Full Name
Hugo Barrera
Job Title
Director
Company
South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)
Speaker Bio
On March 13, 2016, Hugo Barrera reported as the new South Florida HIDTA Director, replacing retired former Director Timothy Wagner. Hugo J. Barrera, retired Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Miami Field Division, returned to his hometown of Miami in July 2008, where he oversaw and directed ATF operations until October 2015 in South Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A native of Cuba, Mr. Barrera received his Bachelor’s Degree from Barry Catholic University, in Miami Shores, Florida. As a veteran law enforcement professional, he became an ATF Special Agent in 1983 after almost 7 years as a City of Miami Police Officer where he served as a Homicide Detective. In 1990, SAC Barrera entered ATF’s management ranks and served in the following positions: From 1990 through 1996, Resident Agent in Charge, Los Angeles Field Division, Houston Field Division (El Paso, Texas) and Boston Field Division (Maine and New Hampshire). From 1996 to 1998 Special Agent Barrera was appointed to the Office of Professional Responsibility and Security Operations (Internal Affairs) at ATF Headquarters in Washington, DC.
In April of 2000, Special Agent Barrera was appointed as the SAC of the Miami Field Division. He oversaw ATF’s investigative efforts in South Florida with focus on the post 9-11 terrorist attacks.
SAC Barrera was appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Director, ATF’s Field Operations (East), in April of 2004 overseeing eight of ATF’s most populated Field Divisions in the U.S.,
He served as Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (OSII), from December 2005 until July 2008. He oversaw ATF’s collection, analysis, and utilization of information in the Bureau’s key case investigative database systems at the U.S. Bomb Data Center and International Bomb Data Center, which enhance law enforcement information sharing domestically and internationally.
A member of the Senior Executive Service, SAC Barrera served as a member of the Executive Committees of the South Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force and of the Anti-Terrorism Task Force. He serves as a member of the Miami Dade County Chief’s Association as well as the Broward County Chief’s Association. He serves on the Firearms Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and is a member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians.
A native of Cuba, Mr. Barrera received his Bachelor’s Degree from Barry Catholic University, in Miami Shores, Florida. As a veteran law enforcement professional, he became an ATF Special Agent in 1983 after almost 7 years as a City of Miami Police Officer where he served as a Homicide Detective. In 1990, SAC Barrera entered ATF’s management ranks and served in the following positions: From 1990 through 1996, Resident Agent in Charge, Los Angeles Field Division, Houston Field Division (El Paso, Texas) and Boston Field Division (Maine and New Hampshire). From 1996 to 1998 Special Agent Barrera was appointed to the Office of Professional Responsibility and Security Operations (Internal Affairs) at ATF Headquarters in Washington, DC.
In April of 2000, Special Agent Barrera was appointed as the SAC of the Miami Field Division. He oversaw ATF’s investigative efforts in South Florida with focus on the post 9-11 terrorist attacks.
SAC Barrera was appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Director, ATF’s Field Operations (East), in April of 2004 overseeing eight of ATF’s most populated Field Divisions in the U.S.,
He served as Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (OSII), from December 2005 until July 2008. He oversaw ATF’s collection, analysis, and utilization of information in the Bureau’s key case investigative database systems at the U.S. Bomb Data Center and International Bomb Data Center, which enhance law enforcement information sharing domestically and internationally.
A member of the Senior Executive Service, SAC Barrera served as a member of the Executive Committees of the South Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force and of the Anti-Terrorism Task Force. He serves as a member of the Miami Dade County Chief’s Association as well as the Broward County Chief’s Association. He serves on the Firearms Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and is a member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians.
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