Terry Cole (law enforcement official)

Terry Cole
Official portrait, 2025
12th Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
Assumed office
July 24, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byAnne Milgram
Virginia Secretary of Public Safety
In office
June 1, 2023 – July 24, 2025
Appointed byGlenn Youngkin
Preceded byBob Mosier
Succeeded byMarcus Anderson
Personal details
Born (1969-08-17) August 17, 1969
Political partyRepublican
Children4
EducationRochester Institute of Technology (BA)
University of Virginia
University of Notre Dame
ProfessionLaw enforcement official

Terrance C. Cole is an American law enforcement official and politician who has been the 12th Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration since 2025. He was the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety from 2023 until 2025 during the governorship of Glenn Youngkin.

In February 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Cole to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration under his second administration.

Career

Cole began working at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where he would work for 22 years. He was a DEA representative to the National Security Council.[1] He retired in 2020.[2]

In May 2023, Cole was picked by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin as the next Virginia Secretary of Public Safety. He took office on June 1.[1]

DEA Administrator

On February 11, 2025, Cole was named by President Donald Trump as the nominee for Administrator of the DEA.[3] His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2025.

Personal life

Cole studied at the Rochester Institute of Technology.[2] He also went to the University of Virginia and the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.[2] Cole is married and has four children.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Woods, Charlotte Rene (May 23, 2023). "Youngkin announces former DEA agent as new public safety secretary". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Cabinet - Terrance C. Cole". Governor of Virginia.
  3. "Trump picks Cole to be DEA administrator". Reuters. February 11, 2025.