Kenneth E. Melson

Kenneth E. Melson is a former acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in the United States. He was appointed to this post by Attorney General Eric Holder in 2009. and was replaced by B. Todd Jones, a former Marine who had twice served as the U.S. attorney in Minnesota.

Career Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Melson served in the Arlington County (Virginia) Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office from April 1975-June 1983. Melson joined the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in April 1975. In January 1978, he was promoted to a managerial position as the Chief Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County. In July 1980, Melson was again promoted to the position of Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County, a position in which he served until June 1983.

Melson served in the United States Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor for nearly 24 years, and served as a member of its Ethics Committee and of the editorial board for the Journal of Forensic Sciences. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee for the American Academy of Forensic Science and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Forensic Sciences. Melson has been teaching at George Washington University for 35 years, first as an adjunct professor teaching forensic science and law courses, and currently as Professional Lecturer at Law.