Acting CBP Commissioner Keynoting NCBFAA Annual Conference Customs Day

Washington, DC: Jayson P. Ahern, Acting Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), DHS is scheduled to open Wednesday’s Customs’ Day with the keynote address during the 35^th National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA) Annual Conference, April 19-23, at The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage, CA. Mr. Ahern joins a long line of high ranking CBP officials who have served as keynoters for this annual event, including former Commissioners W. Ralph Basham and Robert Bonner. 
        As acting Commissioner, Mr. Ahern continues to serve as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the daily operations of CBP’s 53,000-employee workforce and managing an operating budget of over $11 billion. His primary focus is keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country, while also carrying out CBP’s other border-related responsibilities, including stemming the tide of illegal drugs and illegal aliens, securing and facilitating legitimate global trade and travel, and protecting our food supply and agriculture industry from pests and disease.
        Most recently, in November 2008, Mr. Ahern was awarded the Secretary of Homeland Security’s Gold Medal in recognition of exceptionally outstanding leadership and service that is distinguished by achievements of national or international significance, reflecting great credit on the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Government by markedly improving the security of our homeland. Acting Commissioner Ahern is a career member of the Senior Executive Service, a graduate of Northeastern University and a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is married and has two sons.
        Headquartered in Washington, DC, the NCBFAA represents nearly 800 member companies with 100,000 employees in international trade - the nation's leading freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), NVOCCs and air cargo agents, serving more than 250,000 importers and exporters. Established in 1897 in New York, NCBFAA is the effective national voice of the industry. Through its various committees, counsel and representatives, the Association maintains a close watch over legislative and regulatory issues that affect its members. It keeps them informed of these and other related issues through its weekly Monday Morning eBriefing, and various meetings and conferences throughout the year.