James Thom (JT) currently serves as the Executive Director for Domain Awareness Security Operations (DASO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO). With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO conducts its mission in the air and maritime environments, at and beyond the border, and within the nation’s interior using advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities.

His current DASO responsibilities include increasing Domain Awareness capabilities through architecture development and distribution that enables front line agents and officers to execute statutory authorities in a more effective and efficient manner.

Prior to joining DASO, he served as the Deputy Executive Director for AMO’s Southwest Region where he maintained administrative and operational oversight of over 500 personnel in 19 locations while executing daily coordination of aviation and maritime assets to support CBP and partner agencies in securing the nation’s borders

He represented AMO as Deputy Executive Director of The Interdiction Committee (TIC) where he identified interagency friction areas, mitigated duplicative efforts, and when necessary, provided detailed solutions. He routinely advised the Executive Office of the President and the Office of National Drug Control Policy to ensure the alignment of strategic objectives by creating intra/interagency operational efficiencies and leveraging a “whole of government” approach to maximizing limited resources. His efforts at TIC earned him a Public Service Award from the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant (TIC Chairman).

Mr. Thom has accumulated over 36 years of experience in Command and Control (C2) and Domain Awareness operations. He began his federal career in February of 2008 when he joined AMO as a Detection Enforcement Officer (DEO). In 2012, he was promoted to Aviation Group Supervisor (AGS), where his leadership was vital to a smooth transition of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) from DoD to DHS. In 2018 he was promoted to AMOC’s Director of Operations where his responsibilities included detecting, tracking, and coordinating appropriate responses to aviation and maritime threats using CBP assets and providing real-time de-confliction measures for CBP and interagency partners conducting humanitarian operations.

Prior to joining AMO, Mr. Thom served over 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. He was formally trained as an Air Traffic Controller and graduated from the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron – One (MAWTS-1), Weapons and Tactics Instructor’s (WTI) Command, Control, and Communications (C3) Course. During his time as an active-duty Marine, he earned numerous awards and commendations including a Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, an Air Force Commendation Medal, two Presidential Unit Citations, and numerous personal and unit citations.