see also: in May 2004:   CBP Border Patrol Nabs 3 Men and 3,000 lbs Of Dope   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Seize Over 10 Tons of Marijuana In a Three-Day Period Along Southwest Border   CBP Officers Seize Almost 6,000 Pounds of Marijuana at Otay Mesa Cargo East Facility   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Modifies Procedures Regarding Entry Requirements of Foreign Journalists   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces that Port of Tokyo Becomes 19th Container Security Initiative (CSI) Port to go Operational   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Over 10,000 Pounds of Marijuana in the Rio Grande Valley Overnight   First Class of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists Begins Training ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announced the selection of Gary M. Shiffman as his Chief of Staff. Dr. Shiffman's previous position was as the Director of Governmental Affairs in Greenberg Traurig's Washington, D.C. office.

"With his national security and foreign affairs background, Dr. Shiffman will enhance and present a fresh approach to securing our borders and ports of entry in the prevention of terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States," said Commissioner Robert C. Bonner.

The Chief of Staff advises the Commissioner on a variety of policy, security, trade, and management issues. Besides serving as a key advisor, he is also responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Commissioner's office and its interactions with the White House and other executive and legislative branches

"CBP serves a critical homeland security role as the border agency for our country. I look forward to working with CBP employees, officers, and agents, as well as with our foreign counterparts and the trade community," said Shiffman.

Dr. Shiffman has also worked in the United States Senate as a member of the leadership staff and Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Connie Mack. Shiffman managed international issues focusing on national security, trade and export policies, and foreign affairs. While on active duty in the United States Navy, he served on the staff and in advisory roles for the Secretary of Defense and for the Chief of Naval Operations. He is a Gulf War veteran and served two tours as a naval officer in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, where he was deployed throughout the Western Pacific and Asia. Shiffman received numerous personal and unit medals and commendations during his military career.

He received his Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University his Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation's borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.