Keynote Presentation
by By William D. Newell, Special Agent in Charge/Division Director Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Phoenix Field Division

Tuesday, August 4
Noon – 1:30pm

William (Bill) D. Newell was appointed to his current position of Special Agent in Charge on June 12, 2006.  As Special Agent in Charge, he has operational oversight responsibilities for all ATF activities, both criminal and regulatory, in the states of Arizona and New Mexico.

Mr. Newell began his law enforcement career in El Paso, Texas, as a special agent with the INS.  In 1989, he became a special agent with ATF and was assigned to the McAllen, Texas Field Office.  While there he was the case agent for numerous large-scale firearms trafficking cases involving firearms being illegally trafficked into Mexico and other areas of Central and South America.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Newell has held several positions in which he was responsible for oversight of ATF’s international and domestic firearms and explosives trafficking jurisdiction. These included a four-year tour as the ATF Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, during which he was responsible for all firearms and explosives trafficking issues in South America, and represented ATF and the United States at numerous international conventions on the subject.  He traveled throughout the region addressing firearms and explosives trafficking concerns of countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Panama, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Paraguay. 

Following his foreign service, he was assigned as Supervisory Special Agent of the Firearms Trafficking and Violent Crime Task Force in Miami, Florida. Mr. Newell was then assigned to ATF headquarters, serving as the Chief, Major Case Branch; Chief of Staff to the Assistant Director; and Chief, International Programs Branch. As Chief of International Programs he dealt with all of ATF's international issues, but particularly firearms trafficking issues to countries such as Mexico and Canada. Prior to his present appointment, Mr. Newell was the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Division for three and a half years.

Born and raised in Latin America, Mr. Newell graduated from New Mexico State University with a double major in Criminal Justice and Latin American Studies.  He is married with two sons.