The Arizona Beta Chapter of
Sigma Phi Epsilon
The University of Arizona
Brother Knauss was initiated into Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1965 and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1968. Upon Graduation, he spent a year in graduate school and then transferred to law school and graduated with a J.D. in 1972 from the University of Arizona.
Before retiring in 2008, Dan served as United States Attorney, District of Arizona in 2007. Appointed by Attorney General and then Arizona District Court, he served as chief federal law enforcement officer in the State of Arizona. The U.S. Attorney is responsible for all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation in Arizona. He served as Chief Assistant United States Attorney from 2005 to 2007.
After graduating brother Knauss worked as Assistant United States Attorney till 1974. He was appointed Chief of the Criminal Section from 1974 to 1981. In 1980, he became a First Assistant United States Attorney. In 1985 he was appointed Chief Assistant and served until 1992. From 1992 to 1997 he served as First Assistant. From 1997 to 2005, he served as Assistant United State Attorney in the Civil Division, Tucson Branch Office. He then served as Chief Assistant United States Attorney from 2005 to 2007. During this time he also served as a part-time Attorney Evaluator for the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys from 1982 to 2000. In this capacity, he conducted field evaluations of litigation, litigation management, and support activities of United States Attorney’s offices in other districts throughout the country. He did over 24 evaluations, serving as a Team Leader in twelve of those evaluations including the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, the Central District of California, and the Western District of Texas. In addition, he served as the U.S. Attorney’s International Affairs and National Security Coordinator from 1990 to 1998. In this capacity, he was responsible for coordinating responses to requests for judicial assistance from foreign countries pursuant to mutual legal assistance treaties and for advising other Assistant U.S. Attorneys when their cases involved classified material. On three occasions, he represented the U.S. Department of Justice in bi-national meetings with federal prosecutors from the Mexican Attorney General’s office.
During his career, Dan was an Instructor and Group Leader for the Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute’s Criminal and Civil Trial Advocacy Courses in Washington, D.C. and the National Advocacy Center. He trained new Assistant U.S. Attorneys in criminal and civil trial advocacy skills. From 1985 to 1987 he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the U of A College of Law, where he taught basic trial practice skills to second and third year law students. In 1985 he was a Faculty Member for the Criminal Law Seminar, State Bar of Arizona 52nd Annual Convention.
For Dan’s years of service and work, he has been honored numerous times. He has received the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award four times in 1974, 1983, 1990, and 1991. In 1998, he received United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Certificate of Appreciation for dedication, service, and advocacy on behalf of crime victims and the Director’s Award for Superior Performance in a Managerial Role in 1992. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service Presented for successful prosecution of narcotics and white collar fraud cases and for administrative abilities as an office evaluator for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and as implementer of the Victim-Witness program in 1986. In 2008, he received the Michael C. Cudahy Criminal Justice Award Presented by the State Bar of Arizona for “working tirelessly to advance the principles of criminal justice by representing the public’s interests with integrity, fairness, tenacity, creativity, brilliance and professionalism.”
Dan serves on numerous boards: Currently serving as Secretary, Board of Directors, Arizona Beta Sigma Phi Epsilon Housing Corp. Member, Leadership Council, Desert Hope Lutheran Church, Former member of Board of Directors, Community Housing Corp., 2006 through 2008. He is currently a member of the Tucson Medical Center Audit and Compliance Committee.
He is married to Paula and they have on child, Daniel who is working on a doctorate in clinical psychology. He and his wife presented them with twin baby granddaughters last December 10, 2012.
Brother Knauss says, “My undergraduate experience as a Sig Ep was wonderful. I made my best friends among my brothers. I would like current and future undergraduates to have the same opportunity that I had.”