Chief Postal Inspector Guy Cottrell will retire Dec. 31 after more than three decades with USPS, including eight-and-a-half years leading the Inspection Service.
Under Cottrell’s leadership, the Inspection Service played a larger role in dealing with cybersecurity crimes and shaping the nation’s response to the opioid crisis, including preparing the organization for expanded authority under the STOP Act, a law to stem the flow of foreign drugs into the United States.
Cottrell also more closely aligned the Inspection Service with USPS operations, including greater integration of systems and internal communications to better protect employees and customers.
Additionally, he led innovative efforts to promote crime prevention and consumer awareness, including the Consumer Alert News Network and other programs that deliver fraud prevention messages to tens of millions of consumers, as well as Operation Protect Veterans, a partnership with AARP to warn former and active service members about scams.
“We can’t arrest our way out of postal crimes, so we need to educate the American public about scams so they don’t become victims,” Cottrell said.
Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan praised Cottrell’s “highly effective” leadership in a memo announcing his retirement last week.
“Guy has been a strong leader of the 2,766 men and women of the Postal Inspection Service, and has been a consistent promoter of the Inspection Service brand — within the Postal Service and with the public. He has deepened Inspection Service partnerships, information sharing and collaborative investigations with national, state and local law enforcement organizations,” Brennan wrote.
Cottrell began his postal career in 1987 as a letter carrier in his hometown of New Orleans. He later served in several roles for the Inspection Service, including postal inspector, inspector in charge for field operations and deputy chief inspector.