Kevin McAleenan

Mr. Kevin K. McAleenan served as the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security from April 8, 2019 to November 11, 2019. As head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Acting Secretary McAleenan was responsible for counterterrorism; cybersecurity; border, port, aviation and maritime security; enforcement and administration of immigration laws; response to national disasters; detection and prevention of nuclear, chemical and biological threats; and the protection of critical infrastructure and the nation’s leadership. Acting Secretary McAleenan managed 240,000 employees in 22 different components and agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Secret Service.

During his tenure as the Acting Secretary, McAleenan traveled to Central America nearly a dozen times and executed a strategy of diplomacy and international engagement with several Central American countries to mitigate the mass influx of Central Americans migrating to the United States. Working collaboratively with his counterparts and the Presidents of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, McAleenan forged new information sharing and law enforcement partnerships to dismantle and disrupt alien smuggling organizations as well as established a regional approach to protection for those fleeing persecution.

McAleenan presided over the Department’s response to Hurricane Dorian, a category five hurricane that devastated the Bahamas in the early fall of 2019. Under McAleenan’s leadership, coordinating across multiple agencies including the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Administration and Customs and Border Protection across numerous state and local agencies, the Department worked aggressively to ensure that relief was provided effectively and efficiently to the Bahamas following the devastation of a Category 5 Hurricane.

Following the horrific attacks in El Paso, Acting Secretary McAleenan renewed DHS’s focus on counterterrorism and targeted violence by establishing the DHS’s Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence. The framework recognized the growing threat of domestic terrorism and targeted violence, and DHS’s important prevention mission and takes a whole-of society approach to develop localized prevention frameworks to protect their communities.

Before this appointment, he 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.

As CBP’s chief executive, McAleenan oversaw 60,000 employees, managed a budget of over $13 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. Previously, McAleenan served as Deputy Commissioner from November 2014, until his appointment to Acting Commissioner. In this role, he served as the agency’s Chief Operating Officer and senior career official.

Under McAleenan’s leadership, CBP developed strategies that protect the nation’s borders from terrorism and transnational criminal networks. During his tenure, CBP implemented innovations that have facilitated the U.S. international arrival and departure process, saving the government and travel industry millions of dollars. 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 the Los Angeles airport and 17 other airport facilities 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.

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 antiterrorism 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. Having served in a national command role for the past decade, McAleenan has testified before the House and Representatives and Senate dozens of times on a variety of issues, including cybersecurity, aviation security, border security and trade and travel. He has been interviewed by virtually every major media outlet including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post and appeared on every major television network.

McAleenan is serving as a Distinguished Guest Lecturer for the Combatting Terrorism Center’s (CTC) course on Homeland Security and Defense during the Spring 2020 semester at the United States Military Academy. Mr. McAleenan is providing multiple guest lectures and assisting the Combatting Terrorism Center in shaping the course syllabus and lesson plans. McAleenan also serves on the Atlantic Council’s Future of DHS Project Senior Advisory Board. The Atlantic Council’s Future of DHS Project brings together senior experts in homeland and national security to recommend major reforms for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. McAleenan serves on the Board of Advisors of Steampunk, and is an Operating partner at Aero Equity.

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.