John W. Magaw is was a United States Government administrator. He was born in Columbus, Ohio and received a bachelor of science degree in education from Otterbein College, in Westerville, Ohio. He began his career in public service in 1959 as a trooper with the Ohio State Patrol. Magaw was Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) from 1993 to 1999, at a time when the agency came under criticism of the Waco Texas tragedy. Magaw has received the 1991 and 1999 Presidential Rank Meritorious Award and, in 1995, received the Presidential Rank Distinguished Award.