Tim Cardwell began his tenure with HIDTA in October 2017 and currently serves as the National Coordinator for the Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE) National Initiative, representing the National HIDTA Assistance Center.

Before joining HIDTA, Tim Cardwell completed a 33-year law enforcement career, serving at the municipal, county, state, and federal levels. Throughout his career, he provided instruction and built professional networks within the nationwide highway criminal interdiction community. He served as a senior mentor instructor with the U.S. Department of Transportation Drug Interdiction Assistance Program (DIAP), the EPIC Operation Pipeline program, and in North Carolina. Cardwell has instructed thousands of law enforcement professionals across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Moldova. He has received multiple awards, including the National Criminal Interdiction Officer of the Year.

Tim Cardwell is a graduate of the North Carolina State University Administrative Officers Management Program (AOMP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Drug Unit Commanders Academy, and several other management and leadership training programs.