Presentation Transcript

1. BACKGROUND ON MY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER PRE 9/11 & U.S. Department of Homeland Security United States Secret Service (USSS) USSS Agent (1970 – 1998) Special Agent-in-Charge, Field Office USSS HQ Positions – Retired as Assistant Director for Administration POST 9/11 Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (1998 –2002) POST Creation of U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Chief of Staff, U.S. Transportation Security Administration (2002 – 2003) Return to U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Director, United States Secret Service (2003 – 2006) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (2006 – 2009)
2. Career as a Special Agent in the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) “Worthy of Trust and Confidence” Mission: The Secret Service’s Mission Set – Protection & Investigations “The mission of the United States Secret Service is to safeguard the nation's financial infrastructure and payment systems to preserve the integrity of the economy, and to protect national leaders, visiting heads of state and government, designated sites and National Special Security Events.” Challenges Faced Personal Organizational Transformation of the Organization 1970 to 1998 Increasing reliance on law enforcement partnerships to fulfill protective mission. Adapting to a changing threat environment even before 9/11. The balancing act between political pressures and law enforcement responsibilities.
3. Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) “To Train Those Who Protect Our Homeland” Mission The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s mission is to serve as an interagency law enforcement training organization for 90 U.S. Federal Law Enforcement agencies as well as to state, local, and international law enforcement agencies. History 1970 – Consolidated Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (CFLETC). In 1970, the Consolidated Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (CFLETC) was established as a bureau of the Department of the Treasury and began training operations in temporary facilities in Washington, D.C. 1975 – Renamed Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and relocated from Washington, D.C., to Glynco, Georgia where it’s headquarters remain today. 2003 – FLETC is transferred from the Department of the Treasury into the newly created Department of Homeland Security.
4. Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Role of FLETC Prior to 9/11 – U.S. Treasury Department FLETC’s Role in Post 9/11 Era Heightened emphasis on law enforcement training programs FLETC’s integration into DHS in 2003
5. 9/11: A Massive Catalyst for Change in the Law Enforcement Community 6 World Trade Center in the aftermath of 9/11, formerly U.S. Customs facility.
6. 1st Chief of Staff for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) U.S. Government Takeover of Aviation Security Post 9/11 = Replacing an Aircraft Engine Midflight Delicate Balancing Act: Security and Facilitation – Restoring confidence in U.S. aviation system in the face of post 9/11 terrorist threat. (A lesson that informed later experience as Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection) In many ways, not too different from responsibilities at USSS. Starting an Organization From Scratch Challenges: Recruiting and hiring a completely new workforce numbering in the tens of thousands. Vetting / background checks – how to ensure workforce integrity? Organizational challenges – sometimes unrealistic expectations from U.S. Congress, leadership. Experience with Federal Air Marshalls (FAMs). Merger into new DHS in 2003.
7. Returning to the USSS as Director New Territory for USSS A Changed Post 9/11 Threat Environment. First Presidential Trip to Active War Zone (Iraq, 2003) – Reliance on OPSEC and outside partner organizations. Building a Surge Capacity - 2004 Elections – Tremendous operational strain on USSS – continues today with President Obama. How to surge / scale resources when needed during intense operational periods? 9/11 Refocused U.S. Imagination – How do we plan for worse case / catastrophic scenario? Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) Threat Scenarios Secure Communications USSS Different From Future Role at CBP – At USSS, terrorist are just one of many threats to protect against.
8. Creation of DHS: Changing the U.S. Law Enforcement / Intelligence Community Landscape From Many, One Merger of 22 existing U.S. Government agencies under one department superstructure Lessons Learned: Protecting fiefdoms at expense of mission More than 87,000 entities at U.S. federal, state, and local level have some role in “homeland security” DHS an attempt to achieve “unity of effort” on that front.
9. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Different from Role as Director of USSS As Director at USSS, took over an intact organization. As Commissioner of CBP: Took over largest uniformed law enforcement agency composed of 4 legacy agencies: U.S. Customs Service – oldest law enforcement agency in country, formerly within U.S. Treasury Department. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – formerly in Department of Agriculture. Immigration Naturalization Service – formerly within Department of Justice. U.S. Border Patrol – formerly within INS / DOJ Many issues were foreign to me. 2nd Question During Confirmation hearings: “How do you feel about breaking the law?”
10. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Goal: One unified agency protecting America’s borders at and between ports of entry Key Points: Shift to new priority mission preventing entry of terrorists and terrorist weapons at border while ensuring integrity of important legacy missions: counternarcotics enforcement, prevention of illegal immigration, enforcing thousands of U.S. Trade Laws. Out of Many, One – Building one CBP organizational identity out of multiple workforces thrown together overnight? Balancing Security & Facilitation – how do we balance twin pillars of security with need for efficient movement of trade around globe? Major post 9/11 emphasis on security. Immigration & Naturalization Service U.S Border Patrol Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Customs Service
11. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Operational Challenges Faced: Doubling Size of Border Patrol to over 18,000 agents – mandated by White House, Congress Building 670 miles of tactical infrastructure Deployment of cutting edge technology to border – only one piece of operational puzzle.
12. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL Manpower / Boots on the Ground Technology Infrastructure
13. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) THE TWO PILLARS OF Security Infrastructure Facilitation Border Security Pre-9/11: Issue of National Sovereignty Border Security Post-9/11: Issue of National Security
14. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) BALANCING ACT BETWEEN New Priority Mission – to prevent entry of terrorists and weapons of terror into the United States. This delicate and necessary balance affects organizations and industries like ISC. Legacy Missions – including but not limited to : Counternarcotics Enforcements of hundreds of U.S. immigration laws Enforcement of hundreds of U.S. trade laws Collecting duties and enforcing tariffs* Protection of intellectual property rights Agriculture inspection at all ports of entry. *CBP is the 2nd highest revenue generating agency behind the IRS. Border Security Pre-9/11: Issue of National Sovereignty Border Security Post-9/11: Issue of National Security
15. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Priorities as Commissioner Intelligence – Transforming CBP into an intelligence-driven organization. Transforming definition of intelligence post 9/11 Good consumers and providers of intel Partnerships – Building partnerships with industry, trade community, other law enforcement agencies Integrity Border is highest threat environment for corruption. How do we combat this in the face of massive organizational growth?
16. Questions & Dialogue QUESTIONS?