On March 30, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate University of Chicago Law School graduate Kevin K. McAleenan to a key administration post. If confirmed, McAleenan will assume the position of commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Department of Homeland Security. 

After graduating cum laude from Amherst College in 1994, McAleenan received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1998. 

McAleenan has served as deputy CBP commissioner since 2014 and became acting commissioner this past January. As the Department of Homeland Security’s chief executive, McAleenan is responsible for managing a budget of over $13 billion, overseeing 60,000 employees, and ensuring the effectiveness of CBP’s efforts to protect national security and promote economic prosperity. 

Since McAleenan assumed the position of deputy commissioner, CBP has developed new methods of protecting U.S. borders from terrorism and attacking criminal networks across the world while also promoting commerce and travel. In 2015, McAleenan earned a Presidential Rank Award, the nation’s highest award for civil service.