Rosa M. Melendez was in the Law Enforcement field for over twenty-five (25) years.  She started with Salt Lake City Police as a Police Cadet and retired from law enforcement as the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Washington.  She spent 17 years with Seattle Police Department, and during her tenure with Seattle, she worked in the Patrol Division, Personnel Division, Internal Investigations Unit, Community Service Section and the U.S. Department of Justice's Weed and Seed Grant.  She became the first woman of color on the Seattle Police Department to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  She left Seattle Police Department as a Lieutenant.  In 1993, Ms. Melendez was nominated by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to the position of U.S. Marshal.  She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and appointed U.S. Marshal by President Clinton in 1994.  She became the first woman of color to become a U.S. Marshal.  Ms. Melendez has received numerous awards for her commitment to her profession and her community service.  She feels her mission in life is two-fold: to be the conduit between community and law enforcement and to be the voice for those who are not heard. Ms. Melendez was also  Regional Director (Region 10 - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington) for the U.S. Department of Justice - Community Relations Service (CRS).  CRS serves as "America's Peacemaker" for the U.S. Department of Justice.  CRS helps local communities address community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, and national origin. CRS also helps communities develop strategies to prevent and respond to violent hate crimes committed on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.    She is now retired and devotes her time to being an Agent of Change with Women of Color.