[2] From 1985 until 2010, Santelle was employed as a federal prosecutor, holding various posts in the Eastern District of Wisconsin: he supervised the civil division from 1993 to 1999, acted as interim United States Attorney from 2001 to 2002, and served as executive assistant United States Attorney from 2002 to 2003.
[2] During the Iraq War, Santelle served as rule of law coordinator and as legal advisor at the United States Embassy in Baghdad.
[2][3] In December 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Santelle to the office of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
[3] As United States Attorney, Santelle gained public attention for his personal response to the 2012 Wisconsin gurdwara shooting.
[citation needed] Santelle retired from the Justice Department on July 31, 2015, and was succeeded by First Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Haanstad.