Noel Rangel has been with ATF for 17 years and is currently an assistant special agent in charge within the Houston Field Division.
Cultural Strengths
Rangel started his ATF career as a special agent in McAllen, Texas. “McAllen is located along the U.S.-Mexico border, and approximately 90% of the population is Hispanic,” said Rangel. “As a result, Spanish is the preferred language of choice.” Rangel's background as a Hispanic and Spanish-speaking special agent proved to be valuable assets in pursuing ATF’s mission to combat violent crime and disrupt firearms trafficking organizations along the Southwest border. Rangel found that those initial experiences shaped him and laid the foundation to be successful in the future leadership positions he would hold. Rangel is also the executive sponsor of ATF's Hispanic Employees Resource Group. HERG's mission is to empower Hispanic/Latino professionals within ATF by providing resources for career development, fostering an inclusive community and celebrating cultural heritage.
Importance of National Hispanic Heritage Month
Rangel’s grandparents came to the United States from Mexico in the 1940s; throughout his childhood, he recalled his grandfather’s extreme pride in having raised his family in the United States. “Many of his children (my aunts and uncles) proudly served in the U.S. military,” said Rangel. “This really had a great impact on my career decision.” Rangel’s grandfather imparted the importance of celebrating both American and Mexican traditions. “Because of him and the impact he had on my life, I feel it is always important to celebrate where we came from, and where we are going. To me, this is the importance of National Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Rangel.
