Robert Cekada, a 30-year law enforcement veteran who has been with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for the past two decades, has been appointed Deputy Director of the ATF—the second highest ranking official at the agency.

Before his recent Deputy Director appointment, Cekada had served as the Executive Assistant Director of Operations since September 2022. In that position, he oversaw ATF’s Office of Regulatory Operations, Office of Field Operations and the Office of Intelligence Operations. He began his career with ATF in 2005 as a Special Agent in the Baltimore Field Division’s Hyattsville Field Office, working on the Regional Area Gang Enforcement Task Force.

Before that, Cekada served with the New York Police Department focusing on anti-gang crime and the City of Plantation Police Department in Broward County, Florida, where he served with the Patrol Division and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.

Some pro-gun groups, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), were pleased with Cekada’s appointment. According to NSSF, as a Special Agent-in-Charge, Cekada has been on the ground with the firearm industry to promote public awareness to stop the illegal sale of guns and has a career history of working with the firearm industry to ensure law-abiding citizens can exercise their Second Amendment rights.

“Deputy Director Cekada has the experience, wisdom and respect 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 on the appointment. “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. Firearm retailers are on the front lines, helping to prevent the criminal acquisition of firearms. They are a vital source of information to ATF special agents on illegal straw purchasing of firearms.”

NSSF has partnered with the ATF for a quarter of a century on the Don’t Lie for the Other Guy program to warn the public that illegally straw-purchasing firearms for someone who cannot legally purchase their own firearm, or does not want to be associated with the sale of a firearm, is a serious federal crime that carries a penalty up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

NSSF also partners with ATF in another program called Operation Secure Store to help improve security at firearm retailers in order to deter or prevent thefts and burglaries of those firearm retailers. As part of that program, NSSF matches ATF reward offers up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects of those crimes.

“NSSF looks forward to working with Deputy Director Cekada on behalf of the firearm industry and restoring a mutually respectful and constructive dialogue on shared goals that will allow our members to thrive economically and help to make our communities safer,” Keane said.