Christopher Howard

Former Special Agent
Consultant

Christopher Howard is a retired Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Over more than three decades in federal service, he investigated misconduct, corruption, and criminal activity involving DOJ employees, contractors, and programs. Before joining the OIG’s Seattle Domicile Office in 2014, Mr. Howard served in the Dallas Field Office and previously held roles with the U.S. Probation Office in Winston-Salem and Tucson, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons at FCI La Tuna in Texas.

Mr. Howard earned a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kentucky Wesleyan College. Throughout his career, he conducted thousands of interviews, from victims and witnesses to senior federal officials, and led complex investigations involving public corruption, bribery, civil rights violations, and sexual misconduct within federal institutions. His work has resulted in criminal convictions, administrative actions, and major internal reforms.

He has testified in federal criminal trials and grand jury proceedings and authored detailed investigative reports used by DOJ leadership in disciplinary and prosecutorial decisions. Mr. Howard also served on DOJ committees focused on best practices for investigating sex crimes and inter-division collaboration within the Office of the Inspector General. His career achievements earned him multiple honors, including the 2024 William “Buddy” Sentner Award for Exceptional Dedication to Duty—the OIG’s highest distinction—and the 2021 Inspector General Award for Distinguished Service.