Chertoff Group lands former CBP chief Ahern

Chertoff Group lands former CBP chief Ahern

Ahern

   Jayson Ahern, who retired in December as acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has joined the Chertoff Group, a security-consulting group established last year by former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
   Ahern’s hiring has not been formally advertised through a press release, but the veteran law enforcement official is listed on the company’s Web site as a principal.
   Ahern served as deputy commissioner for 18 months before taking the agency’s reins for the last 10 months of 2009 following the departure of Ralph Basham, who established his own consulting firm. The Obama administration last fall nominated Alan Bersin to be the next commissioner, but the Senate has not taken steps to approve him yet. CBP is now headed by Acting Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar, who was in charge of the Border Patrol within CBP.
   CBP is a component agency within the Department of Homeland Security.
   Ahern moved up through the ranks at the legacy Customs Service during a career that started as an inspector and has spanned 33 years. He was assistant commissioner of field operations from 2002 to 2007, and played a key role in the transition to the DHS and the merger with other agencies to form CBP.

Chertoff

   The Chertoff Group advises clients on security and managing risk related to terrorism, cyber security, fraud, border protection and supply chain security. The firm also provides analysis to companies in the security arena engaged in mergers and acquisitions.
   Chertoff received some negative press after the Christmas Day airline bombing attempt when he penned an op-ed in the Washington Post advocating the use of whole bodying imaging machines for passengers without disclosing that he represented Rapiscan, a company that manufacturers the $170,000 machines. ' Eric Kulisch