Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden was found dead inside an office at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in downtown San Diego on Wednesday evening, shortly after authorities received a report that he was missing. The 48-year-old prosecutor, a longtime member of the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, was discovered by San Diego police at 880 Front Street, the address that houses the federal prosecutors’ offices. Police spokesperson Ashley Nicholes confirmed that officers responded late Wednesday after a call about a potentially missing man. A short time later, Haden was located deceased in a vacant office within the building. Investigators attended the scene out of an abundance of caution, yet officials stated that no foul play is suspected.
The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the medical examiner. Haden had served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office since 2010, building a 16-year career marked by leadership and dedication. He twice stepped into the role of acting U.S. attorney during periods of transition between permanent leaders, first for approximately two months in 2023 and again for a similar period in 2025.
Colleagues remembered him as a steady presence who guided the office through those interim stretches with professionalism and care. Before rising to higher administrative posts, Haden worked in the General Crimes Section and the Major Crimes Section. He later served as chief of the Violent Crimes and Human Trafficking Section, overseeing cases that addressed serious threats to public safety in San Diego and Imperial counties. His responsibilities included prosecutions involving violent crime, human trafficking, public corruption, firearms trafficking, and child exploitation.
He also held positions such as deputy chief in multiple sections, senior litigation counsel, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney. A San Diego native and University City High School graduate, Haden brought a strong sense of local commitment to his work. He attended Stanford University, then served five years as an officer in the U.S.
Navy, completing two overseas deployments. His final naval assignment was as navigator aboard the USS Mobile Bay, a guided-missile cruiser based in San Diego. After leaving the service, he earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and clerked for U.S. District Judge Thomas J.
Whelan before joining the Department of Justice through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Haden’s professional excellence earned recognition. In 2020 he received the nationwide Director’s Award for Superior Performance in a Managerial or Supervisory Role from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. In 2024 the Federal Bar Association honored him with the Peter J.
Mazza Outstanding Federal Lawyer Award for his leadership, high standards, and public service. Beyond the courtroom, Haden was a father of two school-aged children. Friends and colleagues described him as someone who brought energy and warmth to every setting. Southern District U.S.
Attorney Adam Gordon released a statement reflecting the office’s grief. “This is one of the darkest days in our office’s history, but there was nothing dark about Andrew Haden’s life,” Gordon said. “He was a beacon of light full of laughter, friendship, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving our community. We will honor his life and legacy by carrying his light forward, today and always.”
The news of Haden’s death has left the legal community in San Diego shaken. Prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and staff who worked alongside him over the years have expressed sorrow at the loss of a respected colleague and friend. Many recalled his infectious enthusiasm, his mentorship of younger attorneys, and his steady guidance during complex cases and administrative transitions. As the medical examiner continues the process of determining the precise circumstances of his passing, the U.S.
Attorney’s Office and the broader San Diego community are left to mourn a career public servant who dedicated nearly two decades to upholding the law and protecting the public. Haden’s service as a Navy veteran, federal prosecutor, and twice-acting U.S. attorney leaves a lasting mark on the Southern District of California. His colleagues have pledged to remember the qualities that defined him and to continue the work he valued so highly.
In the days ahead, those who knew Andrew Haden will gather in memory and support for his family. The federal building where he spent so many years of his professional life now stands as a quiet reminder of a dedicated career cut short. The absence of foul play offers some clarity amid the sadness, yet the loss remains profound for everyone who counted him as a coworker, mentor, or friend.
