CBP names McAleenan to head OFO

   Two veteran hands who have lead many program initiatives and offices at U.S. Customs and Border Protection have been promoted, according to the agency.
   Kevin McAleenan has become acting assistant commissioner for field operations in the wake of the reshuffling that took place last week following Commissioner Alan Bersin’s departure, according to news release about the transition on the CBP web site. 
   Two weeks ago, CBP appointed Richard DiNucci to be deputy assistant commissioner for international trade, a spokesperson confirmed. DiNucci has served as acting deputy assistant commissioner since May.
   The White House moved Bersin to the Department of Homeland Security’s headquarters to be assistant secretary of international affairs and chief diplomat when his temporary appointment expired without Senate confirmation. That triggered a series of moves as Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar, a former head of the Border Patrol, stepped up to be acting commissioner and Thomas Winkowski, assistant commissioner for field operations, took over as acting deputy commissioner.
   McAleenan previously was second in command in the Office of Field Operations, the second-largest component within CBP after the Border Patrol with more than 20,400 employees. OFO is responsible for managing security and the flow of travelers and commercial trade through the nation’s land, sea and air ports of entry.
   McAleenan rejoined CBP in mid-2010 after two years as vice president and partner with The Sentinel Group, a homeland security consulting and government affairs firm founded by former CBP official Brian Goebel. McAleenan previously served as executive director of the Office of Anti-Terrorism at CBP under former Commissioner Robert Bonner and afterwards was area port director for Los Angeles International Airport, where he was responsible for passenger and cargo screening operations at 17 area airports. He was also a counselor and senior policy advisor to Bonner on antiterrorism and intelligence matters before a dedicated office was established.  
   DiNucci will help Assistant Commissioner Al Gina oversee daily operations for about 1,000 employees at CBP headquarters and field locations responsible for commercial enforcement and compliance. Both men came up through the ranks in OFO where the focus is on border security and criminal enforcement. Bersin moved Gina to his current post last spring as part of a reorganization designed to add operational expertise at the ports to the Office of International Trade.
   Prior to his new position, DiNucci served as acting assistant director of field operations for trade and cargo security in the New York field office.
   DiNucci is best known outside the agency for leading the implementation of the Importer Security Filing program, also referred to as “10+2” for the combination of advance data elements required for ocean shipments. Prior to that he worked closely with industry in designing and implementing the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. 
   He has also held special assignments in the deputy commissioner’s office and at the Department of Homeland Security. His 23-year career has also included stints in the Office of International Affairs where he worked on the framework for the World Customs Organization’s Kyoto Convention standardizing international customs clearance processes and facilitating cooperative law enforcement operations with international partners.
   He also served as deputy director in the Office of Anti-Terrorism, deputy director of border Targeting and Security in OFO overseeing the Automated Targeting System and the director of cargo control in OFO. He also headed the Secure Freight program that conducted pilot programs oversees to study how to scan 100 percent of containers moving through ports.
   DiNucci’s appointment was originally reported by World TradeInteractive, a daily newsletter published by Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services. — Eric Kulisch