Chad Gregory Chronister (born ) is an American

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...

officer and politician who has served as the

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is common ...

Hillsborough County, Florida Hillsborough County is located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metro ...

since 2017. On November 30, 2024,

President-elect An ''officer-elect'' is a person who has been elected to a position but has not yet been installed. Notably, a president who has been elected but not yet installed would be referred to as a ''president-elect'' (e.g. president-elect of the Un ...

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

announced his intention to nominate Chronister as

Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, a United States federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug trafficking and ...

. He withdrew himself from consideration on December 3, 2024.

Early life

Chad Chronister was born in

York, Pennsylvania York is a city in York County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. Located in South Central Pennsylvania, the city's population was 44,800 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in ...

. His parents, Helena Bentivegna and Danny, had a daughter a year later and eventually divorced. Chronister's maternal grandfather, Jack Bentivegna, lived nearby and served as a father figure. Chronister played junior varsity football and ran track before graduating from high school in 1986. After two years at

Mansfield University Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is a campus of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, and is located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The campus's total e ...

, where he studied business and communications, Chronister moved to Tampa. He graduated from

Saint Leo University Saint Leo University is a private Catholic university in St. Leo, Florida. It was established in 1889. The university is associated with the Holy Name Monastery, a Benedictine convent, and Saint Leo Abbey, a Benedictine monastery. The universi ...

, receiving a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

in criminal justice and a

Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

in criminology. Chronister later graduated from the 260th session of the

FBI National Academy The FBI National Academy is a program of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Academy for active U.S. law enforcement personnel and also for international law enforcement personnel who seek to enhance their credentials in their field and to ...

Career

Senator Rick Scott and Sheriff Chad Chronister after Hurricane Milton

Chronister has served in the

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency for Hillsborough County, Florida, and is responsible for law enforcement services for the of unincorporated areas of the county (United States), county as well a ...

since 1992, beginning his career as a patrol deputy and SWAT operator. He then served as a detective for several units, including environmental enforcement, warrants, narcotics, and intelligence. Chronister was a supervisor in the Warrants, Narcotics, Intelligence, and Dignitary Protection Detail. He then became deputy commander of the Community Outreach Division, and later the colonel of the Department of Operation Support. In 2017, Chronister was appointed sheriff after the unexpected retirement of his predecessor, David Gee, who recommended him. As sheriff, he is the co-chairman of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay; vice-chairman, Hillsborough County Public Safety Coordinating Council; and vice-chairman, Hillsborough County Public Schools Oversight Committee. Chronister won elections for sheriff in 2018 and 2020 and was unopposed in 2024. In September 2020, Chronister's office publicized the names and mugshots of eleven men who were arrested in a local park on misdemeanor charges after agreeing to have sex with undercover male deputies. The focus on gay men, without prostitution or associated public complaints, brought criticism from a state LGBTQ civil rights organization and questions from experts on the subject. On November 30, 2024,

announced his intention to nominate Chronister as

. He withdrew himself from consideration on December 3, 2024.

Elections

Personal life

In 1992, Chronister married Teresa Card, with whom he has a son, born in 1993. The couple divorced in 1995. In 1997, Chronister married Tammy Edwards, and they divorced in 1999. In 2010, Chronister married Nicole "Nikki" DeBartolo, the daughter of

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...

former owner

Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. Edward John DeBartolo Jr. (born November 6, 1946) is an American businessman best known for his 23-year ownership of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). The five Super Bowls the 49ers dynasty won in 14 years were a re ...

Chronister became the father of Nikki's son from a prior marriage.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chronister, Chad 1968 births County constitutional officer (Florida) FBI National Academy graduates Florida sheriffs Florida Republicans People from York, Pennsylvania Saint Leo University alumni Living people