Ashley T. Johnson is also the first woman to head the division.
Ashley T. Johnson is making history in federal law enforcement. She is the first woman and Black woman to be appointed as the special agent in charge of the St. Louis FBI Field Office.
Director Christopher Wray named Johnson as the lead of this office, as detailed by the FBI’s press release on Sept. 9. Prior to her promotion, Johnson served as the section chief of the International Operations Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Before joining the FBI, Johnson obtained her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She later received a master’s in sociology, alongside another degree for social work in public policy and social welfare. In her early career, she worked as a probation officer and psychiatric social worker.
However, Johnson started her journey with the FBI as a special agent in 2007. Beginning at the New Orleans division, she investigated civil rights violations as well as white-collar crimes impacting the city.