Sentinel Group lands port director McAleenan

Sentinel Group lands port director McAleenan The reunion of ex-Customs officials continued Tuesday with the announcement that Kevin McAleenan has joined The Sentinel Group, a homeland security consulting and lobbying firm headed by former Customs and Border Protection official Brian Goebel.
   McAleenan, who will be a vice president at Sentinel, served as executive director of the Office of Anti-Terrorism and most recently was area port director for Los Angeles International Airport. There he was responsible for CBP passenger and cargo screening operations at 17 area airports, including McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and large express consignment, mail and cargo operations at Ontario International Airport, the Carson International Mail Facility, and the DHL March Island Airport facility.
   Fairfax, Va.-based Sentinel was founded in August 2005 by Brian Goebel, who served as counsel and senior policy advisor under former CBP Commissioner Robert Bonner from September 2001 until May 2004. Last month, Bonner left his law job and joined the firm as senior principle.
   McAleenan was also a counselor and senior policy advisor to Bonner on antiterrorism and intelligence matters before a dedicated office was established.
   Other CBP alumnae at Sentinel include Joshua Kussman, a former director of policy and specialist on immigration matters; Keith Thomson, a former assistant commissioner for international affairs at CBP; and Jeff Thamkittikasem, who served as chief of staff in CBP’s Office of Anti-Terrorism.
   Michael Ivahnenko, who was a policy advisor within the offices of Intelligence and Operations Coordination, and Anti-Terrorism, also joined Sentinel in January as a senior consultant. ' Eric Kulisch