Chancellor James Receives National ATF Award

Chancellor Mark James was presented with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Citizenship Award on Wednesday at ATF’s 15th Annual Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. The event honored ATF agents and employees, law enforcement officers and citizens for acts of heroism, service and commitment to public safety.

The ATF Citizenship Award recognizes extraordinary acts of bravery involving the risk of serious injury or death performed by private citizens while assisting Federal, State or local law enforcement. Chancellor James was honored for his heroic actions when he subdued a student who attacked Dean Al Dimmit at MCC-Penn Valley last September.

“Chancellor James has a stellar legacy of public service”, said Michael P. Gleysteen, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Kansas City Field Division. “His heroic actions demonstrate how he continually puts others before himself.”

Prior to joining MCC in 2010, James’s law enforcement career began with the Missouri Highway Patrol before becoming an ATF Agent in 1987. He was the Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division when he retired from ATF in 2004. Following his retirement, James continued his public service after being appointed by then-Missouri Governor Matt Blunt as director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security.