David B. Rausch

David B. Rausch

Director, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

Guest Speaker

General Session: TBI Resource Center Update:

General Session: TBI Resource Center Update:

Director Rausch was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1986 and his Master of Science in Justice Administration in 2001, both from the University of Louisville. He has over 33 years of law enforcement experience. He was enlisted and served in the United States Army Military Police Corps from 1986 to 1990, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. He served for 25 years in the Knoxville Police Department from 1993 to 2018, his last 7 years as Chief of Police. He served 10 years on the KPD SWAT team. He retired from KPD when he was appointed as the 9th Director for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation by Governor Bill Haslam in 2018. He is a graduate of several prestigious law enforcement leadership training programs to include; the 105th Administrative Officers Course of the Southern Police institute, the FBI TLEEDS program, the FBI 218th National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum 40th Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI 36th National Executive Institute, the FBI Leadership in Counter Terrorism (LinCT) program, the United States Army War College Commandant’s National Security Program, and the 27th Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange Delegation to Israel. He is a graduate of Leadership Knoxville, Leadership Nashville, and Leadership Tennessee. Director Rausch has served in leadership roles for numerous community and professional service organizations to include; the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, Leadership Knoxville, the Knoxville Change Center, the Trinity Health Foundation, the Volunteer Ministry Center Knoxville, the Knoxville Metro Drug Coalition, the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, the Memphis/Shelby County Crime Commission, and the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center. He currently serves as the 4th Vice President for the IACP, where he will advance annually through the chairs to serve as President in 2025. The IACP is the largest law enforcement leadership organization in the world with over 31,000 members from 168 countries. He has trained law enforcement professionals throughout the country on critical topics from basic skills to advanced leadership. He assisted the U.S. Department of State as a developer and trainer on their Tactical Commanders Course in addressing Terrorism for senior leaders of the Jamaican Constabulary Forces in Kingston, Jamaica. Director Rausch has served as an advisor to legislators on the local, state, and federal level, including Governors Haslam and Lee of Tennessee, Congress members, Senators, and Executive Staff members to the Obama, Trump, and Biden Presidential administrations. He has helped draft, support, pass and defeat significant legislation at all levels of government that impact the safety of communities. He has testified in front of Congress on preparing for and preventing Domestic Terrorism. He served as a Commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, where he was appointed by U.S. Attorney General William Barr in January 2020. He currently serves on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security State and Local Intelligence Counsel representing IACP as an advisor to the Undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security.