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Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announced Wednesday that he will leave his position at the agency in November.

In concluding his long career in public service, Bonner leaves the 35,000-employee agency responsible for managing the country's borders during a critical time for the Homeland Security Department. Michael Brown, who served as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, recently resigned, and DHS is under pressure for its handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"It has been a true honor to serve this president and our country, especially during such a critical time following the 9/11 terrorist attacks," Bonner said in a statement. "Because of the brave, dedicated men and women of CBP, I know that when I leave my post, America is a more secure nation."

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement that Bonner "has been an integral part of the Department of Homeland Security leadership team since its inception."

"I appreciate the commitment and service he has shown in directing our border security efforts," Chertoff said. "His guidance and efforts have been instrumental in balancing our need to preserve the integrity of our borders without sacrificing the free flow of commerce on which our nation and the global community depends."

According to DHS officials, Bonner submitted his retirement notification to President Bush earlier this week. A CBP spokeswoman confirmed that Bonner will retire sometime in November and return to California.

Prior to his service in the current Bush administration, Bonner served as an assistant U.S. attorney, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, a U.S. district judge and as the Drug Enforcement Administration administrator under the first President Bush. He graduated from the University of Maryland and the Georgetown School of Law.

Nominated in June 2001 by President Bush to serve as the U.S. Customs Service commissioner, Bonner lobbied for the agency's current organizational status, which included merging the Customs Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service and Border Patrol into a single agency.

He became CBP's first commissioner on March 1, 2003.

Charles Showalter, president of the American Federation of Government Employees' National Homeland Security Council, which represents about 6,000 agency employees, said "good riddance" in response to the announcement, adding that Bonner had "devastated" the morale of the agency's officers during his reign.

Showalter said the council and union will attempt to forge a partnership between the agency's employees and the next CBP commissioner and that "it cannot be like the last time" because the agency's responsibility at the border is too great.

"The employees have repeatedly made it known to the agency that there are major issues that need to be addressed," Showalter said. "We have seen a marked shift in preference for technologies than for reinforcing the best asset that we have, which is the employees."

Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents about 12,000 CBP employees, said in a statement that the union offers its best wishes to Bonner and that she looks forward to working with the next CBP chief, who will face "immense challenges" in meeting the needs of the agency.

COMMENTS

• I just wanted to set the record straight in regards to Mr. Bonner’s motives. I personally know Mr. Bonner and I want to respond to some of his critics. First all he was at CBP longer than a cup of coffee. Four years in any job is an expanse of time, especially one that is all consuming with extensive travel and issues. Also, Mr. Bonner is not driven by money -- hard to believe isn’t it; he already has more than enough. In fact the commissioner job paid significantly less than what he was making in his previous job, so obviously money was not the answer. Why did he accept the job? Because he truly wanted to help his country, of course in doing so you cannot make everyone happy. I enjoy the comments from supposedly educated people that call others names. Wow, I am truly impressed! It takes a bigger person to ignore this kind of ilk and move forward to make positive changes in a difficult situation. Lastly someone stated that they would like to retire after 2.5 years. Mr. Bonner has actually been in government service for a long-time as a federal prosecutor, judge, DEA Administrator and CBP Commissioner (several decades). For you who responded with positive and constructive comments, I thank you, for it is people such as yourselves who will help make necessary changes and get on with the business at hand, protecting the nation. Complainers are the ones who help make everyone else miserable and really do not bring anything to the party. GovExec.com reader Posted November 26, 2005 4:54 PM
• Take it easy on the Gunny: he/she can't do any better. These individuals are indoctrinated with group think. They fall in line even when they know it to be wrong. Read the article from that perspective. rds Posted October 24, 2005 11:17 AM
• Mr. "Supervisory Special Agent", I can safely say I am not in any dire need of counseling from EAP or any other program of the like. You, on the other hand, seem to require rectal-cranial extraction because, in the midst of your disdain for me, you failed to recognize that I am equally disgusted with the way this agency has been mishandled. I have many associates from both sides of the legacy fence who feel the same as I do. I'm not on a "Bash Bonner and all of Customs" campaign. On the contrary, all leadership in both camps, ICE and CBP, are to blame for their respective dereliction. What I find most disturbing, and what I have been addressing, are all the whiners and malcontents bickering about how bad Chertoff, Garcia, and legacy INS are; nobody's arguing that point but I have difficulty stomaching the pompous, condescending attitude of the legacy Customs boys thinking they've lost their perch on Mt. Olympus. Step down off your high horses kids! As far as me taking pot-shots at those poor innocents, I haven't been sitting quietly either regarding ICE's gross mismanagement, which is evidenced by the fallout. So, where did you come up with the justification for that "observation"? By the way, who are the smart, talented investigators who are resigning? I know a lot of them, both legacy INS and Customs who are still on the job. Maybe they're bailing out of your camp. The Gunny GovExec.com reader Posted October 18, 2005 12:39 PM