Ashan M. Benedict

Assistant Chief for Protective and Intelligence Operations Ashan M. Benedict joined the United States Capitol Police (USCP) on December 04, 2023. Assistant Chief Ashan Benedict comes to us with many years of law enforcement leadership experience and 28 years of federal law enforcement experience. 

Assistant Chief Benedict joined the USCP after a long career managing the day-to-day operations of one of the country's largest law enforcement agencies, Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), as well as serving as a Special Agent in Charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Before joining the Metropolitan Police Department as the Executive Assistant Chief, Assistant Chief Benedict served with ATF in major posts including New York, Los Angeles, Baltimore, as well as Washington, D.C., where he served as the Special Agent in Charge. Assistant Chief Benedict was also a Member of the Senior Executive Service. 

Assistant Chief Benedict began his ATF career in 1998 as a special agent assigned to ATF's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force in Washington, D.C. As a street agent, he investigated violent drug trafficking organizations, armed robberies, armed carjackings, gang-related racketeering murders and firearms trafficking. He was also a tactical operator on ATF's Special Response Team (SRT). Assistant Chief Benedict was involved in ATF's response during the September 11 terrorist attack, the Beltway Sniper investigation, ATF's response after Hurricane Katrina, the D.C. Navy Yard shooting, the San Bernardino mass shooting in 2015 and the mass mailing of pipe bombs in New York City in 2018. Assistant Chief Benedict also was the on-scene incident commander for ATF's response to the riots at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. 

Assistant Chief Benedict is a New York City native and grew up in The Bronx and Yonkers. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Accounting from Fordham University and a master of arts degree in International Relations from Syracuse University, Maxwell School in Washington, D.C. He and his wife have three children and live in Washington, D.C.