William Gilligan was appointed as the 37th Chief Postal Inspector for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in May 2009. He had been acting in this position since October, 2008. In this position, Gilligan oversees all operations of the Postal Inspection Service, which includes National Headquarters, 18 divisions, two service centers and a national forensic laboratory. The installations are staffed by over 1,550 Postal Inspectors, more than 650 Postal Police Officers and approximately 500 support personnel. He is also the Chairman of the Universal Postal Union’s Postal Security Group.

The Postal Inspection Service is one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the United States. As the primary law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service is a highly specialized, professional organization performing investigative and security functions essential to a stable and sound postal system. It is responsible for protecting employees, revenue, assets and customers, administering security and crime prevention programs, and enforcing criminal and civil statutes against individuals who attack the postal system and misuse it to defraud, endanger or otherwise threaten the American public.

Prior to this appointment, Gilligan served as deputy general counsel at Postal Service Headquarters since May 2000. A 35-year postal veteran, he began his postal career in 1973 as a clerk-carrier in Philadelphia. He has held a variety of positions in his postal career, including Postal Police Officer, an Inspection Service analyst who focused on Security and Fraud, and an attorney within the Postal Law Department. He has received numerous Executive leadership awards, including the Postmaster General’s Award.

Gilligan holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in criminal justice from West Chester State University. He earned a law degree from Delaware Law School.

May 2009