How many people have been Chief of the Border Patrol?
In March 1926, General Order 61 established the role of "Supervisor of the Border Patrol," now known as the Chief of the Border Patrol. Consequently, the Border Patrol did not have a designated Chief during its initial two years, from 1924 to 1926.
Instead of having a single Chief, the Border Patrol began with two separate Chiefs, one for the northern border and one for the southern border. Ruel Davenport and George Harris were the first Chiefs of the Border Patrol.
As George Harris served nonconsecutive terms, Chief Banks is the 27th Chief of the Border Patrol, though he is the 26th individual to hold the position. Below is the list of the Chiefs of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with their respective years of in the position:
Please refer this document containing the portraits of the Chiefs of the U.S. Border Patrol up to Rodney Scott. Note that Chief Collaer's name is misspelled in the document.
Instead of having a single Chief, the Border Patrol began with two separate Chiefs, one for the northern border and one for the southern border. Ruel Davenport and George Harris were the first Chiefs of the Border Patrol.
As George Harris served nonconsecutive terms, Chief Banks is the 27th Chief of the Border Patrol, though he is the 26th individual to hold the position. Below is the list of the Chiefs of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with their respective years of in the position:
- Ruel E. Davenport (photo) - Northern Border, 1926-1927 - Border Patrol, 1927-1932
- George J. Harris (photo) - Southern Border, 1926-1927
- Frank W. Berkshire (photo) - Canadian Border District, 1932-1933
- George J. Harris (photo) - Mexican Border, Gulf and Florida District, 1932-1933
- Willard F. Kelly (photo), 1933-1943 (First Chief to have been a Border Patrol Inspector)
- John W. Nelson (photo), 1943-1948
- Nicolas Donald Collaer (photo), 1948-1950
- Harlon B. Carter (photo), 1950-1957 (First Chief to have graduated from the Academy)
- James F. Greene (photo), 1957-1959
- Donald R. Coppock (photo), 1960-1973
- Robert L. Stewart (photo), 1973-1977
- Robin J. Clack (photo), 1977-1978
- Donald Day (photo), 1978-1979
- Roger P. Brandemuehl (photo), 1980-1986
- Hugh Brien (photo), 1986-1989 (Naturalized citizen of Ireland)
- Michael S. Williams (photo), 1990-1995
- Douglas M. Kruhm (photo), 1995-1998
- Gustavo De La Vina (photo), 1998-2004
- David V. Aguilar (photo), 2004-2010
- Michael J. Fisher (photo), 2010-2015
- Mark A. Morgan (photo), 2016-2017
- Ronald D. Vitiello (photo), 2017-2018
- Carla L. Provost (photo), 2018-2020 (First woman to serve as Chief)
- Rodney S. Scott (photo), 2020-2021
- Raul L. Ortiz (photo), 2021-2023
- Jason D. Owens (photo), 2023-2025
- Michael W. Banks (photo), 2025-present (First politically appointed Chief)
Please refer this document containing the portraits of the Chiefs of the U.S. Border Patrol up to Rodney Scott. Note that Chief Collaer's name is misspelled in the document.
