John E. Ingersoll
Director, BNDD
1968 - 1973

John E. Ingersoll served as Director of the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) from 1968 until 1973. He began his career as a patrolman and then sergeant for the Oakland, California, Police Department from 1956 until 1961, when he became the Director of Field Services for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). He served with the IACP until 1966, when he became the chief of police for Charlotte, North Carolina, until his appointment as Director of BNDD in 1973. He was also the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs from 1969 to 1973. From 1973 to 1993, Mr. Ingersoll worked for the IBM Corporation, serving as Director of Security for IBM’s International Business Unit and the IBM World Trade Subsidiary. Since April 1993, he has worked as an independent consultant to business and government.

From: A Tradition of Excellence [SIC]: A History of the DEA