Cindy K. Chung was sworn in on Tuesday to become U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Chung, 46, of Pittsburgh, took the oath of office from Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak.

“I have dedicated my career to serving the public and am honored to continue to do so by leading this outstanding office,” Chung said in a written statement.

“I look forward to working with our law enforcement and community partners to protect the public, pursue equal justice under the law and serve the people of the Western District of Pennsylvania,” she added.

Chung was nominated by President Joe Biden on Oct. 27 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 19.

Chung had been an assistant U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh since 2014 and served from 2018 to 2020 as deputy chief of the major crimes section.

She also served in the past as acting deputy chief of the violent crimes section and at various times as coordinator of Project Safe Neighborhoods, domestic violence, border security and civil rights.

Chung has been described as brilliant, careful and thorough in her work. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Yale University and attended law school at Columbia University.

She began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Myron Thompson in the U.S. District Court Middle District of Alabama. She also previously worked as an assistant district attorney in New York County (Manhattan) and served as investigation counsel in the Official Corruption Unit.

Chung also worked as a trial attorney in the criminal section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights division in Washington, D.C., from 2009 to 2014.

In the spring, she co-taught a course on federal hate crimes at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Chung replaces Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman, who has served since former U.S. Attorney Scott Brady resigned in late February.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Pittsburgh includes 59 attorneys in criminal, civil and appeals divisions, as well as 56 support staff. It has offices in Pittsburgh, Erie and Johnstown and serves the 25 westernmost counties in Pennsylvania.

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