Asa Hutchinson, Former Under Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security
Asa Hutchinson has served the State of Arkansas as a Member of Congress
and as a United States Attorney. He has served our nation both as
Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and as the first-in-
history Under Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. He has
now returned to Arkansas to engage in business and to consider future
opportunities of public service.
Asa is a native of Gravette, Arkansas. He practiced law in Arkansas for 21 years before being elected to Congress in 1996. He was re-elected three times before being asked by President George W. Bush to lead the fight against illegal drugs and then protect America from terrorists by being part of the leadership team at the newly created Department of Homeland Security. As Under Secretary, Asa coordinated our border and transportation security efforts with responsibility over 110,000 employees and supervised a budget larger than most states.
In 1985, Asa was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as U.S. Attorney for Western Arkansas. He was, at age 31, the youngest U.S. Attorney in the nation. It was during this time that he brokered a peaceful conclusion to a three-day armed standoff between Arkansas and federal law enforcement authorities and a domestic terrorist organization known as The Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord (CSA). Asa, who was the target of an assassination plot by CSA supporters, went on to successfully prosecute this same organization in federal court.
While practicing law in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Asa personally tried over 100 jury trials ranging from cocaine distribution to securities fraud to murder.
Asa, 54, is married to the former Susan Burrell, and they have four grown children and four grandchildren.
