U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Office of the Director Washo, BC April 13, 2021 The Honorable Merrick B. Garland Attorney General of the United States United States Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC, Dear Attomey General Garland, [ write to inform you of my plan to retire from government service effective May 31, 2021. It has been a great honor to be of service to the Department of Justice, the women and men of ATF, and to our nation It was with great pride and humility that I pledged, almost 30 years ago, to protect and serve as an ATF special agent. In my nearly three decades of service with ATF, those feelings have never wavered, and in the last two years, as | have served as Acting Director, they have never been stronger. | could have never imagined the challenges ATF would face as an agency — or that law enforcement would experience as a whole — in my time as Acting Director. From the pandemic to nation-wide civil unrest, to the attacks on the Capitol, ATF has been central to the law enforcement response. Our agents, analy'sts, and staff met the challenges of these unprecedented times with extraordinary dedication, bravery, and honor. I could not be more proud of our team. ‘As a career special agent, I have served under five administrations, always executing our mission with a high level of integrity and professionalism. With each transition comes new challenges, new strategic vision, new violent crime initiatives, and new Department leadership, Despite political changes, ATE’s core mission remains the same to those of us who took the pledge to protect and serve: we seek to enforce our federal gun laws and regulate the industry in the pursuit of justice‘As my tenure comes to an end, | am dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition: I have no doubt ATF’s leadership team stands ready to serve you and the entire Department of Justice. | thank you for allowing me to lead from within, With Gratitude, elm bate Regina Lombardo