The U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector proudly introduces the newly selected Deputy Chief Patrol Agent, Austin L. Skero.
Deputy Chief Skero began his Border Patrol career in February 1995 at the Brownsville Station in RGV Sector. Serving throughout Texas and New Mexico, his initiative and work ethic allowed him to climb the ranks. His demonstrated leadership abilities earned Deputy Chief Skero his first command position in Laredo, Texas. While at the Laredo Sector, he built the Laredo West Station and checkpoint, where he served as its very first Patrol Agent in Charge from 2007 to 2009. He was then promoted to Assistant Chief Patrol Agent in Laredo. In 2010, he promoted to Associate Chief at Headquarters in Washington, DC and served as Acting Deputy Chief of Operations until 2012 when he was appointed Chief Patrol Agent of the Grand Forks (North Dakota) Sector. In Grand Forks, he was responsible for 861 miles of shared border with Canada. He maintained key relationships with stakeholders and partners in eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
Beginning in 2015, Deputy Chief Skero served as the Director of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate, leading CBP’s effort to optimize the safety, readiness, accountability and operational performance of more than 45,000 CBP law enforcement personnel.
As Deputy Chief of the RGV Sector, he has direct operational oversight of the nine Border Patrol stations and three checkpoints responsible for securing 277 river miles, 317 coastal miles, and 34 counties encompassing 34,000 square miles. Daily, he provides strategic, tactical, and administrative direction and oversight for the sector, including the management of operational programs, the coordination of binational enforcement efforts and the development of local policy and program initiatives.
Prior to joining the Border Patrol, Deputy Chief Skero served as a Deputy Sheriff in central Texas.
“We are excited to once again call the Rio Grande Valley our home,” said Skero. “I’m proud to say that my law enforcement career flourished as a result of what I learned early on right here in South Texas. I’m anxious to build relationships with stakeholders in our community to include our business leaders and civic organizations.”
Deputy Chief Skero says he’s impressed with the growth of not only the area but the partnerships the agency has gained.
