Statement from Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen on the Confirmation of CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan

Today, Kevin K. McAleenan was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
 

Commissioner McAleenan has served admirably as the Acting Commissioner of CBP since January 2017. In that time as the head of the nation’s largest law enforcement agency, he has worked tirelessly to secure our border and protect national security, while also promoting economic prosperity and facilitating legal trade and travel.

 

Prior to his time as Acting Commissioner, Commissioner McAleenan served as Deputy Commissioner of CBP. In that role, he managed the day-to-day operations of the 60,000 person agency. He has also held several other leadership positions within CBP, including Acting Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations and Area Port Director of Los Angeles International Airport.

 

In 2015, Commissioner McAleenan was awarded a Presidential Rank Award for his sustained extraordinary accomplishments at CBP. In 2005, he received the Service to America Medal, Call to Service Award, for his efforts to develop and implement a comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy for border security post-September 11, 2001. Commissioner McAleenan has been a member of the U.S. Government’s Senior Executive Service since 2006. Prior to government service, he practiced law in California, and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College. 

 

Please join me in congratulating Commissioner McAleenan and his family. I want to thank Kevin for his many years of dedicated service at CBP and his commitment to our nation’s security. I am proud of all he has accomplished at CBP and look forward to continuing to work with him as he drops the “Acting” title and formally takes on the role of Commissioner.