ODU Alum Appointed Acting Chief Postal Inspector
January 09, 2019
Gary Barksdale
Old Dominion University alumnus Gary Barksdale was recently appointed acting chief postal inspector for the U.S. Postal Service.
Barksdale, a 19-year employee of the agency's Inspection Service, served as deputy chief inspector for the past three years.
Barksdale will fill in for chief postal inspector Guy Cottrell, who retired Dec. 31.
"Gary has been instrumental in leading strategic planning and governance, response to critical incidents and development of criminal programs to enhance the investigative and enforcement capabilities of the Inspection Service," Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan wrote in a memo announcing Barksdale's appointment.
"He has been especially effective at driving Inspection Service strategies to enhance drug interdiction, strengthening relationships with partner law enforcement organizations - including Customs and Border Patrol, Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Drug Enforcement Agency - and in representing the Inspection Service with members of Congress."
Barksdale graduated from ODU with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering technology in 1995. According to his LinkedIn page, he started his law-enforcement career as an officer with the Chesapeake Police Department in 1992 and served there for seven years, including four years as a dectective.
He began his career as a postal inspector in Los Angeles in 1999. He later served as assistant inspector in charge in Phoenix and postal inspector in charge of field operations in Washington, D.C., and Houston.
Barksdale recently completed a detail assignment as the Postal Service's acting district manager in the Northern New England District.
