Episode 104 retired DEA Special Agent Lori Schwarzkopf Miller

Interview with retired DEA Special Agent Lori Miller

Years of Service: 1991-2015

Episode 104 retired DEA Special Agent Lori Schwarzkopf Miller
Growing up in a rural farm town in Iowa, Lori is the youngest of six siblings, all at least 10 years older. She attended a small Catholic school with eight boys and eight girls until high school when her graduating class grew to 187 kids.

Lori attended the University of Northern Iowa, starting as a Vocal Music major, switching later to Business, and finally graduating with a Criminology degree and a Business minor. During the Summer between her Sophomore and Junior years in college, Lori worked as an intern for the Dallas District Attorney's Office. Here, she met a DA investigator who sparked her interest in federal law enforcement.

On her 23rd birthday, 1991, Lori began her career with the DEA at the academy in Quantico, Virginia. After the academy, she was assigned to the Houston Field Division. In Houston, she learned the job while working on large-scale drug trafficking cases, marijuana eradication, money laundering, and the Mobile Enforcement Team.

Following her time in Houston, Lori worked in the Oakland Resident Office, the Special Operations Division, and the Seattle Field Division, where she was promoted to Group Supervisor.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:41 Early Life and Family Background
04:42 College Years and Career Aspirations
11:40 Journey to the DEA
18:25 DEA Academy Experience
00:01 First Days on the Job
33:34 First Undercover Operation
35:38 The Fake Duty Call Prank
38:32 Operation Mud Pump
40:52 First International Trip to Colombia
43:41 The 5,000 Kilo Case
48:17 Unique Challenges and Advantages as a Female Agent
49:48 Marijuana Eradication and Air Assault Training
53:07 Short Haul Training Experience
53:15 Supervising Marijuana Eradication
53:27 Comparing Short Haul and Repelling
55:02 MET Team Adventures
56:24 Galveston Deployment
58:13 Beaumont and Atlanta Deployments
01:01:23 Green Ice Money Laundering Operation
01:05:54 Airport Group Interdiction
01:09:41 Trauma Team Responsibilities
01:13:34 Moving to Oakland
01:18:29 Challenges in the Ninth Circuit
01:21:17 Special Operations Division (SOD)
01:33:52 Private Investigation and Culinary School