[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 25 (Friday, February 13, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, THOMAS S. 
                               WINKOWSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 13, 2015

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retiring 
acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Thomas S. 
Winkowski. He has served with distinction, and is now ending his tenure 
after a 39-year career with CBP and other border security agencies. His 
tireless efforts have helped keep our borders secure and improved the 
efficiency and effectiveness of our border operations.
  Thomas Winkowski joined the U.S. Customs Service in 1975 as a 
cooperative education student. Upon graduating from Boston's 
Northeastern University in 1978, he was assigned to Los Angeles where 
he became a Customs inspector. He has subsequently served as Miami's 
port director, director at Los Angeles International Airport as well as 
Director of field operations in Miami from 2002 to 2007.
  Mr. Winkowski assumed the role of acting commissioner on March 30th, 
2013, taking the lead role of the 60,000-employee Customs and Border 
Protection agency. He has been a consistent advocate for innovation and 
efficiency, and since serving as assistant commissioner in CBP's Office 
of Field Operations in 2007, he has developed CBP into a world-class 
law enforcement organization through a stringent process of 
modernization and expansion of global operations. Mr. Winkowski also 
served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement where he led 20,000 employees in more than 400 
offices in the United States and 48 foreign countries.
  In recognition of his excellent and distinguished service, Mr. 
Winkowski was awarded the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award by 
President Bush in 2004. In 2009, his service was also recognized by 
President (Obama, who awarded him the Distinguished Executive 
Presidential Rank Award.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Thomas S. Winkowski, retiring 
acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. His years of 
dedication and commitment to our country have truly made this nation 
safer today. Thank you for this time.

                          ____________________