Her Story
About Karen
I wanted to go into broadcast journalism and be on television doing the news while in college at San Diego State University, but my mom's tragic passing changed my direction. I went back to Dallas to help my dad, one of the original DEA special agents whose parents were both CIA. After helping with family matters, I returned to finish my degree. I met my husband during the Atlanta Olympics while he was with DEA, and we have been married almost 30 years. My first job out of college was as an investigator at GEICO, then I worked in risk management and pilot training at Continental Airlines. After 9-11, I created the training program for the Federal Air Marshal Program, federalized airports for TSA including Hobby Airport, and worked on Homeland Security initiatives. I joined the FBI as a GS-14, helped turn their intelligence program proactive, became a supervisor and unit chief over international operations. Later I served as Director of Anti-Money Laundering and Compliance for Caesars Entertainment, Deputy Administrator for the State of Nevada DMV Compliance Enforcement Division, senior internal investigator for MGM, and a major case investigator for GEICO before my current role as a contractor to the DEA handling money laundering and illicit funds cases.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Karen
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You've got to be able to take a punch and have thick skin because you're walking into a man's world in law enforcement. Men are going to talk, and you have to make them respect you by working as hard or harder than them. Support other women instead of being jealous or petty, because if women build each other up we can break the glass ceiling. Be genuine, care about your team, remember details about their lives, and develop them so they can sit in your chair someday.
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