Former State Police Captain Takes on New Hampshire Liquor Commission Role

From Montagne Communications: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) is announcing former New Hampshire State Police Captain Mark Armaganian will take on the role of director of the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing. The New Hampshire Executive Council unanimously confirmed Armaganian, a Concord resident, during its meeting on Wednesday, April 5. With a law enforcement career spanning 30 years, Armaganian spent 28 years with New Hampshire State Police, including most recently three years as bureau commander of Investigative Services.

Armaganian replaces James Wilson, who recently retired following a three-and-a-half year tenure as director. As director of the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing, Armaganian is responsible for day-to-day operations and development of enforcement policy.

“NHLC is pleased to welcome Mark Armaganian as our director of the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing, a role he is uniquely qualified to hold,” said NHLC Chairman Joseph Mollica. “Mark’s extensive and decorated career with New Hampshire State Police, coupled with his deep knowledge of both New Hampshire law and regulations, make him an ideal fit for this position. We are extremely fortunate to have Mark joining us to lead the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing.”

Armaganian’s career in law enforcement began in 1987 as deputy sheriff of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department in New York. Armaganian joined the New Hampshire State Police in 1989. In 2002, Armaganian joined New Hampshire’s Major Crime Unit where he was promoted to sergeant and worked as the unit’s lead investigator. Armaganian, who was promoted to lieutenant in 2011 and captain in 2012, has worked as a field training officer, as part of the state’s Motorcycle Unit, and as a certified forensic polygraph examiner. For nearly seven years, Armaganian was the co-host for the weekly radio show “You’re New Hampshire State Police with Jack Heath” on WGIR.

“I always had that drive toward service and that drive toward being there for those who cannot help themselves,” Armaganian said of his time in law enforcement. “In taking on this new role with NHLC, the education piece is extremely important to me and really drew me to this position. Reducing and eliminating incidents of underage drinking and impaired driving starts with education. I look forward to working in constructive and creative ways to continue the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing’s efforts to eliminate underage drinking and to minimize instances of impaired driving.”

Along with enforcing state liquor laws, the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing is dedicated to educating the public, consumers, students and liquor license holders about the state’s liquor laws and statutes, along with the legal, financial, social and health risks of abusing alcohol. The NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing hosts a monthly schedule of alcohol awareness events and trainings aimed at generating awareness for employees, restaurant owners, managers and the public.

“I am very much looking forward to joining the NHLC team, which has clearly been successful in both meeting the needs of its millions of customers each year, and also promoting a culture of responsibility and safety,” Armaganian added. Armaganian also noted he has worked hand-in-hand with NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing investigators regularly on a variety of cases and initiatives over the years. “I am excited for this opportunity to continue to build on NHLC’s success and positive culture.”

Former director Wilson, a U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard veteran, began his tenure at the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing in 2002 as an investigator and was confirmed as director in 2013.

“I am proud of our work in finding the right balance between bolstering and supporting NHLC objectives and promoting safe and responsible consumption of alcohol,” Wilson said. “One of my main focuses was building relationships within NHLC, as well as with our law enforcement partners, community stakeholders, the public and our license holders. While the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing is a regulatory body, we are also there to support license holders and we really focused on creating a positive culture for all.”

Wilson spent five years on the executive board of the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association (NLLEA), ultimately serving as president of the board. During that tenure, he helped raised New Hampshire’s national and international profile.

Under Wilson’s leadership, NHLC secured considerable grant funding to bolster the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing efforts, including a $25,000 grant to support a campaign to curtail impaired driving during the holidays, and a grant to outfit all NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing vehicles with hands-free technology for communicating on the road.

“The citizens of New Hampshire should be extremely proud that its alcohol regulatory system is held in such high regard that various states and countries look to NHLC as a model and turn to it as a resource for best practices,” said NHLC Deputy Commissioner Michael Milligan.

For more information about the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing, visit here.

Photos courtesy of Montagne Communications:

(Image 1)The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) is announcing former New Hampshire State Police Captain Mark Armaganian will take on the role of director of the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing. The New Hampshire Executive Council unanimously confirmed Armaganian, a Concord resident, during its meeting on Wednesday, April 5.

(Image 2) Former New Hampshire State Police Captain Mark Armaganian was recently confirmed as director of the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing. Armaganian replaces James Wilson, second image, who recently retired following a three-and-a-half year tenure as director.