AHERN NAMED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF FIELD OPERATIONS

AHERN NAMED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF FIELD OPERATIONS    Jayson P. Ahern, principal field manager of the U.S. Customs Service operations in San Diego, has been named to succeed Bonnie Tischler as assistant commissioner of Field Operations, effective June 30.
   Ahern, 48, will be responsible in overseeing 13,000 employees in America’s 301 ports of entry, as well as 20 Customs Management Centers, and the Canine Enforcement Training Center. The Office of Field Operations has a $1-billion annual operating budget and covers trade compliance, anti-smuggling efforts and border security.
   Ahern served as port director in Los Angeles and Miami, and also held'a series of management positions in Houston and Laredo, Texas. In Washington, Ahern had served at U.S. Customs in Washington as director of the anti-smuggling division, and as senior advisor to the acting commissioner of Customs. As director of the anti-smuggling division, he developed the southern border strategy for Operation Hardline, a program for strengthening the border against narcotics smuggling.
   Tischler recently announced her retirement.