Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan today named Customs and Border Protection Chief Operating Officer John P. Sanders to be acting commissioner of the agency.
McAleenan was moved away from CBP last week to fill the top spot in DHS after Kirstjen Nielsen stepped down.
“John Sanders has proven instrumental to advancing CBP’s mission and organizational priorities across the agency,” McAleenan said in a statement. “In addition to bringing greater focus on the agency’s operational requirements, he has provided strategic direction and oversight to critical enterprise services and operations support functions across the agency. With John Sanders’ leadership, CBP will continue to excel, remain ever vigilant, and accomplish the mission with steadfast resolve.”
Sanders joined CBP in July 2018. Before that he was an advisor for investment firm M33 Growth, CEO at Pramantha Solutions, and on the board of directors for Evolv Technology and OGSystems.
From June 2010 to December 2011 Sanders was deputy assistant administrator at the Transportation Security Administration and from August 2012 to December 2014 he was assistant administrator/chief technology officer at the agency.
Sanders holds a master’s degree in physics from San Diego State University.
“As a key CBP executive, Mr. Sanders participates on several boards and committees dealing with matters involving CBP,” says CBP. “He also serves as a principal representative and consultant for CBP at interagency and international meetings, and leads efforts to partner with industry and other stakeholders to help drive innovation across the agency.”
