Memorial Fund Board Announces New Chairwoman Karen P. Tandy
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen P. Tandy as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. Ms. Tandy replaces Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who is stepping down.
The Memorial Fund’s Board of Directors elected Ms. Tandy as its Chair in May 2019. Ms. Tandy has more than 40 years of leadership experience in the public and private sectors, in addition to executive board experience serving on both for-profit and non-profit boards. She also has significant experience successfully restructuring organizations and programs to improve financial and fundraising performance and transitioning executive leadership. These are some of the same challenges that are currently faced by the Memorial Fund.
Ms. Tandy previously served as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Motorola Solutions, a position where she oversaw country management, compliance, governance, and government affairs in more than 70 countries. Prior to joining Motorola, Ms. Tandy was appointed by President George W. Bush as the first female to head the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) where she managed a $2.4 billion budget and approximately 11,000 employees in 86 global offices.
“I’m thrilled that Karen has agreed to lead the Memorial Fund Board,” said Mr.Ashcroft. “I have known her for many years and feel confident that under her leadership, the Board will be able to carry out the Memorial Fund’s very important mission of honoring those who serve and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Ms. Tandy also served as U.S. Associate Deputy Attorney General during the Clinton and Bush administrations. She was responsible for developing national drug enforcement and money laundering policy and strategies. In addition, Ms. Tandy led the nationwide Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces, comprised of thousands of federal and state law enforcement agents and prosecutors across the United States.
“Karen brings a wealth of experience in governance and managing a global brand to the Memorial Fund,” said Interim Memorial Fund CEO Lori Sharpe Day. “Her expertise and passion for law enforcement will be a vital part of shaping the Memorial Fund’s future.”
Ms. Tandy currently serves on a variety of law enforcement-related boards. She has served as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council since 2015, appointed by then U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) Secretary Jeh Johnson and reappointed by DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielson. In that capacity, Ms. Tandy has chaired three Advisory Panels. Two of the Advisory Panels involved best practices for Customs and Border Protection on use of force and separately on the care of families and children at the border. The third Panel addressed the Use of Privatized Detention Facilities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). Ms. Tandy also served on the Museum Leadership Council of the National Law Enforcement Museum. In addition, she is the Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Ms. Tandy also served on several international boards, including the Advisory Board and Speaker for the Israel International Homeland Security Conference (2014); Board of Advisors to the Mayor of Tianjin, People’s Republic of China (2008-2014) and Board of Advisors to Mexico’s Secretary of Public Security (2009-2017).