Van D. Bayless was designated to serve as the Acting United States Marshal (USM) for the District of Arizona by Director Ronald Davis on September 1, 2022, then by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on March 10, 2023, and then designated by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on July 2, 2025.
Acting United States Marshal (USM) Bayless began his law enforcement career as a Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of California in 2003. In 2009 he was selected as an Inspector to the Investigative Operations Division (IOD) Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles until his promotion in 2011 when starting Counter Gang Unit 1 (CGU-1) for the Agency. While working in IOD he lateraled to a regional Supervisor overseeing enforcement operations throughout California and an OCONUS partner district. In 2014 he became a Supervisory Deputy in the Northern District of Texas prior to becoming the Chief Inspector of Core Programs for the Training Division in 2017. Acting USM Bayless lateraled to an Assistant Chief Deputy in 2018 and promoted to the Chief Deputy in 2020 for the District of Arizona when Director Davis appointed him the Acting USM in September of 2022. During Acting USM Bayless’ career he served as a primary instructor for High-Risk Fugitive Apprehension and Tactical Training Officer, in the Operational Medical Support Unit, and across numerous committees to include Basic Deputy, Development and Field Training, Task Force Officer Onboarding and Joint Law Enforcement, and the merit promotion Career Board.
In addition to serving several ongoing Marshal Service working groups he currently sits on the Executive Boards for Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats (ACTT) and Chair of Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Acting USM Bayless is a member of the Arizona Association Chiefs of Police (AACOP) and Arizona Sheriffs Association (ASA).
Acting USM Bayless was born and raised in Long Beach, California and joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) after starting college. He began a career in Accounting and Finance leadership positions in both the public and private sector prior to being recalled to the USMC following the attacks on September 11, 2001, where he continued service in overseas combat tours. Upon his return he continued his academic pursuit earning Summa Cum Laude honors and graduating from Columbia College with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Administration.