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New Names in the Mix for DEA No. 2

By Leah Nylen

Three major candidates have emerged for the no. 2 position at the Drug Enforcement Administration, the website Tickle The Wire reported.

The main contenders for Deputy Administrator include Thomas M. Harrigan, the DEA’s chief of operations;  Anthony Placido, chief of intelligence; and John P. Gilbride, who is in charge of the New York office of the DEA.

The post was previously held by Michele Leonhart, who was nominated in February by President Barack Obama to head the agency. Leonhart has served as acting Administrator since 2007 when Karen Tandy stepped down.

Harrigan joined the agency in 1987 and became chief of operations in 2008. Placido began his career with the DEA in 1979 and moved to the chief of operations post in 2005. Gilbride joined the agency in 1981 and has headed the New York office in 2005 after a stint as head of the Detroit office.

Full post as published by Main Justice on August 25, 2010 (boomark / email).