Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) honors Richard “Dick” John Hoglund, who passed away peacefully at his home on August 13, 2024, at the age of 75. Dick was the first Director of the Office of Investigations following the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and played a pivotal role in shaping the agency.
Dick’s federal law enforcement career began in 1970 with the U.S. Customs Service, where he served as a Federal Sky Marshal and later as a Special Agent in Duluth, Minnesota. Throughout his distinguished career, Dick held leadership positions including Special Agent in Charge in Detroit, Michigan with the U.S. Customs Service, and later as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner in Washington, DC until his retirement in 2000. His dedication to public service continued after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, when he came out of retirement to work on the transition that merged the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service that would ultimately become the new Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Dick will be remembered for his exceptional leadership and his commitment to our nation’s security over his 30 years of service. His contributions had a lasting impact on HSI and the law enforcement community as a whole.