Veteran ATF Leader Chosen As Director of SFMO Bomb and Arson Unit

Thursday, April 23, 2015 | 06:38am

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) announces today the selection of Glenn “Andy” Anderson as the new director of the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) Bomb and Arson Unit.

With 28 years of law enforcement leadership experience, Anderson has served since August 2014 as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Nashville Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

A native of Middle Tennessee, Anderson served from 2012 through 2014 as the ATF’s Deputy Assistant Director (East Region, US) where he supervised and coordinated the daily operational efforts for 10 divisions in the ATF’s eastern region. As part of his work, he led ATF’s responses during the Boston Marathon bombing in Boston, Mass., the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., and the shootings at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.

“Andy’s prestigious leadership record gives him the invaluable expertise, leadership and technical know-how needed to properly oversee bomb and arson investigations,” said TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “We are thrilled to add him to TDCI’s Fire Prevention Division team and are confident his leadership will make a difference for Tennesseans.”

Anderson, who lives with his family in Spring Hill, begins his new position May 4.

“Being director of the SFMO’s Bomb and Arson Division allows me to continue my work of fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said Anderson, 56. “The Bomb and Arson Unit has an important mission vital to protecting the health, safety and welfare of Tennesseans. We’ll be investigating violent crime from the standpoint of arson, fires and explosive events, which meshes very well with my skills and experience. I am thrilled to be part of the team.”

Born in Murfreesboro, Anderson grew up in Nashville’s Green Hills area where he attended Hillsboro High School. He later graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and the Nashville School of Law.

His law enforcement career started in 1987 when Anderson served as Special Agent in the Knoxville and Nashville Field Offices. He then served as the Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) in the Norfolk, Va. Field Office before moving to ATF headquarters as SAC for the Critical Incident Management Branch where he oversaw more than 250 tactical operations per year without employee loss of life or serious injury.

After an assignment as Deputy Chief of ATF’s Special Operations Division where he directed all division programs with specialized teams, Andy served as Assistant SAC of the ATF’s Chicago Field Division with oversight and supervision of six ATF offices. In this position he became one of several SACs of the National Response Team (NRT) directing activations to fire and explosive incidents throughout the U.S. He also directed the restructuring of the Chicago field offices to better address the city’s gang problems.

Since 2006 until August, 2014, Andy directed all criminal and regulatory enforcement operations in six states on the northeastern seaboard as well as those conducted in Tennessee and Alabama. In this role, Anderson had responsibility for more than 100 ATF agents and supporting personnel and led numerous ATF crisis management operations and high security details related to protecting the ATF Director of the New England area.

“The ATF Nashville field division would like to thank Andy for his leadership and wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor,” said Michael P. Knight, ATF special agent/public information officer. 

Anderson and his wife of 33 years have three adult children, two grandchildren and are also currently raising four more children adopted from the Chicago area and from Haiti. 

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