Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Jason Owens, chief of the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector, will be appointed as the next Chief of the Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller announced today.
Miller made the announcement in a media release on several leadership transitions within Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Owens, who assumed command of the Del Rio Sector in February 2022, will succeed Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz, who confirmed last week he intends to retire at the end of the month. Like Owens, Ortiz had served as the chief of the Del Rio Sector before being promoted to lead the agency.
“It is with great pride that I announce that Chief Jason Owens will be appointed as the next Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. Chief Owens has served in the U.S. Border Patrol for more than 25 years, rising through the ranks to hold key leadership positions at every
level,” Miller wrote in announcing Owens’ appointment.
Miller said Owens has served as chief of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, chief of the Houlton (Maine) Sector and chief of the Del Rio Sector.
“Over the course of his career, Chief Owens has demonstrated consistent dedication to our border security and homeland security missions and to the men and women who carry out these responsibilities every day. I am confident he will ably lead the U.S. Border
Patrol into its 100th year and beyond,” Miller wrote.
In an interview with the 830 Times shortly after he was appointed chief for the Del Rio Sector, Owens said he has spent most of his Border Patrol career in Texas, serving in El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Del Rio.
Owens called the Del Rio community “just astounding, amazing,” especially praising his agency’s partnerships with city and county officials, including the chief of police and the sheriff.
“It’s just a great group of people. Like everywhere, the Border Patrol isn’t just in the community, it is part of the community, but I have seldom seen a community rally around the Border Patrol as much as I’ve seen Del Rio do,” Owens said during the 2022 interview.
The acting CBP commissioner in his media release on Friday also spoke about Ortiz’s imminent retirement.
“As announced last week, Chief Raul Ortiz will retire on June 30, after an impressive 32-year career with the U.S. Border Patrol. Chief Ortiz is a true leader who has worked tirelessly to ensure our Border Patrol agents have the tools, resources and support they need to do their jobs.
“He has numerous accolades and awards from his tenure in the Border Patrol, but the highest compliment we can bestow on him is that he is a great agent. I have benefitted greatly from his partnership, expertise and wise counsel over the years and congratulate him on his retirement after three decades of service,” Miller wrote.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
