Directed the activities of informants and cooperating individuals, gathered evidence, generated case reports and conducted training courses to Brazilian Police Officers and Attorneys
Special Agent | Enforcement Group
DEA Saint Louis Division
12.1996 - 02.2007
- Collaborated with local and federal law enforcement in the greater Saint Louis Metro area to quell the increasing level of drug distribution and violence
- Worked with peers to mitigate high levels of drug distribution and violence in the greater Saint Louis Metro area
- Conducted numerous long term, complex international drug investigations, targeting Mexican Drug Cartels and international money laundering organizations
- Recruited and directed informants, participated in extensive undercover operations, conducted wiretap investigations, generated case reporting and produced complex affidavits utilized in Federal and State court and provided extensive court testimony
-
Deputy Sheriff
Orange County Sheriff's Office
Orlando, Florida
10.1990 - 06.1996
- Worked as a road deputy for 2 years and then 4 years in the Drug Unit protecting the communities of Orange County, Florida
- Worked with peers to mitigate high levels of drug distribution and violence in the greater Orlando, Fl area
- Recruited and directed informants, participated in extensive undercover operations, conducted wiretap investigations, generated case reporting and produced complex affidavits utilized in Federal and State court and provided extensive court testimony
- Handled high-pressure situations calmly and professionally, minimizing risks to public safety.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Criminal Justice
University of Central Florida
Associate in Arts (AA) - Criminal Justice
Valencia Community College
Skills
- US & Global Investigations
- International Training Expert
- Threat Assessment
- Risk Management & Compliance
- Corporate Security
- Crisis Management
- Program Management
- Budgeting
- Staffing & Leadership
- Conflict Resolution
- Internal/Workplace Investigations
- Legal, Regulatory & Policy Compliance
- Investigative Strategy & Execution
- Clear, Forthright Communication
- Law enforcement coordination
- Intelligence analysis
- Firearms training
- Physical fitness
- Sensitive information handling
- Multitasking ability
- Problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Teamwork
- Public speaking
- Relationship building
- Decision-making
Certification
- Asset Forfeiture Training
- Complex Conspiracy Investigations
- DEA Personnel Recovery Schools
- Field Training Agent
- Internet/Phone Exploitation
- Clandestine Lab Certification & Advanced Site Safety
- Tactical Training (firearms, etc.)
- Portuguese Language & Immersion (USA & Brazil)
- Money Laundering Investigations
- Raids / Tactical Instructor Schools
- National Collaboration Course
- CPR/AED Certification
Awards
Ten (10) DEA Exceptional Performance Awards, Professional Excellence Award, Five (5) Special Service Award, and various letters of recognition received from U.S. Ambassadors, Foreign Police Agencies, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and Federal, State and Local agencies.
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 50 staff members.
Languages
Portuguese
Full Professional
Spanish
Limited Working
Timeline
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) | DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
01.2024 - Current
Section Chief | Latin America and the Caribbean
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) | DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
06.2022 - 01.2024
Section Chief | Foreign Support Section
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) | DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
12.2021 - 06.2022
Staff Coordinator | Money Latin America and the Caribbean
Office of Foreign Operations
06.2021 - 12.2021
Country Attaché | Brasilia, Brazil Country Office
United States Embassy Brasilia
03.2015 - 06.2021
Group Supervisor | HIDTA Chicago PD Gang Enforcement Team
DEA Chicago Division
09.2012 - 03.2015
Special Agent | DEA Sao Paulo Resident Office
United States Consulate Sao Paulo
02.2007 - 09.2012
Special Agent | Enforcement Group
DEA Saint Louis Division
12.1996 - 02.2007
Deputy Sheriff
Orange County Sheriff's Office
10.1990 - 06.1996
Associate in Arts (AA) - Criminal Justice
Valencia Community College
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Criminal Justice
University of Central Florida