The often criticized Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has operated under an acting director since February. Now, President Donald Trump is seeking to put an end to that situation.
On November 19, the president nominated ATF Deputy Director Robert Cekada to be dire tor of the agency. As former NYPD detective and 20-year veteran of ATF, Cekada brings a lot of critical experience to the role.
According to an online biography, Cekada served previously as a special agent-in-charge of the Miami and Baltimore Field Divisions. Prior to that he was the Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Philadelphia and resident Agent in Charge in Miami. More recently, he has served as the Executive Assistant Director – Operations, Office of the Director since September 2022, where he oversaw ATF’s Office of Regulatory Operations, Office of Field Operations and the Office of Intelligence Operations.
While pro-gun rights organizations have been loudly critical of the agency in the past, at least one such group is praising Trump’s nomination of Cekada to the post. The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) posted a news release saying the group “welcomes” the nomination.
“We recall when Mr. Cekada was named Deputy Director back in April that he received high praise from many in the firearms community,” CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said in the news release. “He brings considerable experience, along with what we believe are truly pro-Second Amendment views, which would be a delightful change from the previous administration.”
Gottlieb also said that Cekada’s many years of experience make him uniquely qualified for the job.
“With these credentials, Mr. Cekada comes qualified to head the agency, which is changing its focus under the current administration,” Gottlieb said. “He has come up through the ranks, starting his career as a Special Agent in the Baltimore Field Division’s Hyattsville II Field Office some 20 years ago. Having someone with his institutional knowledge taking the helm could be what the agency needs to straighten its course.”
Ultimately, Gottlieb says his organization looks forward to the confirmation process, where Cekada’s views about gun ownership and the Second Amendment will be on full display.
The American Suppressor Association (ASA), which represents one of the most regulated manufacturer groups in the country, also was pleased with President Trump’s nomination of Cekada, calling him the “first ever pro-Second Amendment nominee.”
“In his role as Deputy Director, we have worked closely with Robert Cekada to ensure law-abiding gun owners have a seat at the table in shaping policy,” Knox Williams, ASA president and executive director, said in a released statement. “By nominating an ATF Director who understands our community and respects our constitutional rights, President Trump and his administration are further underscoring their commitment to standing up for the Second Amendment and gun owners. We urge the Senate to confirm him without delay.”
The Senate has not yet scheduled Cekada’s confirmation hearing to kick off the confirmation process.
