Leadership

Director Benjamine C. Huffman, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (Official Photo)

Director Benjamine C. Huffman leads the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Law Enforcement Centers (FLETC).  He oversees training for 125 federal Partner Organizations, as well as state, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement partners. He directs operations across the FLETC enterprise, which includes sites in Glynco, GA; Charleston, SC; Cheltenham, MD; and Artesia, NM, and leads FLETC’s administrative, security, financial, mission support, and resource management programs.

Mr. Huffman assumed the role of Director of FLETC on September 24, 2023. Prior to joining FLETC, Director Huffman spent more than three decades serving in many roles in the DHS.

Before assuming his role as the Director, Mr. Huffman served as the Acting Deputy Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the largest law enforcement agency in the United States. In this role, Mr. Huffman ensured that the frontline was equipped with the personnel, tools, and information they needed, improving the agency’s collective capacity to adapt and respond to an ever-changing environment. Prior to serving as Acting Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Huffman served as the Acting Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Huffman served as the Executive Assistant Commissioner of Enterprise Services since October 2019. In this role, he led 4,500 employees that provided critical support to include financial management, facilities and assets, information and technology, human resources, training and development, and accountability to CBP’s more than 60,000 employee workforce and their operations.

Mr. Huffman has spent more than three decades serving in many roles across the U.S. Border Patrol. In 2014, Mr. Huffman joined the Senior Executive Service and was named Deputy Chief of the El Paso Sector which encompassed more than 125,000 square miles in New Mexico and Texas. Prior to leading Enterprise Services, Mr. Huffman was the Chief of the Strategic Planning and Analysis Directorate at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters where he led U.S. Border Patrol’s strategic planning efforts to implement several Presidential priorities.

Throughout his career, Mr. Huffman has had numerous temporary duty assignments, including Acting Director of the Special Operations Group, where he led CBP's global response team that consists of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR). He became a member of BORTAC, Class 4 in 1987 and served in various missions around the world, including Operation Green Blanket, operations in South Africa, and Operation Snowcap in Bolivia.

Mr. Huffman is a native of West Texas and entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on February 3, 1985, as a member of Border Patrol Academy Class 173. 

Mr. Huffman holds a Master's Degree in Homeland Security and a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, and an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice from South Plains Junior College in Levelland, Texas. He has also completed the Capstone General and Flag Officer course at the National Defense University and the Senior Managers in Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

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Paul E. Baker, Deputy Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Centers (FLETC), oversees training for 129 federal Partner Organizations, as well as state, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement partners. He directs operations across FLETC’s four training delivery points in Glynco, GA; Charleston, SC; Cheltenham, MD; and Artesia, NM, and leads FLETC’s administrative, security, financial, mission support, and resource management programs.

Prior to joining FLETC, Paul Baker served as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Training and Development (OTD) and CBP’s Deputy Chief Learning Officer (CLO). In this role, Mr. Baker led a staff of 1,030 employees, managed a $300 million budget, and was responsible for basic and advanced training across seven training academies. He led the development and delivery of award-winning training and education programs supporting more than 60,000 employees worldwide. These training and educational programs span everything from technical law enforcement to leadership training, mentoring, tuition assistance, and distance learning.

Mr. Baker served in the White House Military Office as the Director of Training and Evaluation from 2012-2014. In this capacity, he executed a rigorous operational test and evaluation program of the nation’s most sensitive national security and emergency response programs and assets. Mr. Baker was also responsible for the integrated learning of more than 2,300 people across a multi-billion-dollar network of joint service and interagency resources supporting the Presidency.

Before his White House assignment, Mr. Baker served as the Commanding Officer of the United States Coast Guard’s Maritime Law Enforcement Academy. He led the development and delivery of numerous law enforcement training programs to include the Maritime Enforcement Specialist training program. He also provided the leadership, stewardship, and oversight of five Congressionally mandated regional law enforcement fishery training centers located around the U.S.  Additionally, he served as a member of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation Board of Directors from 2009-2012. Mr. Baker spent more than 21 years active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard serving in multiple afloat and ashore assignments.

Mr. Baker graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1993. He has a Master of Science in Instructional Systems from Florida State University. He is also a recipient of numerous awards from the Association for Talent Development, Chief Learning Officers, International Society of Performance Improvement for excellence in outstanding law enforcement training programs. His military honors include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, the 9/11 Medal, four Commendation Medals, and the Presidential Service Badge.
 

Jennifer Tocco began her civil service career at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in 2008. Prior to her appointment as Chief of Staff, she served as the Senior Policy and Project Analyst for the Director's Office. She held other positions in the FLETC Director's Office since 2012, including Strategic Planning Program Manager.  Ms. Tocco previously worked in FLETC’s Office of State and Local Training and Rural Policing Institute.

Prior to joining FLETC, Ms. Tocco worked in the nonprofit and academic sectors.  For six years, she served as Assistant Director for the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children in Newark, New Jersey, where she managed scholarship programs for low-income families and conducted fundraising activities, including grant writing and event planning. For two years, she was the Donor Relations Director for the Salvation Army’s New Jersey Division, where she was responsible for implementing a new major donor program, writing funding proposals, and overseeing communications with high level donors.  While completing her graduate studies, Ms. Tocco served as a Research Fellow at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education’s Center for Educational Policy Analysis, where she worked on research teams conducting studies in a variety of topics, including educational accountability and evaluation, charter schools, and school voucher programs. She was responsible for data collection, data analysis, and writing, with a specialty in qualitative research methods.

Ms. Tocco holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in political science and history from Drew University, a Master of Education degree with a focus on educational policy and qualitative research methods from Rutgers University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Valdosta State University. She also completed all doctoral coursework in educational policy while at Rutgers.

Ariana M. Roddini serves as the Associate Director for Training Operations (ADT) for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), overseeing all training operations at FLETC training sites in Georgia, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Maryland, as well as international, state, local, tribal, and territorial training throughout the United States and the world.

Prior to her appointment as the Associate Director, Ms. Roddini served FLETC as the Assistant Director (AD) for the Training Management Operations Directorate (TMO). In that role, she provided oversight and strategic direction to six training and administration divisions across FLETC’s four training sites.

Before becoming the AD for TMO, Roddini served in dual roles as the Acting Protocol and Communications Office Chief, where she oversaw all internal, external, and virtual communications for FLETC, and as the Deputy Assistant Director for the Core Training Operations Directorate where she provided strategic and tactical direction for the Firearms Division, Driver and Marine Division, Enforcement Operations Division, and the Physical Techniques Division. She also served as the Deputy Assistant Director for the Regional and International Training Directorate, with oversight of FLETC's international, state, local, and tribal training.

Roddini began her law enforcement career as a fraud investigator for the New York City Department of Health and Human Services in 1994, where she was responsible for the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in the welfare system. In 1996, she joined the United States Secret Service (USSS) as a Special Agent. During her tenure with the USSS, she was assigned to the Office of Investigations, Office of Training, and Office of Protective Research. Ms. Roddini served as a member of the New York City Police Department Asian Organized Crime Task Force and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. As a criminal investigator, she conducted complex investigations related to counterfeit currency, access device fraud, bank fraud, computer fraud and threats against the President of the United States. She has also conducted protection-related advances and served as a logistical or site coordinator for major events including the United Nations General Assembly, Millennium Summit.

In 2006, Roddini transferred as a Senior Instructor to the FLETC in Glynco, GA. She performed instructional duties in the Enforcement Operations Division and the Investigative Operations Division. In 2007, Roddini was promoted to a leadership position. Since then, has served on FLETC’s leadership cadre in various divisions or directorates throughout the organization.

Roddini is a graduate of the Senior Executive Service Candidacy Development Program and was executive certified by the Office of Personnel Management.

Roddini's formal education includes a master's degree in educational leadership and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

David Rosado currently serves as the Assistant Director (AD) for the Training Management Operations Directorate (TMO), at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), where he provides daily executive-level leadership, oversight and strategic direction to nearly 174 federal employees in 7 divisions and offices across FLETC’s four Training Delivery Points (TDP). He oversees FLETC Instructional Systems Design process, academy and program accreditation, training research and innovation and providing executive-level synchronization of current and future operations at FLETC and eFLETC.

Prior to joining FLETC, Mr. Rosado serves as the Regional Director for Region 9 at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where he leads the effort to protect and advance the resilience of the nation’s physical and cyber infrastructure in the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the territories of American Samoa and Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Prior to joining CISA, Mr. Rosado had a distinguished career in public service and security management. Mr. Rosado served as Chief of Police in the City of Hartford, Connecticut where he oversaw a department with over 400 police officers and a budget of approximately $46 million.

Mr. Rosado also served for 20 years with the Connecticut State Police, where he achieved the second-highest rank in the agency as Lieutenant Colonel.  In this role, he oversaw more than 800 sworn and civilian employees and was responsible for all operational components of the agency, including patrol, investigations, specialized units, and protection of critical infrastructure statewide. 

After Mr. Rosado’s law enforcement career, he worked for Major League Baseball in New York City, serving on a national level as MLB’s Chief Security Liaison to all of Minor League Baseball.  Mr. Rosado also served as Chief Operations and Chief Security Officer of a logistics and technology firm in Connecticut.  Most recently, Mr. Rosado, also an attorney, worked in private practice at a litigation firm in Hartford, Connecticut.  

Mr. Rosado is fluent in Spanish and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Connecticut, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 249, in Quantico, Virginia.
 

Mark A. Adamchik serves as the senior Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) staff member in Washington, D.C. The National Capital Region directorate consults and coordinates on matters pertaining to the Office of the Secretary, develops FLETC strategy, and determines policy positions on legislative matters to the Department, Congress, and other law enforcement partners. Assistant Director Adamchik also provides executive leadership for FLETC’s training delivery point in Cheltenham, Maryland as well as the International Training Division.

Prior to joining FLETC, Assistant Director Adamchik served as the deputy chief of the United States Park Police (USPP) field operations division. Assistant Director Adamchik successfully planned and executed law enforcement operations on behalf of the USPP for many high-profile and complex events to include presidential inaugurations, Independence Day celebrations, and the 2020 demonstrations and civil unrest in Washington, D.C. He led and coordinated the USPP response during the civil unrest events that occurred near the White House and the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In addition to these major events, he developed and implemented comprehensive security plans to protect the symbols of democracy on the National Mall and served as a member of the Executive Steering Committee for several national special security events in Washington, D.C.

Throughout his career with the USPP Assistant Director Adamchik held a variety of operational and administrative positions to include serving as a member of the full-time Special Weapons and Tactic Team (SWAT), acting commander, Homeland Security Division in Washington, D.C. and New York, operations commander for law enforcement functions on the National Mall, commander of Special Forces (Aviation, SWAT/Canine Unit, Motorcycle Unit, Special Events Unit), and commander of the Icon Protection Branch. Additionally, he served as commander of the Office of Workforce Development overseeing agency training ,and completed a two-year assignment with the USPP Finance-Budget Office.

Assistant Director Adamchik earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the 269th Session of the FBI National Academy.

Prior to joining FLETC, Mr. Sperco served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service (USSS) FLETC training branch. In this role, Mr. Sperco provided strategic direction and executive oversight for USSS training equities at both the FLETC Glynco and Artesia delivery points, with direct operational control over a team of experienced instructors. He also served as the USSS Partner Organization Representative.

Prior to leading USSS FLETC training, Mr. Sperco served as the Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge of the USSS Protective Detail Training Section at the James J. Rowley Training Center where he led the training for all agents assigned to the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Protective Divisions. During this time, he led a review of the protective detail training curriculum, resulting in complex changes to multiple program areas to keep in line with the organizational vision of the USSS.

Mr. Sperco began his federal career in 1999 as a police officer with the United States Capitol Police. In 2001, he was hired as a Special Agent with the USSS and began his career assigned to the Washington Field Office working complex criminal investigations and supporting protective operations. In 2008, Mr. Sperco was reassigned to the Presidential Protective Division, where he conducted high-level protective advance work for the President and the First Family. Mr. Sperco held numerous positions in the Operations Section, Training Section, Joint Operations Center, and Counter-Surveillance Unit.

Mr. Sperco holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Law and Justice from The College of New Jersey and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Service Candidacy Development Program.

Diane L. Witte serves as the Assistant Director of the Technical Training Operations Directorate at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). In this role, she provides oversight of the Behavioral Science Division, Counterterrorism Division, Cyber Division, FLETC Leadership Institute, Investigative Operations Division, and State, Local and Tribal Division.

Prior to joining FLETC, Ms. Witte served as the Interim Assistant Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Non-Detained Management Division. In this role she was responsible for the complexities associated with the non-detained noncitizen population.

Prior to leading Non-Detained Management, Ms. Witte served as ICE ERO Assistant Director of the Removal Division where she was responsible for the complex coordination and facilitation efforts to successfully remove noncitizens from the United States. Ms. Witte managed a budget of over $200 million and led an organization of over 180 employees located throughout five-states within the continental United States and 27 countries around the world.

Ms. Witte began her federal career with ICE Detention and Removal Operations in 2006 as an Immigration Enforcement Agent in the Washington Field Office (WAS), and later served as a Supervisory Immigration Enforcement Agent, Deportation Officer, Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer, and Assistant Field Office Director at WAS. Ms. Witte transferred to ICE ERO Headquarters in 2016 as the Unit Chief for Removal and International Operations Unit—Western Hemisphere, and in 2017 she became a Deputy Field Office Director for ERO El Paso. In 2020, Ms. Witte served as the Field Office Director in New Orleans, Louisiana, and in 2021 Ms. Witte served as the Assistant Director for Removal in ERO Headquarters.

Ms. Witte holds a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and Sociology from McDaniel College and a Master’s Degree in Security and Safety Leadership from The George Washington University College of Professional Studies. She has published four journal articles relating to the fields of biology and sociology.

Charles “Chuck” Daenzer currently serves as the Assistant Director (AD) for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ (FLETC) Mission Readiness and Support Directorate (MRSD), where he provides daily operational oversight to more than 280 federal employees and approximately 1,950 contractors over nine separate divisions and offices across the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ (FLETC) four Training Delivery Points.

Prior to becoming the AD for MRSD, he served as the AD for FLETC’s Training Management Operations Directorate (TMO), where he provided oversight and strategic direction to six training and administration divisions across four training sites located in different states.

Mr. Daenzer began his career with FLETC in December 2004. His assignments have included serving as MRSD’s Deputy Assistant Director (DAD), MRSD’s Senior Policy and Project Analyst (SPPA), the SPPA for the Centralized Training Management Directorate, the MRSD Senior Advisor and Real Property Officer, and the Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of State, Local, Rural, Tribal and Territorial Training. In addition, Mr. Daenzer held division chief positions for the Rural Policing Institute, Technical Operations, and Counterterrorism Divisions.

Mr. Daenzer served more than 20 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). While with AFOSI, Mr. Daenzer conducted of an array of criminal, counterintelligence and counterterrorism investigations and operations. His assignments included Special Agent-in-Charge of Surveillance Detection Operations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Director of Investigative Operations at Incirlik Air Base, Adana, Turkey. Immediately following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Mr. Daenzer deployed to the Pentagon and was assigned to a Federal Bureau of Investigation Evidence Collection Team, where he assisted with crime scene processing. In 2001, he assumed duties as a counterintelligence instructor at the United States Air Force Special Investigations Academy (USAFSIA) at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, relocating in 2002 with USAFSIA to FLETC, Glynco, Georgia. He served as the USAFSIA Superintendent, culminating a military career of honorable service.

Mr. Daenzer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Park College and a Master of Education (Criminal Justice emphasis) from Troy State University. Additionally, he has achieved executive education and leadership training certifications from the Federal Executive Institute and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Executive Leaders Program hosted at the Naval Postgraduate School. Mr. Daenzer is also a graduate of the DHS Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program and has been executive qualifications-certified by the Office of Personnel Management.

A Flint, Michigan native, he and his wife, Jessica, reside in St. Marys, Georgia and together they have four adult children and eight grandchildren.

FLETC mourns the loss of Chief Counsel Bryan Lemons.  Mr. Lemons served FLETC and
DHS faithfully for over 20 years. Ms. Stephanie Lewis will serve as Acting Chief Counsel for FLETC.

Stephanie M. Lewis is a native of Ashland, Kentucky. She is a 1997 graduate of the University of Kentucky where she received a degree in French and International Economics and also a 2000 graduate of the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg School of Law.

After passing the bar in 2000, Ms. Lewis was employed by VanAntwerp, Monge, Jones & Edwards (now VanAntwerp Attorneys) for five years. There, she worked in the Civil Litigation Defense and Commercial Real Estate groups. In 2006, Ms. Lewis returned to her hometown and opened a solo practice focusing on general civil litigation. 

While operating her firm, Ms. Lewis also served as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for the Thirty-second Judicial District of Kentucky.  In 2010, Ms. Lewis closed her private practice and joined the Federal Government as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Army at Fort Bliss.  

After departing Fort Bliss, Ms. Lewis served as the supervising attorney for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Highway District Four. There, she played a key role in the project to expand Interstate 65 between Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee.

Ms. Lewis returned to civilian service with the United States Army in 2014. She was initially appointed as a Human Resources Specialist (Labor and Employee Relations) and was later promoted to Supervisory Human Resources Specialist (Labor and Employee Relations) and Labor Officer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. 

In 2016, Ms. Lewis joined the Office of the Judge Advocate General at Army Human Resources Command (HRC).  At HRC, Ms. Lewis’s practice focused on Labor and Employment Law and Government Ethics. She also advised the two-star commanding General concerning Army Line of Duty death investigations.

Ms. Lewis began her employment at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) at Glynco, Georgia in 2019. After five years as Attorney-Advisor (Labor & Employment), Ms. Lewis was promoted to the Deputy Chief Counsel/Chief, General Law Division. She assumed her current duties as Acting Chief Counsel in July of 2024.

Stephanie is married to John Lewis (U.S. Army, retired) with whom she shares three grown children. 

Ms. Kathleen Olsen was appointed Assistant Director for the Chief Financial Officer Directorate at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia in February 2024.  In this role, Ms. Olsen provides strategic direction and executive oversight of FLETC’s business activities and is responsible for formulation, execution, and oversight of an annual budget of over $600 million in direct and reimbursable funding as well as financial management services. 

Prior to joining FLETC, Ms. Olsen served as the CFO of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD). She provided fiscal oversight and leadership of $550 million in annual and multi-year funding to support efforts to safeguard the United States against weapons of mass destruction and other chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Before becoming the CFO, Ms. Olsen served as the CWMD Budget Director, where she led the Component’s effort to strengthen Planning, Programming, Budget, and Execution through collaborative, data driven processes, resulting in increased funding for the mission and alignment of activities with strategic objectives. Ms. Olsen has served in budgetary positions across the DHS Headquarters including CWMD’s legacy organization, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. 

Ms. Olsen received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance from the College of William and Mary. She holds a Master of Business Administration and Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics from Indiana University. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.

Michael L. Vesta was appointed as the Assistant Director/ Chief Information Officer for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers on August 21, 2016. Vesta has a diverse technological and managerial background, and he is responsible for the enterprise-wide management of information technology resources at FLETC.

Through strategic partnerships, FLETC prepares the federal law enforcement community to safeguard the American people, our homeland and our values.

To carry out this mission, FLETC serves as an interagency, law-enforcement training organization for more than 90 federal agencies or partner organizations. In addition, FLETC provides training and training resources to state, local, tribal, campus and international law enforcement.

Vesta’s career in the Federal Government began in 1986 with a four-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a Weather Equipment Repair Specialist. In 1991, Vesta accepted a position with the National Weather Service as an Electronics and Computer Technician. During the next eleven years, he moved within the National Weather Service structure and served in many roles. These included two years as a Technical Training Instructor at the National Weather Service Training Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and five years in Las Vegas, Nevada as the Information Technology Officer. Vesta accepted a position as the CIO for the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in 2002 where he advanced the role of IT in a complex healthcare environment. He started at FLETC in 2006 and has held the positions of IT Operations and Support Division Chief and Deputy Assistant Director/ Deputy Chief Information Officer.

Vesta holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Park University and an MBA from Texas A&M University, Commerce. He is a graduate of the National Defense University’s CIO Certificate program and is a graduate of American University’s Key Executive Leadership program.