Glendive law enforcement veteran confirmed as U.S. Marshal for Montana

Craig Anderson was officially confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next U.S. Marshal for the state of Montana on June 7. The only thing left to do to make the appointment official is a sign off by the president, which is expected to be done with Anderson expecting to be able to start his new job in the coming weeks.

Anderson was nominated as the next Marshal in November by President Joe Biden after receiving a recommendation from Sen. Jon Tester.

"It's an honor and a privilege to be able to serve the state of Montana as U.S. Marshal. I specifically want to thank the senator and the president for the opportunity and their faith in me," Anderson said in an interview on Thursday.

Anderson has several decades of experience in law enforcement, having served as an officer in Dawson County and on various state boards throughout the years. He served as the county sheriff from 2003 to 2014; served as the Chief Probation Officer for Montana's Seventh Judicial District from 1979-2003; was involved in multiple criminal justice initiatives in the state, including serving as a member of the Montana Board of Crime Control from 1982 to 2003; was a member of the Youth Justice Council from 1980 to 2002; served as Chairman of the State Juvenile Detention Task Force from 1994 to 2003; was President of the Montana Probation Officers' Association in 1986; and served as President of the Montana Correctional Association in 1984.

In a statement after the Senate's confirmation, Tester highlighted Anderson's prior service, saying that experience will now be beneficial to all of Eastern Montana.

"Keeping Montanans safe is my top priority in the United States Senate, and our state just got safer with the confirmation of Craig Anderson as Montana's next U.S. Marshal. Over his long law enforcement career, Craig has shown an unwavering dedication to public safety, and his experience on the ground in Eastern Montana shows he's the right person to oversee operations of the U.S. Marshals Service in the Treasure State. The Marshal Service is key to keeping rural communities safe, and I have no doubt that Craig will do right by Montana communities," Tester said.

Anderson expects to be able to start officially within the next few weeks.