Episode 10: Kevin McAleenan (Former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security)

The Honorable Kevin K. McAleenan is a law enforcement executive who served in national command and leadership roles in the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection since shortly after September 11th, 2001. Most recently, Mr. McAleenan served as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security from April through November 2019, where he developed and led the Department's efforts to substantially mitigate the border security and immigration crisis through international partnerships and enhanced security and humanitarian measures, developed a new strategic framework for countering terrorism, and worked to enhance the Nation’s cyber and infrastructure security. In this role, he oversaw more than 240,000 employees in more than 20 agencies with a budget of $60 Billion dollars.

Before this appointment, McAleenan served as Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), having been confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2018. Previously, he had served as CBP Acting Commissioner since January 2017 and Deputy Commissioner—the senior career law enforcement official at CBP—since 2014.

As CBP’s chief executive, McAleenan oversaw 60,000 employees, managed a budget of over $15 billion, and ensured the effective operations of CBP’s mission to protect national security while promoting economic prosperity. He directed CBP’s three core missions of counterterrorism, border security, and trade enforcement while facilitating $4 trillion in trade and facilitating travel of over 365 million people through ports of entry.

Under McAleenan’s leadership, CBP developed strategies that protect the nation’s borders from terrorism and transnational criminal networks. During his tenure, CBP implemented technology innovations that have facilitated the U.S. international arrival and departure process, including biometrics and facial recognition. Additionally, under his leadership CBP developed a trade transformation agenda, designed to help America compete in the global economy.

From 2006 to 2008, McAleenan served as the Area Port Director of Los Angeles International Airport, directing CBP’s border security operations at LAX and Las Vegas McCarron, in one of CBP’s largest field commands. In December 2011, he was named acting Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations. In this position, McAleenan 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.

Currently, McAleenan is serving as a Distinguished Guest Lecturer for the Combatting Terrorism Center’s (CTC) course on Homeland Security and Defense at the United States Military Academy. McAleenan also serves on the Homeland Security Experts group and is supporting the Atlantic Council’s Future of DHS Project.

McAleenan received a 2015 Presidential Rank Award—the nation’s highest civil service award. In 2005, he received the Service to America Medal, Call to Service Award, for spearheading efforts to develop and implement a comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy in the border security context after Sept. 11, 2001. McAleenan has been a member of the U.S. Government’s Senior Executive Service since 2006. Before his government service, he 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.