Kimberly J. Daniels is a managing director within Guidepost Solutions’ DEA Regulatory Compliance practice, bringing more than 20 years of experience as an executive, leader, and investigator specializing in federal and state regulatory compliance, complex investigations, and risk management. At Guidepost, she focuses her expertise on advising clients as they navigate intricate DEA rules and regulations, mitigate risk, and enhance overall operational compliance practices.
Ms. Daniels’s experience encompasses matters related to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act (CDTA), and her work at Guidepost supports a diverse range of clients, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, healthcare systems, practitioners, importers, exporters, narcotic treatment programs, researchers, and pharmacies. Ms. Daniels specializes in resolving complex challenges involving all aspects of pharmaceutical controlled substances, with expertise in conducting thorough compliance assessments, managing multifaceted investigations, and developing strategic risk mitigation programs. She provides the strategic guidance necessary to help adapt to evolving regulations, mitigate operational vulnerabilities, and maintain adherence to legal standards and ethical business practices.
Prior to joining Guidepost, Ms. Daniels built a distinguished 21-year career with the DEA, serving in leadership positions throughout the United States. As a DEA Diversion Program Manager, Ms. Daniels oversaw regulatory compliance operations for more than 60,000 DEA registrants and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders across Missouri, Kansas, and southern Illinois.
Ms. Daniels served at DEA offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, as well as headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. She established herself as a leading authority in regulatory compliance and criminal diversion investigations, directing complex operations that have driven tangible outcomes. Beyond frontline compliance and enforcement, she has been a driving force for systemic reform and innovation. Notably, she championed and secured law enforcement access to Missouri’s statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), a valuable tool in combating drug diversion, while also collaborating with DEA leadership to launch national virtual training initiatives that modernized stakeholder engagement and generated substantial cost savings to the government. Before her time with the DEA, Ms. Daniels also worked within the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, where she led investigators in specialized civil investigations targeting Pharmacy Benefits Managers to ensure adherence to state laws.
Ms. Daniels has provided definitive expert witness and direct testimony across federal, state, and military courts, cementing her reputation as a trusted resource. She has developed and delivered dozens of specialized training courses throughout her career. These programs equip DEA registrants, industry stakeholders, law enforcement personnel, and the general public with critical insights into shifting national drug trends and complex controlled substance compliance.
Ms. Daniels’ extensive specialized training includes the Diversion Leadership program and the Diversion Group Supervisor Institute, as well as focused coursework in Federal Pharmaceutical Drug Investigations and Prosecutions. She is an active member of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI).
did you know?
Kim is an avid baker and sourdough maker, as well as a painter and art enthusiast, always creating – whether in the kitchen or on canvas.
