Military expertise benefits Customs
Westerfield gained a great deal of his technical expertise courtesy of the United States Marine Corps, when he was assigned to the duties of Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Hazardous Materials, Storage and Transportation. In 1992, when Westerfield joined the Customs Service as an inspector at the Port of Calexico, Calif., he became the Port HAZMAT Coordinator. The former Marine wasted no time in implementing an aggressive compliance program - an initiative that later triggered hazardous materials investigations against two large corporations. When the word came down that these corporations had indeed been operating in ways that were not compliant with U.S. law, they were ordered to pay multimillion-dollar fines and bear significant penalties. Westerfield's compliance program had made a difference.

Four years later, Inspector Westerfield took the Customs HAZMAT/First Responder Training Program he'd started in Laredo, Tex., nationwide. In that same year, Westerfield transferred to San Luis, Ariz., but continued to work as an instructor in Laredo, teaching Hazardous Materials Awareness as part of the Southern Border Interdiction Training. In San Luis, Westerfield was also assigned to the Port's Hazardous Materials Office, a job he used to make sure that new requirements went into operation, forcing shippers for the first time to pre-file shipments of hazardous material and waste.

Working with industry and the public
Westerfield is an advocate of outreach and training, so it was no surprise that he chose to hold informational seminars for the local trade community and commercial transporters of hazardous materials. His presentations and outreach efforts quickly translated into increased compliance with transportation requirements for hazardous materials and hazardous waste - a boon for both the trade community and the public.

Inspector Westerfield has shared his expertise with Mexican Customs as well, conducting HAZMAT and officer safety training sessions that have generated a number of tips about materials violations. In this country, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Westerfield for his expertise in developing a Hazardous Waste Training program for their border inspectors. In 1995, Inspector Westerfield was the keynote speaker for the California Trucking Association, and in 1999, was a guest speaker at the annual North American Hazardous Materials Transporters Associations in Phoenix, Ariz.

Personal successes translate into public good
Westerfield's expertise and record made him the logical choice when the Customs Academy needed someone to lead its anti-terrorism related training initiatives. Soon, he was serving on an Office of Training and Development "Tiger Team" formed to coordinate and oversee all anti-terrorism related training, developing an anti-terrorism video for inspectors and an instructional program Customs will soon be sending to seaports, airports, and land borders.

Inspector Westerfield's career is a prime example of how small personal successes can turn into achievements that benefit us all. From his earliest days on temporary assignment to the Customs Academy - where he designed and taught the first Hazardous Materials Awareness course offered to basic Customs inspectors and senior inspectors - to a temporary stint in the Office of Outbound Programs in Washington D.C., where he wrote the Hazardous Materials Handbook for Customs inspectors - to the present day, where he works as a course developer and instructor at the Customs Academy, Inspector Westerfield has shown us time and time again that there is no challenge that will not respond to technical expertise and determination.

OTD Anti-Terrorism (A-T) Tiger Team Goals Work with organizations to identify A-T training needs and develop curricula Imbed A-T instruction in existing curricula Ensure that training is consistent and based on identified roles, responsibilities, and procedures Research existing A-T instructional programs and share with Customs training providers Build database of materials and resources for Customs training providers Conduct outreach to agencies and explore joint instruction