Marvin Richardson

Marvin G. Richardson was appointed as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on October 29, 2019. In this position, he also serves as the Chief Operating Officer and is the second highest ranking official at ATF. Mr. Richardson is responsible for leading an agency of men and women charged with enforcing laws and regulations related to firearms, explosives, arson, and alcohol and tobacco trafficking.

He also served as the Acting Director under the Vacancies Act from June 2021 to April 2022. Mr. Richardson served as the Assistant Director, Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS), from December 3, 2014, to October 29, 2019, where he had ATF-wide responsibility for the development and delivery of programmatic policy, regulatory guidance, and technical support regarding firearms and explosives, and alcohol and tobacco diversion activities. In addition, he served as the Deputy Assistant Director, EPS, from 2012 through 2014.

Mr. Richardson’s career with ATF spans more than 33 years and includes service as the Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Division; Chair of the ATF Professional Review Board; Chief, National Center for Explosives Training and Research; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division. He has worked in law enforcement for more than 38 years, including five years as a police officer at the University of North Texas Police Department in Denton, Texas, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant before leaving the department to join ATF.

Mr. Richardson began his career with ATF in 1989, as a Special Agent in the Dallas Field Division. Mr. Richardson is the recipient of numerous Special Act Awards for outstanding service, including the 2021 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service, the Treasury Department’s Hostile Action Medal for service during the 1993 Branch Davidian conflict in Waco, Texas, as well as ATF’s Supervisory Employee of the Year Award in 2010 for outstanding leadership contributions.

Mr. Richardson holds a Master’s Degree in Human Relations and Business from Amberton University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas. In addition, he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class #226). He is married with six children.