Trump selects Virginia safety official Terry Cole to lead DEA

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- President Donald Trump recently announced that Virginia's Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Terry Cole has been selected to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Feb. 11, naming Terry Cole to the DEA administrator role and listing several of his past duties within the 21 years that he has worked within the agency.

In a release from his office, Governor Glenn Youngkin voiced support for the president's decision and congratulated Cole, detailing the work he has done for the Youngkin administration and what he will be able to provide for the country.

“This is a great pick by President Trump. As Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Terry Cole has done an outstanding job keeping Virginians safe, fighting fentanyl, human trafficking and illegal immigration,” Youngkin said. “His leadership of our Operation FREE initiative in Virginia resulted in the seizure of tens of thousands of pounds of illicit drugs -- including more than 70 million lethal doses of fentanyl -- and has become a standard for collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement. He will put the safety and security of Americans first as head of the DEA. It’s a great day to be an American and a bad day to be a drug dealer.”

Throughout his time at the DEA, Cole has served as the Chief of Staff and Executive Officer for several different departments, including the Department of Justice Special Operations Division and Global Operations. For more information about Cole's credentials, click here.