Ashan Benedict, the executive assistant chief of police at the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department, will fill one of three assistant chief roles at the Capitol Police, according to an internal announcement Thursday from Chief J. Thomas Manger.
Benedict will be the assistant chief for protective and intelligence operations starting in December, a role that oversees the Dignitary Protection Division, the Threat Assessment Section, intelligence and planning for the 2024 conventions, among other duties.
“While his primary role will be to lead the Department’s protective and intelligence operations, we are looking forward to the benefits he will bring to the USCP as a whole,” Manger told CQ Roll Call.
Benedict becomes one of three assistant chiefs who report to Manger. Jason Bell will become assistant chief of standards and training operations. Sean Gallagher is the assistant chief of police for uniformed operations, a role that oversees the largest component of the department.
Manger, in his announcement, said he would be “working closely with all three assistant chiefs to ensure we expand our protective and intelligence capabilities.”
At the Metropolitan Police Department, Benedict has managed the day-to-day operations. Before MPD, he worked at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, including as special agent in charge of the D.C. field division.
Benedict began his career at ATF in 1998 working as a special agent assigned to the high intensity drug trafficking area task force, where he investigated drug trafficking organizations, armed robberies and gang-related racketeering murders.
At ATF, Benedict worked investigations on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon, the beltway sniper and the Washington Navy Yard shooting. During the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Benedict served as the on-scene incident commander for ATF’s deployment to the riot.
Benedict has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fordham University and a master’s degree in international relations from Syracuse University.
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