Distinguished federal law enforcement career started with an STCC degree

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – When he started at Springfield Technical Community College, David Drasin hoped a degree would give him the competitive edge he needed to be hired as a police officer working on patrol for one of the towns in the region.

He said it was difficult then to get a foot in the door at area police departments and saw a two-year associate degree from STCC as a ticket to getting hired.

Little did he know his associate degree would help him not only get into the field of police work but would catapult him to a dream career. He enjoyed a long, distinguished career in federal law enforcement that brought him all around the country and the world. When he was just 52, Drasin fully retired from federal service in 2022 after 30 years of service with a full pension. He lives in the Portland, Ore., area.

Drasin graduated from STCC in 1992 with a degree in Law Enforcement (now known as Criminal Justice). A 1988 graduate of Springfield Central High School, he grew up in Western Massachusetts.

“STCC was the start of that journey for me, and my AS (associate in science degree) earned there gave me the confidence that I needed to pursue it,” Drasin said. “Initially hired by the U.S. Border Patrol, I served as a Senior Patrol Agent in San Diego until departing for an investigative and case management position with the U.S. Department of Justice in Los Angeles.”

Working for the Department of Justice, he tracked and apprehended dangerous fugitives from around the world, both leading up to and after the 9/11 attacks. He later moved into a position as a Special Agent (Criminal Investigator) with the former U.S. Customs Service, which later became Homeland Security Investigations after 2003.

“I worked primarily to investigate and prevent international child exploitation, and also there as a digital forensics agent,” Drasin said.

Drasin moved on to the component headquarters for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Washington, D.C., where he served first as a program manager for law enforcement training and career development. He ascended to the role of Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning. He eventually returned to the field in the Pacific Northwest, where he served as Assistant Field Office Director for DHS law enforcement and compliance operations in three states.

I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined the path that my career would have taken, or the successes which I achieved along the way. David Drasin '92, STCC alumnus

“I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined the path that my career would have taken, or the successes which I achieved along the way,” Drasin said. “I’ve also done my best to give back whenever I could by guest lecturing in the Criminal Justice department at a local university and by hosting criminal justice interns from local community colleges and universities to help further their education and launch their careers.”

He said some of the interns went on to law enforcement jobs at the local, state, and federal levels or onto other governmental administration positions.  

What is unusual about Drasin’s career is that he ascended to top positions without his bachelor’s degree. He considered continuing his education while he was working in law enforcement.

“I always wanted to go back and complete my bachelor’s degree, and credit-wise I was very close,” Drasin said. “Every time I looked into it something happened at work, or I got promoted again, and then there was a point where I thought I have such a foothold in my career that I don’t really need it.”

Drasin is proud of the experience and education he received at STCC. He said he was one of the very few people in law enforcement who reached top administrative positions without bachelor’s or other advanced degrees. He recommends students considering a law enforcement career start by pursuing an associate degree from STCC, and then continue on with their education.

“It’s still hard to get in the door with various law enforcement organizations,” he said. “Some won’t even let you apply without an associate degree. Pursuing an associate degree and beyond won’t just help candidates get their foot in the door, but will also help throughout their careers.”

It’s been over 30 years since he was last at STCC. The professors he remembers have either retired or passed away, but he expresses his thanks to the late Bert Scannapieco, one of the two original members of the Criminal Justice Program. He also thanked recently retired professor Daniel Hebert for challenging him. The professors, he said, got him started “on a most fantastic and unexpected journey.”

He recalls applying lessons he learned at STCC to federal law enforcement.

“I remember when we had to break crimes down into the statutory elements of the offenses,” Drasin said.

He said federal crimes are very complicated and some cases might be rejected by the prosecutor’s office for not meeting all of the requirements.

“I had my agents break down the offenses exactly as I learned at STCC,” he said. “I was surprised that staff was unfamiliar with this method, but it was one of the basic lessons of my degree program, which  supported a high criminal conviction rate in the field.  That’s one example of how STCC helped me.”

Seth Dupuis, associate professor and Criminal Justice program coordinator, said an associate degree from STCC can lead to a wide variety of career opportunities. Many graduates find positions at municipal police departments. Some go on to Law School. Others find positions at federal agencies.

“Our Criminal Justice Program at STCC serves as an affordable pathway to a law enforcement career,” Dupuis said. “Graduates of the program understand the legal, technical and practical aspects of law enforcement procedures. We prepare them for demanding yet rewarding careers where they can make a meaningful difference.”

Now retired, traveling and enjoying volunteer work and time with his family, Drasin reflected on his rewarding career that began in a STCC classroom.”

“I could barely imagine getting a full-time job in law enforcement, and I still can't believe it,” he said. “It just seems like a dream that I had a career doing the most amazing things that I did and that STCC was the starting place of it all for me. And the places where I've gone and the things that I've done I just don't think would have been possible had I not started at STCC.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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