Vanessa L. McLemore began her career as a special agent in
Detroit, MI in 1983 and has served in various
capacities throughout her illustrious career.
She has worked as a field agent in Detroit,
Los Angeles and Washington DC.
In 1989 she was promoted to First-line
Supervisor in
Detroit. MI, becoming the first
African-American female special agent
Supervisor in ATF. In 1995 Special Agent
McLemore transferred to ATF Headquarters in
the Office of Inspection/Office Review and in
1998 Special Agent McLemore was promoted to
the Assistant Special Agent in Charge in
Atlanta.
She later went on to be promoted to
the Special Agent in Charge in Houston,
making her the first African-American female
special agent in ATF to be promoted to the
rank of SAC, and from there she returned to
Atlanta in 2003 as the Special Agent in
Charge.
Now Special Agent McLemore is ending
her career in ATF Headquarters, Washington,
DC as the Senior Advisor of the Director.
Special Agent McLemore has served as the
highest ranking African-American female
special agent in ATF for 9 years and the
highest ranking African-American female in
ATF for 5 years. Special Agent McLemore has
mentored and positively impacted the careers
of many agents and employees of the Bureau.
She is a trailblazer.
From leading ATF's
enforcement responsibilities from Atlanta
Super Bowl XXXIV, to the G-8, the trial
preparation of accused serial bomber Eric R.
Rudolph, to the man hunt for accused
courthouse shooter Brian Nichols, to the 3rd
largest seizure, in one investigation, of
meth in the country, to the arrest of TI, and
to the sharing federal resources with her
state and local partners, her leadership will
be missed.
A special celebration of the career of
Special Agent/Senior Advisor Vanessa L.
McLemore will be held on January 23, 2009, at
ATF Headquarters from noon to 2 pm in the Atrium.
