Bredesen Reappoints Mark Gwyn TBI Chief
Thursday, July 01, 2010 | 05:10am
NASHVILLE — Governor Phil Bredesen today reappointed Mark Gwyn as the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Bredesen appointed Gwyn to his first six-year term as the agency’s director in 2004.
“Mark has done an outstanding job leading the TBI during the past six years,” Bredesen said. “He led the effort to achieve national accreditation and has the support of law enforcement officials across the state. He is committed to improving the operation and performance of the Bureau and is dedicated to fighting crime in Tennessee. These skills, and the high level of integrity he brings to this position, make him the right person to lead the agency for another term.”
Gwyn was selected from a field of three finalist candidates submitted by the TBI Director Nominating Commission, a five-member panel consisting of representatives from the judicial and legal communities.
“I’m honored to be reappointed to this position and appreciate Governor Bredesen’s confidence in my ability to continue the mission and the work of the TBI,” Gwyn said. “I’ll continue to work with the men and women of law enforcement across this state and with our federal partners to coordinate our efforts and improve our methods of fighting crime in Tennessee.”
As director, Gwyn oversees 420 TBI employees in the agency’s five major divisions: Criminal Investigation, Drug Investigation, Forensic Services, Information Systems and Administrative Services. The Bureau is headquartered in Nashville and operates seven regional and satellite offices across the state.
Since becoming director, Gwyn has overseen the creation of the Technical Services Unit, placing an emphasis on high tech surveillance methods, computer forensics and battling internet crimes targeting children with the launch of a Cyber Crimes Unit. Under his watch, the state’s Fusion Center was constructed within TBI headquarters housing Homeland Security among other programs such as AMBER Alert and Tennessee’s Sex Offender Registry.
Gwyn has committed the Drug Investigation Division to targeting mid- to high-level drug dealers. He has been an active member of the Governor’s Meth Task Force, which crafted legislation designed to stop methamphetamine production across the state. Currently, Gwyn is instrumental in halting the distribution, sale and abuse of prescription drugs.
Prior to his appointment in 2004, Gwyn served as assistant director in charge of the TBI Forensic Services Division where he oversaw the Bureau’s three nationally accredited crime laboratories and 100 forensic scientists and technicians in Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville. Prior to that, Gwyn served as executive officer from 1996 to 2001 where he handled special assignments. From 1988 to 1996, Gwyn served as a special agent and criminal investigator helping coordinate investigations into violent crime, drugs, public corruption and gambling cases. Before joining the TBI, Gwyn served as a patrolman for the McMinnville Police Department.
Gwyn has completed some of the most prestigious law enforcement and leadership training programs in the industry, including the John F. Kennedy School of Government from Harvard University and the FBI Leadership in Counterterrorism Program. He also received extensive terrorism training conducted in Israel by the Israeli National Police while attending the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange. Gwyn sits on the IACP Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Committee as well as the University of Tennessee National Forensic Academy Board. Locally, he is a graduate of Leadership Nashville and serves on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Gwyn, 47, is a McMinnville, Tenn., native who holds a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University.
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