United States Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration

Gerard P. McAleer
Special Agent in Charge
New Jersey Division

Gerard P. McAleer has distinguished himself in the field of law enforcement. A native of New York City, he began his law enforcement career as a police officer in Rhode Island in 1977.

Mr. McAleer began a federal law enforcement career with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent in 1984 and was assigned to the New York City office. As a Special Agent in DEA’s largest office, he aggressively pursued high-level narcotics traffickers and money launderers throughout the world. He earned numerous performance awards, the DEA Purple Heart, and the Administrator’s Award for Exceptional Service – one of DEA’s highest honors. In 1992, he was promoted to Group Supervisor, where he led teams of agents conducting transportation interdiction operations and investigating money laundering organizations.

In January 1998, McAleer was transferred to DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia and assigned to the Office of Inspections. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Senior Inspector and he supervised inspections, shooting investigations and audit programs. After serving for three years in Office of Inspections, he was selected as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator, DEA’s second-in-command.

In June 2001, McAleer was assigned to the New York City office as Assistant Special Agent in Charge, where he supervised complex enforcement operations on a local, national, and international level. He remained in New York until he was promoted to the Senior Executive Service and assigned back to DEA Headquarters to head the Office of Inspections.

In March 2006, DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy assigned Mr. McAleer as the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA New Jersey Division. As Special Agent in Charge, Mr. McAleer is responsible for the daily operations of the men and women whose primary mission is to enforce the federal narcotics laws throughout the State of New Jersey.

Mr. McAleer received his Masters of Public Administration degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice-City University of New York. He is also a graduate of Salve Regina University, Newport, RI where he received a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Management. Mr. McAleer has lectured extensively on various law enforcement topics and testified as an expert witness in federal courts.