 | Commissioner's Staff Offices |
| - | Office of Chief Counsel - Alfonso Robles, Chief Counsel
The Chief Counsel is the chief legal officer of CBP and reports to the General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security through the Assistant General Counsel, Borders and Transportation Security. The Chief Counsel serves as the Ethics Officer for the organization and is the principal legal advisor to the CBP commissioner and its officers. The Office of the Chief Counsel provides legal advice to, and legal representation of, CBP officers in matters relating to the activities and functions of CBP. The office is also responsible for reviewing proposed actions to ensure compliance with legal requirements, preparing formal legal opinions, preparing or reviewing responses in all court actions, civil or criminal, involving CBP, and developing, implementing, and evaluating nationwide programs, policies, and procedures within its functional areas. The office has both a headquarters and a field structure. The headquarters office is located in Washington, D.C. and its activities are divided broadly into three functional areas: Ethics, Labor and Employment, Enforcement, and Trade and Finance, under the supervision of Associate Chief Counsels. The field structure consists of Associate and Assistant Chief Counsels located in major cities across the U.S. who advise CBP field managers in their geographic areas. | |
| - | Office of Diversity and Civil Rights - Franklin C. Jones, Executive Director
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12/09/2010
The Office of Diversity and Civil Rights is headed by Executive Director Franklin C. Jones. The office is responsible for ensuring compliance with the federal civil rights statutes, regulations and Executive Orders governing federal employment and federally funded and/or assisted programs. DCR formulates and implements policies and programs in the areas of workforce diversity and inclusion, Equal Employment Opportunity complaints processing, civil liberties compliance, and diversity program evaluations and analysis. | |
| - | Office of Policy and Planning - Lewis S. Roach, Acting Executive Director
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09/20/2012
The Office of Policy and Planning, headed by Lewis Roach, acting executive director, is responsible for assisting CBP leadership in defining and advancing U.S. Customs and Border Protection mission priorities through the effective development, review and implementation of key policy and planning initiatives. In partnership and coordination and with other CBP offices, the Department of Homeland Security and other governmental agencies, the office develops policy, provides oversight of the CBP policy function and ensures a common framework and alignment to CBP strategic intent. This team acts as the commissioner’s executive agent for CBP policy and aligns CBP policy across offices. Additionally, in collaboration with other CBP offices, the office promotes an integrated approach toward strategic planning for CBP by formalizing the use of the planning, programming, budgeting, and accountability process to align out-year planning with budget priorities. | |
| - | Office of Trade Relations - Maria Luisa O’Connell, Senior Advisor for Trade
The Office of Trade Relations, headed by Senior Advisor for Trade Maria Luisa O’Connell, is responsible for managing CBP’s outreach and communications with the international trade community. The office ensures that the trade community and the public understand that trade is an integral part of CBP’s mission: making America safer, stronger, more prosperous, and economically competitive. The office's mission is to continually improve relations between CBP and the trade community by enhancing collaboration, cooperation, and inform decision making at all levels including operational, legislative, and political. The office also is responsible for organizing and presenting formal CBP outreach efforts to the trade community, including CBP’s annual Trade Symposium, monthly trade day meetings, trade roundtable meetings, and webinars. The office manages the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (COAC), a congressionally mandated trade advisory group. Finally, the office is the designated regulatory fairness representative for the agency with responsibility for promoting compliance with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. | |
| - | Office of State, Local and Tribal Liaison
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09/20/2012
The CBP State, Local and Tribal Liaison, headed by Robert A. Fencel, acting director, is responsible for advising the commissioner, deputy commissioner and program offices on the impact of CBP policies and initiatives with regard to state, local and tribal stakeholders. To accomplish this mission, the liaison office strives to maintain open communication and build effective relationships with state, local and tribal governments. The office assists these stakeholders through regular, transparent and proactive communication by maintaining partnerships through active outreach. State, local and tribal governmental issues regarding border security and trade facilitation can be referred to the State, Local and Tribal Liaison via: (202) 325-0775 or at:
CBP-STATE-LOCAL-TRIBAL-LIAISON@cbp.dhs.gov. | |
| - | Office of Non-Government Organization Liaison - Anna Hinken
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02/13/2012
The Non-Government Office (NGO) Liaison is the agency’s principal liaison to non-governmental organizations to include faith-based and advocacy groups. Responsibilities of the NGO Liaison include facilitating dialogue on behalf of CBP to the NGO community in close collaboration with DHS components, and other federal agencies as appropriate. Formalizing this position is a critical step toward building and enhancing the agency’s relationship with this important community. Questions, issues or concerns should be forwarded to the NGO Liaison at NGOLiaison@cbp.dhs.gov. | |
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