PERSON: Pete Flores

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Director of Field Operations

Mr. Flores brings 24 years of law enforcement experience to his new position, including overseeing passenger and cargo operations and invaluable front-line experience: he began his distinguished federal career in 1988 as a customs inspector at the Calexico port of entry.

Mr. Flores most recently served as the assistant director, border security, San Diego Field Office, overseeing all anti-terrorism, narcotics interdiction, alien apprehension, and prosecution efforts, as well as the integrity program.

Before serving as the assistant director, border security, Mr. Flores was the acting port director, San Ysidro, from March 2011 through August 2011, and acting director of the San Diego Field Office from July 2010 through March 2011. During this time, he was responsible for the six ports of entry along the California/Mexico border and served as the primary day-to-day liaison to federal, state and local law enforcement entities.

As the assistant director, trade, San Diego Field Office from August 2006 through October 2011, Mr. Flores oversaw all trade, cargo operations, fines, penalties and forfeitures efforts for CBP Field Operations in southern California.

From June 2003 until August 2006, he was assigned as chief of the Manifest and Conveyance Branch in Wash., D.C., which included oversight of trade programs in air, rail, vessel and truck modes of transportation. He was selected as a program manager for Trade Enforcement and Facilitation in 2002 and spent an additional six years at CBP Headquarters. Mr. Flores also worked at the Pre-Clearance Station in Freeport, Bahamas where he was instrumental in initiating a Passenger Analysis Unit for air and sea passengers departing the Bahamas to the United States.

A native of California, Mr. Flores holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the San Diego State University, with a major in Criminal Justice Administration.

— cbp.gov