John Nokes is the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Louisville Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In this role, he oversees ATF’s mission to combat violent crime and regulate the firearms and explosives industries in Kentucky and West Virginia.
Under SAC Nokes' leadership, the ATF Louisville team—comprising Special Agents, Industry Operations Investigators (IOIs), Intelligence Research Specialists, Forensic Auditors, Technical Specialists, and Administrative Professionals—works collaboratively to reduce violent crime. Investigations are focused on armed violent offenders, career criminals, criminal organizations and gangs, firearm traffickers, and those who use explosives and arson to commit acts of violence. The ATF Louisville team partners closely with local, state, and federal agencies to achieve these goals. Additionally, SAC Nokes oversees the regulation of over 4,000 federal firearm and explosives licensees to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulations.
A native of Kentucky, SAC Nokes began his career in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1993 to 1998, including a 30-month assignment at U.S. Embassies in Belgium and Syria. In 1999, he joined the Kentucky State Police as a Trooper, where he served until 2008, including as a full-time member of the Special Response Team. In 2008, he joined the ATF, where he was assigned to Nashville, TN, as a Special Agent with the Violent Crimes Impact Team (VCIT), focusing on violent crime and gang investigations.
SAC Nokes’ career at the ATF has included several leadership roles: in November 2014, he was promoted to Branch Chief of Field Operations at the ATF National Academy in Glynco, GA, where he contributed to training over 650 new Special Agents. In May 2017, he became the Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) of the Bowling Green, KY Field Office, managing criminal investigations in Central and Western Kentucky. In June 2021, SAC Nokes took a ten-month temporary assignment with the Office of the Director, where he assisted in the development of ATF’s 5-year strategic plan for 2022-2027. He was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the ATF Columbus Field Division in November 2022, overseeing criminal investigations across Indiana and Ohio. He assumed command of the Louisville Field Division as SAC in March 2025.
SAC Nokes earned his Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Criminal Justice from Kentucky State University.
