Basham sets departure date

Basham sets departure date

Basham

   U.S. Customs Commissioner Ralph Basham informed staff Tuesday that his last day will be Feb. 28, spokesman Mike Friel confirmed.
   Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern will serve as acting commissioner until new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano names a successor for Basham and the individual is confirmed by the Senate.
   Napolitano had asked Basham after the presidential election to postpone retirement for several months to help with the transition to the new administration.

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   Basham said in a message to workers that he felt comfortable moving up the original timetable because the critical period of the transition has passed and he has full confidence in Ahern and the employees to continue the agency’s border management mission.

Napoltano	Ahern

   The Journal of Commerce was first to report Basham’s new departure date. ' Eric Kulisch