United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The DEA Washington Division will take the month of March to honor the achievements and invaluable contributions women have made over the course of American history and today.

 “A great team is about great inclusion,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division. “Not just how many men and women are on a team, but how many diverse experiences, cultures, points of view you can have working together, speaking up, and contributing toward a common goal. It is that culture of great inclusion that directly contributes to our success as a Division and an agency.”

Women’s History Month originated as a national celebration with a 1987 presidential proclamation. Since 1995, Presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields. The National Women’s History Alliance extended the theme, “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced,” for the 2021 celebration – a theme that captures the spirit of the women who work within and alongside us at the DEA Washington.

In recent decades, women have held every senior leadership position in the Drug Enforcement Administration, including as the agency’s Administrator, Special Agents in Charge, and other Senior Executive Service positions — including DEA Washington. Women serve an essential role in and contribute to every aspect of the DEA Washington Division’s mission.

For the DEA, the annual commemoration of Women’s History Month is part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to diversity. Each employee brings different histories, experiences, and perspectives to the table. These differences reflect where each individual comes from, the current world we live in, and the great places we are going as a nation.

It is the diversity of our workforce that gives us our strength, enriches our nation, and which will keep America strong in the future. For no matter how diverse we are, we are part of the same team with the same goal – to protect our American communities. As a team, we work to protect our fellow citizens from the threat of violent crime, deadly drugs, and overdoses ravaging out area. As a team, we fight to protect the safety and rights of all Americans. And as a team, we foster a strong, dedicated and united community, ready to handle today’s challenges. We couldn’t do this without the rich diversity of our workforce.