Donrien Stephens currently serves as the Acting United States Marshal for the Western District of Washington, a position he assumed in July 2023, following his designation by the U.S. Attorney General. In this role, he is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and operational direction of the district, overseeing the U.S. Marshals Service’s mission, such as judicial security and fugitive apprehensions throughout Western Washington.
Mr. Stephens was promoted to Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal in August 2021, where he served as the senior operational advisor to the United States Marshal and helped guide district strategy, operations, and personnel development. Under his leadership, the Western District of Washington received recognition from the Director’s Office for its outstanding community outreach initiatives and measurable reductions in violent crime achieved through district-led task force operations.
Prior to this role, Mr. Stephens served as the Assistant Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal beginning in September 2020. In that capacity, he oversaw multiple core operational programs, including Fugitive Investigations, General Operations, Judicial Security, Asset Forfeiture, Training and Professional Development, Missing Child Investigations, and investigations conducted under the Adam Walsh Act’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). During this period, he focused on strengthening management capabilities within the district by mentoring supervisors, developing leadership talent, and enhancing operational readiness.
Mr. Stephens also served as a Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal from July 2017 to September 2020. His responsibilities included conducting and providing oversight of protective intelligence investigations, General Operations, Service of Process, policy compliance, and district training and professional development initiatives.
He began his career with the U.S. Marshals Service in 2006 as a Deputy U.S. Marshal assigned to the District of Columbia Superior Court. During his early career, he served on fugitive task force operations, investigating and closing numerous major U.S. Marshals Service cases, including international fugitive investigations. He has served in the Middle District of Georgia, and the Western District of Louisiana before moving to Seattle. Mr. Stephens holds a bachelor's and a master's degree with academic concentrations in Criminal Justice and Criminology.