W. Ralph Basham

W. Ralph Basham
Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security
In office June 6, 2006 – February 27, 2009
Preceded by	Robert C. Bonner
Succeeded by	Allen Bersin
21st Director, United States Secret Service
In office 2003–2006
Preceded by	Brian L. Stafford
Succeeded by	Mark J. Sullivan
Personal details
Born	November 17, 1943 (1943-11-17) (age 68) Owensboro, Kentucky
Alma mater	Southeastern University in Washington, D.C.

William Ralph Basham, Jr. (born November 17, 1943)^[1] is the former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He had held the role until February 28, 2009. He previously served as the 21^st director of the United States Secret Service on January 27, 2003. A 28-year veteran of the United States Secret Service, Basham has also served as Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and Chief of Staff of the Transportation Security Administration.

Upon leaving government service in April 2009, Basham founded Command Consulting Group, a Washington DC USA based international advisory firm which provides security advisory services to government clients and business development assistance to companies with security related products or services.

Education

A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Basham received a bachelor's degree from Southeastern University in Washington, D.C. He is married to the former Judith O'Bryan and has three children, Paige, Craig, and Billy, and twelve grandchildren.

Career with the Secret Service

Basham's career with the United States Secret Service began in 1970, when he was appointed a Special Agent in the Washington Field Office. He rose rapidly to the managerial level while serving in a variety of assignments reflecting the Service's diverse interests and responsibilities. Consistent with the dual missions of the Secret Service, Basham has served in supervisory positions in both protective and investigative assignments, serving as Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Field Office, the Washington Field Office, and the Vice Presidential Protective Division. Basham also served as the Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Training and as Assistant Director of the Office of Administration, where he was responsible for the management of the agency's administrative division, including financial management, personnel, procurement and strategic planning.

Position at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

In January 1998, Basham was appointed Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). The center, located in Glynco, Georgia and Artesia, New Mexico, provides training for nearly all of the nation's federal law enforcement officers, including Secret Service recruits. The FLETC also serves the state, local and federal law enforcement communities with training programs tailored to their specific needs.

Position at Transportation Security Administration

In January 2002, Basham was named Chief of Staff for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Among his responsibilities at TSA, Basham oversaw the hiring of federal security directors for the nation's 429 major airports.

Return to U.S. Secret Service

On January 27, 2003, Basham returned to the agency as the director, following the retirement of Brian L. Stafford.

Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

President Bush nominated Basham as Commissioner of CBP on January 30, 2006. Basham was confirmed by the United States Senate in May 2006. CBP is responsible for border security and trade, including the United States Border Patrol and inspecting persons and items entering the United States through its ports of entry.

Global Trade Exchange

Basham was a lead proponent^[2][3] of the Global Trade Exchange (GTX), an intelligence-driven^[4] supply-chain data-mining effort that was one of three components of CBP's Secure Freight Initiative.

References

1. ^ date & year of birth according to LCNAF CIP data
2. ^ http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/commissioner/speeches_statements/basham_remarks.xml
3. ^ http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/commissioner/speeches_statements/ncbfaa.xml
4. ^ http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/trade_support_network/session_highlights/session_archives/june_2007_tsn_meeting_highlights/plenary_report.ctt/plenary_report.doc

Persondata
Name	Basham, W. Ralph
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 17, 1943
Place of birth	[Owensboro, Kentucky]
Date of death
Place of death