W. Ralph Basham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| W. Ralph Basham | |
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Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security |
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| In office June 6, 2006 – present |
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| Preceded by | Robert C. Bonner |
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| In office 2003 – 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Brian L. Stafford |
| Succeeded by | Mark J. Sullivan |
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| Alma mater | Southeastern University in Washington, D.C. |
W. Ralph Basham is the current Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He previously served as the 21st Director of the United States Secret Service on January 27, 2003. A 28-year veteran of the United States Secret Service, Basham has also served as Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and Chief of Staff of the Transportation Security Administration.
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[edit] Education
A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Basham received a bachelor's degree from Southeastern University in Washington, D.C. He is married to the former Judith O'Bryan and has three children, Paige, Craig, and Billy. Basham's honors include the 1992 and 2000 Meritorious Presidential Rank Awards.
[edit] Career with the Secret Service
Basham's career with the United States Secret Service began in 1970, when he was appointed a Special Agent in the Washington Field Office. He rose rapidly to the managerial level while serving in a variety of assignments reflecting the Service's diverse interests and responsibilities. Consistent with the dual missions of the Secret Service, Basham has served in supervisory positions in both protective and investigative assignments, serving as Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Field Office, the Washington Field Office, and the Vice Presidential Protective Division. Basham also served as the Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Training and as Assistant Director of the Office of Administration, where he was responsible for the management of the agency's administrative division, including financial management, personnel, procurement and strategic planning.
[edit] Position at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
In January 1998, Basham was appointed Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). The center, located in Glynco, Georgia and Artesia, New Mexico, provides training for nearly all of the nation's federal law enforcement officers, including Secret Service recruits. The FLETC also serves the state, local and federal law enforcement communities with training programs tailored to their specific needs.
[edit] Position at Transportation Security Administration
In January 2002, Basham was named Chief of Staff for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Among his responsibilities at TSA, Basham oversaw the hiring of federal security directors for the nation's 429 airports.
[edit] Return to US Secret Service
On January 27, 2003, Basham returned to the agency as the director, following the retirement of Brian L. Stafford.
[edit] Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
President Bush nominated Basham as Commissioner of CBP on January 30, 2006. Basham was confirmed by the Senate in May 2006. CBP is responsible for border security and trade, including the United States Border Patrol and inspecting persons and items entering the United States through its ports of entry.
