Ms. Ficaretta was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Counsel on March 4, 2007. Prior to being selected for that position, she was the Associate Chief Counsel (Firearms, Explosives & Arson) from 2002-2007. Her duties include providing legal advice to the Director and the Department of Justice on all legal issues relating to the agency's administration and enforcement of the Federal firearms, explosives, and arson laws. She is also responsible for supervising the Assistant Chief Counsels and Division Counsels in ATF's 23 field divisions and the Associate Chief Counsels in Headquarters. Ms. Ficaretta frequently provides instruction to ATF employees, State and local law enforcement officials, and congressional staff on the Federal firearms and explosives laws. She has also acted as a legal advisor to the Department of State on international issues relating to firearms, ammunition, and explosives. From 1998-2001 Ms. Ficaretta was a member of the United States delegation to the United Nations Crime Commission, assisting in negotiating an international treaty to combat the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms and ammunition. Ms. Ficaretta attended the American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C., and was awarded a Juris Doctor in 1982. She is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia and has been in practice at ATF Headquarters in Washington since 1982.