RICHMOND, Va. — Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger today announced the appointment of Stanley M. Meador to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.
“Keeping all Virginians safe and secure is critical to the Commonwealth’s success. As a former federal law enforcement officer, I know that this success requires leaders who know how to collaborate with communities and law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth amid an ever-evolving threat landscape,” said Spanberger. “Today, I am proud to announce the appointment of Stanley M. Meador to serve as our next Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. I know Mr. Meador’s decades of service to our country and our Commonwealth will bring the expertise necessary to protect our citizens, support the brave men and women of law enforcement, and make sure Virginia is a place where every Virginian can safely thrive — no matter their zip code.”
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be nominated as Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by Governor-elect Spanberger,” said Meador. “Throughout my career, I have been committed to protecting our communities and strengthening the partnerships that keep them safe. As a native Virginian, I look forward to supporting Governor-elect Spanberger’s vision with the same dedication, integrity, and commitment that have guided my service for nearly three decades. Together, we will work to serve and protect all the members of our great Commonwealth.”
BIOGRAPHY
Stanley M. Meador, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Stanley M. Meador brings nearly three decades of distinguished law enforcement and national security experience to the position of Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.
A native of Galax in Southwest Virginia, Meador began his career in 1997 as a Special Agent with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. In this role, he conducted complex criminal investigations into financial crimes, drug trafficking, and regulatory offenses.
On September 11, 2001, he responded to the Pentagon and, afterward, received a Virginia “Declaration of Valor” for his actions during the response.
The following year, Meador joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a Special Agent. He served more than a decade in the Seattle and Las Vegas Field Offices, investigating violent crime, gangs, and transnational and international criminal enterprises. He spearheaded a Safe Streets Violent Crime and Gang Task Force and an Indian Country Safe Trails Task Force in Washington State. For his efforts in dismantling the largest gang criminal enterprise in Spokane at the time, he received a Sheriff’s Star Award.
In 2013, Meador was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent at FBI Headquarters, where he supported Middle East operations before becoming the Chief of Asia operations in 2014. In this capacity, he led 11 international FBI offices and expanded FBI diplomatic engagement and strategic program development in more than 20 countries across Asia.
From 2015 to 2018, Meador led the FBI’s Resident Agency in Wilmington, North Carolina, managing all major investigative programs and task forces. He received a National Association of Police Organizations “Top Cop” honorable mention for his leadership over a large-scale kidnapping case.
In 2019, Meador was promoted to Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge in the Philadelphia Field Office, the FBI’s sixth-largest division. He led the office’s largest branch, overseeing all crisis response, community outreach, intelligence, technology, and security operations.
In 2020, he was selected to return to Headquarters to serve as Chief of Staff to the FBI Deputy Director and manage the Bureau’s highest national security priorities and strategic initiatives, affecting more than 37,000 employees worldwide.
In 2021, Meador was named Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Field Office, overseeing all the division’s national security and criminal investigations. In this role, Meador strengthened relationships with law enforcement partners across the Commonwealth, enhanced crisis response, and prioritized public engagement, community outreach, and private-sector partnerships. He also led the law enforcement executive’s FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Executive Board. Meador was elected by his fellow FBI field executives to chair the FBI’s Special Agent-in-Charge Advisory Committee, representing all FBI field executive leadership.
In 2023, he was awarded the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police “President’s Award,” which recognizes police professionals who have served as a key asset to the Virginia law enforcement community.
Meador holds a Master’s of Arts in Communications from American University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. He has been a firearms instructor and a crisis negotiator and has completed the prestigious FBI National Executive Institute.
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