Monday,
June 8, 2009
Janet
Napolitano Announces Southwest Border Task Force
U.S.
Department of Homeland Security
ALBUQUERQUE,
N.M.—U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today the formation of the Homeland
Security Advisory Council (HSAC) Southwest Border Task Force, a diverse group of national security experts charged with examining
the Department’s efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border and providing advice and recommendations directly to the Secretary.
“This
task force, comprised of law enforcement, elected officials and national security experts from around the country, will advise
the Department on key issues facing communities along the Southwest border,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I have
asked this group to present me with concrete recommendations to address the complex challenges we face in this region, and
their collective expertise will be a critical asset as we work to secure the border while facilitating legal travel and trade.”
The
new task force underscores DHS’ emphasis on Southwest border security in response to ongoing drug cartel violence in
Mexico. Secretary Napolitano asked the 20-member group to focus on two major challenges: ensuring rigorous inspections processes
at ports of entry while facilitating commerce; and assessing the practical consequences of border violence and DHS’
response to communities along the Southwest border.
The
group held its inaugural meeting today at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., and is chaired by current HSAC
chair and former CIA and FBI director Judge William Webster. The vice chairs are Jim Jones, former ambassador to Mexico and
White House Chief of Staff, and Lupe Trevino, sheriff of Hidalgo County, Texas.
HSAC
consists of experts from state, local and tribal governments, first responder communities, academia and the private sector
and consults directly with Secretary Napolitano on homeland security issues.
The
Southwest Border Task Force members include:
William
“Bill” Webster (Chair) is a retired partner at Milbank, Tweed,
Hadley, and McCloy. He previously served as Director of the CIA and FBI. Judge Webster is a member and chair of DHS’
Homeland Security Advisory Council.
James
“Jim” Jones (Vice Chair) is Chairman and CEO of Mannatt Jones
Global Strategies. He is a former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, and White House Chief of Staff.
Guadalupe
“Lupe” Trevino (Vice Chair) is Sheriff of Hidalgo County,
Texas. He currently serves on the State of Texas Homeland Security Office Mass Migration Committee and on the Executive
Committee of the Texas Radio Interoperability Coalition.
Ruben
Barrales is President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
He served in the White House for five years as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush, where he was the President’s
liaison to state and local elected officials.
Andrea
Bazan is President of Triangle Community Foundation. She serves as Chair
of the Board of Directors of the National Council of La Raza, and is a member of the Leadership Council of Hispanics
in Philanthropy.
Robert
“Rob” Bonner is a senior principal of the Sentinel HS Group,
a homeland security consulting firm. He is also a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP. Bonner served as the first
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Ray
Borane served as Mayor of Douglas, Ariz., from 1996-2008. Borane was
also an FBI Special Agent and served as a Policy Advisor to the Governor of Arizona on border and immigration issues.
Raymond
Cobos is Sheriff of Luna County, N.M. Cobos served as Detention Administrator
and Undersheriff in Luna County prior to being elected Sheriff in 2006. Cobos is also a volunteer with the GED Tutor Literacy
Program.
John
Cook is Mayor of El Paso, Texas. Cook formerly served as president of
the El Paso Health Care Facilities Financing Corporation and El Paso Housing Finance Corporation.
Jeffrey
Davidow is President of the Institute of the Americas. He has served
as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Zambia, and Venezuela and as Assistant Secretary of State.
Richard
Dayoub is President and CEO of Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. Dayoub
previously was owner, president and CEO of a large regional travel company for nearly 30 years.
Victor
Flores is Director of Executive Projects at Arizona Public Service. He
is currently a member of the State of Arizona Transportation Board, serves as president of the Arizona-Mexico Commission Board
of Directors, and sits on boards at the Valley of the Sun United Way, the Children’s Action Alliance and Vision Quest
20/20.
Francis
“Pancho” Kinney is Vice President for HNTB Federal. Kinney
was previously DHS Deputy Director of International Affairs. Kinney is a Border Trade Alliance Board Member and Infrastructure
Committee Chair.
Melvyn
“Mel” Montano is a retired Major General in the U.S. Air
National Guard and former Adjutant General of New Mexico.
Kenny
Montoya is a Major General and Adjutant General for the New Mexico National
Guard. He is also president of the State Armory Board and provides oversight for the New Mexico Civil Air Patrol.
Ned
Norris, Jr. is Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Prior to his election, he worked with the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise as Director of Marketing and Public
Relations, Casino Manager and Director of Community Relations.
Maria
Luisa O’Connell is President and CEO of Border Trade Alliance (BTA).
Prior to joining BTA in 1998, she was a financial analyst at Bank One International Corporation, and also worked for the National
Federation of Merchants of Colombia.
Ralph
Ogden is currently serving in his fourth term as Sheriff
of Yuma County, Arizona. Ogden is a member of numerous local organizations and serves as Chairman of the State of Arizona
Homeland Security Coordinating Council.
Evelyn
M. Rodriguez is a physician and President and CEO of Rodriguez Health
Consulting Services, LLC. She is a former captain of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and worked on pharmaceutical
drug safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Robert
“Bob” Ross is President and CEO of the California Endowment,
a health foundation established in 1996 to address the health needs of Californians. He previously served as Director for
the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
Jerry
Sanders is Mayor of San Diego. Previously, Sanders served as San Diego
Chief of Police from 1993-1999. After leaving the Police Department, Sanders became the CEO of United Way. In 2002, Sanders
was appointed to the American Red Cross Board of Directors.
——————————
Press
Release, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, June 4, 2009
