329 Millennium - Eighteenth Edition LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Deborah Strebel Pierce served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 27 years. She joined the FBI in 1979 and focused on fraud and corruption casework in Cleveland. She married her training agent, Don Pierce while there. After her transfer to Alexandria, she became a co-case agent on a major military procurement fraud case, code-named Illwind. Following this successful investigation, she was promoted to a supervisory position overseeing undercover operations nationwide at FBI Headquarters. Her next transfer was to Sacramento to supervise cases involving legislative corruption and health care fraud. She was then promoted to the position of assistant special agent in charge of the Milwaukee Office before entering the senior executive service as an inspector in 1999. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Ms. Pierce was selected to serve as a special agent in charge in Minneapolis, overseeing Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Her leadership and skill were recognized with her appointment as the first female deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Division. In 2005, she was honored with the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive Service. Ms. Pierce retired in 2006 and has since held roles with the Minnesota Department of Public Service, Pierce Consulting and Pierce-Weber Partnership. Additionally, she has taught various classes at St. Catherine University and the University of Minnesota. Likewise, she has served as the chair of the Minnesota-Dakotas chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI since 2008. Based on her experiences, Ms. Pierce helped found and served on the board of directors for the Consortium for Women Leaders in Public Service. This nonprofit focused on providing leadership training for future women leaders in Minnesota and Peru. She also traveled for the Department of State and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to promote women in law enforcement with police agencies overseas. Today, Ms. Pierce enjoys gardening and giving presentations about art crime at various venues, such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and for other organizations throughout Minnesota. DEBORAH STREBEL PIERCE DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (RETIRED) Federal Bureau of Investigation Ramsey, MN
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