Customs and Border Protection chief announces retirement

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.