The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives may soon see a new director grace its halls as President Trump’s administration announced the nomination of a new director.
Robert Cekada was tapped to fill the ATF Director role on Thursday. Cekada currently serves as the ATF’s Deputy Director and has worked in law enforcement for over 30 years.
According to the ATF, Cekada’s law enforcement career began as a local cop and, later, detective with the New York Police Department. After a stint at a local police department in South Florida, he joined the ATF in 2025 as a Special Agent assigned to the Baltimore Field Office, working on the Regional Area Gang Enforcement Task Force.
Cekada has served in several leadership positions within the Bureau, including Deputy Assistant Director of Field Operations for the Miami Field Office and Executive Assistant Director – Operations, Office of the Director.
In April 2025, he was appointed Deputy Director, serving under Acting Director Daniel Driscoll. Driscoll was appointed after FBI Director Kash Patel was removed from the position.
Despite Cekada’s tenure with the ATF, the gun industry seemed encouraged by the news.
“Deputy Director Cekada has the experience, wisdom, and confidence of his colleagues to effectively lead the men and women of the ATF,” Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel, said in a news release.
“Deputy Director Cekada respects the Second Amendment and understands that the firearm industry is not the ‘enemy’ but a valuable partner that assists ATF in its core mission of combating violent crime.”
Before officially getting the job, Cekada must first testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a confirmation hearing.
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