Biography

Kevin K. McAleenan became Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection January 20, 2017. As the agency’s chief executive, Mr. McAleenan oversees 60,000 employees, manages a budget of over $13 billion, and ensures the effective operations of CBP’s efforts to protect national security while promoting economic prosperity and security.  Mr. McAleenan directs CBP’s three core missions, counterterrorism, border security, and trade enforcement, while facilitating $4 Trillion in trade and facilitating travel of over 365 million people through ports of entry.  He oversees the largest law enforcement agency and the second-largest revenue collecting source in the federal government.

Mr. McAleenan previously served as Deputy Commissioner from November 2, 2014, until his appointment to Acting Commissioner.  In this role, he served as the agency’s Chief Operating Officer and senior career official.  Under Mr. McAleenan’s leadership, CBP has developed strategies that protect the nation’s borders from terrorism and attack transnational criminal networks.  Mr. McAleenan has also implemented innovations that have facilitated the U.S. international arrival and departure process, saving the government and travel industry millions of dollars.  He has also advanced the development of CBP’s trade transformation agenda, designed to help America compete in the global economy.

Mr. McAleenan has previously held several leadership positions at CBP and one of its legacy agencies, the U.S. Customs Service.  From 2006 to 2008, Mr. McAleenan served as the Area Port Director of Los Angeles International Airport, directing CBP’s border security operations at LAX and 17 other airport facilities in one of CBP’s largest field commands.  In December 2011, Mr. McAleenan was named acting Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations.  In this position, he led agency operations to secure the U.S. border while expediting lawful trade and travel at 329 ports of entry in the United States and 70 international locations in more than 40 countries.

Mr. McAleenan received a 2015 Presidential Rank Award, the nation’s highest civil service award.  He also received the Service to America Medal, Call to Service Award, in 2005 for spearheading efforts to develop and implement a comprehensive antiterrorism strategy in the border security context after September 11, 2001.

Mr. McAleenan has been a member of the U.S. Government’s Senior Executive Service since 2006.  Prior to government service, Mr. McAleenan practiced law in California.  He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College.