David Chipman As Head Of ATF? WTF!

President Joe Biden is reportedly going to nominate David Chipman to be the next Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. For those who are unaware of Chipman, he is a senior policy advisor for the Cult of Personality known as Giffords. He retired nine years ago as a Special Agent with BATFE. He has since become like a trained seal that the gun prohibitionists trot out anytime there is a hearing on gun control.

According to LinkedIn, Chipman’s last position was as Chief of the Liaison Division, Office of Public and Governmental Affairs. He was there for all of six months. The liaison division for the uninitiated is the lobbying arm of BATFE. So Slow Joe is planning on nominating a lobbyist to head BATFE. It figures.

Here is his self-reported history with BATFE. As you can see, he spent a good part of his career in administrative support or policy roles.

Chief, Liaison Division, Office of Public and Governmental Affairs Dec 2011 – May 2012 D.C. Metro Area Managed external partnerships of the Bureau of ATF to include law enforcement organizations, international liaison, industry, research, and other groups with interest in the prevention of violent crime and public safety.

International Association of Chiefs of Police Jan 2011 – Dec 2011 Alexandria, Virginia Served as ATF Liaison to the IACP assigned to the Research Center Directorate. Advisor to the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, the Center for the Prevention of Violence Against the Police and various other programs that support law enforcement safety and effectiveness.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 22 yrs 7 mos

Special Agent in Charge, Apr 2009 – Dec 2010 Responsible for execution of ATF’s operational budget in 25 Field Divisions. Manager of Asset Forfeiture Program charged with oversight of evidence seized by field agents and properties forfeited as a result of criminal investigations. Charged with monitoring Spectrum Relocation Program tasked with transition of undercover monitoring infrastructure from bandwidths sold by the government. In total, accountable for an annual budget in excess of $150 million.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Division, Nov 2006 – Mar 2009 Manager of Law Enforcement Operations for the Detroit Field Division; charged with leading federal firearm, explosives, arson and tobacco diversion investigations throughout the State of Michigan.

Chief, Firearms Programs Division, Sep 2005 – Nov 2006 Managed six branches staffed with over 70 employees that support ATF’s firearms enforcement and compliance missions. Managed foreign offices in Bogota, Mexico City, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Oversaw budget in excess of $20 million. ATF representative to Department of Justice (DOJ) and International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

Chief, Firearms Enforcement Branch Sep 2004 – Sep 2005 Managed developement (sic) of national firearms enforcement strategies to include implimentation (sic) of the Violent Crime Impact Team (VCIT)program charged with lowering homicides in 15 cities. ATF’s representative to DOJ subcommittee on Violent Crime and Gangs responsible for coordinating National anti-gang strategy.

Chief, Policy Development and Evaluation Branch Jul 2002 – Sep 2004 Led staff charged with programmatic development, budgetary analysis, strategic planning and performance measurement. Managed transition of ATF from the Department of Treasury to the Department of Justice. Managed ATF’s logistical response to the DC Area Sniper Investigation.

Resident Agent in Charge, Flint Field Office Jan 2001 – Jul 2002 Managed criminal investigations in 26 counties in north-central Michigan. Formed Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force.

Group Supervisor, Arson and Explosives Team III, Detroit Field Division Jan 1999 – Jan 2001 Managed responses to large scale fireworks manufacturing plant explosion, multi-million dollar commercial firearm and tobacco diversion conspiracy that funded middle-eastern terrorist group.

Special Agent, Houston Field Division May 1993 – Jan 1999 Case agent in Branch Davidian Trial. Apprehended arsonist resulting in $1.5 million criminal forfeiture. Apprehended mail bomber resulting in 30 year federal sentence. Responded to Oklahoma City bombing as member of Western National Response Team.

Special Agent, Washington Field Division Jun 1988 – May 1993 Assigned to Norfolk, Virginia Field Office charged with combating firearms trafficking. Conducted numerous high risk enforcement operations as member of Washington Entry Control Team. Responded to World Trade Center bombing as member of Northeast National Response Team.

Within a couple of months of retiring from BATFE, Chipman had secured a position with Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown.

You may remember Andrew Traver. He was President Obama’s first pick to head BATFE. His nomination went nowhere and his nomination was eventually withdrawn. When he was nominated, Traver was Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division. Unlike Chipman, Traver’s gun control bonafides were only suspected and not confirmed.

Chipman’s nomination to head BATFE is not only bad but it is a slap in the face to every one of America’s gun owners. I rarely resort to profanity on this blog but Chipman’s presumed nomination has me saying, “Are you fucking kidding me?” There is no way in hell that a BATFE with Chipman in charge will be a responsible law enforcement agency upholding both the law and the Constitution.

One last thing about Chipman that I always found strange. Rarely, if ever, do you see a person’s high school listed on schools attended on a professional LinkedIn profile. Chipman, however, not only lists his high school but wants you to know that he went to the uber-connected and prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy.