United States Marshal Dennis C. Merrill

Marshal Dennis Merrill was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2002, as the U.S. Marshal for the District of Oregon. He is the Marshals Service chief executive for the District and leads the organization in meeting the goals and objectives of the agency.

Marshal Merrill currently serves as an executive board member of the Oregon HIDTA Program, a member of the district’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, a member of the Operational Review Panel for the United States Marshals Service, and participates on the Governor’s Public Safety Leadership Council.

Prior to his appointment, Marshal Merrill had 27 years of local law enforcement experience with the Portland Police Bureau. He started his career as a patrol officer in 1975. Since then, he served at all levels within the organization with a solid blend of experience in nearly all facets of the organization including operations, communications, investigations, and administration. Marshal Merrill’s assignments included patrol officer, dispatch coordinator, court coordinator, patrol sergeant, internal affairs investigator, detective sergeant, patrol lieutenant, captain of the Planning and Support Division, captain of the Human Resources Division, and Assistant Chief of Investigations.

Dennis Merrill also served over 32 years with the Oregon Army National Guard. He enlisted into Headquarters and Headquarters Company 41^st Brigade in 1972. He was subsequently commissioned in 1974 as a second lieutenant from the Oregon Military Academy Officer Candidate School. Throughout the years, he has had numerous assignments including company and battalion command. Additionally, he served as the commander of Task Force Pershing for Operation Joint Guard in Slavonski Brod, Croatia in 1997. In 1998 he was promoted to brigadier general and has served as the commander of the 82 Brigade (TC) with its headquarters in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He retired in July of 2004.

Dennis Merrill is a native Oregonian.  He graduated from Tigard High School in 1968 and Portland State University, with honors, in 1974. He is also a graduate, with honors, of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and a 1996 graduate of the United States Army War College.

Historical Listing of United States Marshals for the District of Oregon