Ken Oppenheimer

Ken Oppenheimer serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the Passenger Systems Program Directorate (PSPD) at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He maintains responsibility for the strategic and operational oversight of CBP’s passenger systems portfolio including a suite of critical information technology systems that support the secure and efficient movement of air, land, and sea travelers into the United States. These systems include trusted traveler programs, biometric entry/exit platforms, kiosks, and mission-critical applications relied upon at ports of entry nationwide.

Oppenheimer has over a decade of experience in senior IT leadership within CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He previously served as Director of the Technical Integration Division at CBP, where he led technology modernization and integration efforts designed to enhance operational capability across the agency’s complex IT infrastructure. In that capacity he championed the adoption of advanced tools and frameworks to improve data flow and system interoperability in support of CBP’s mission.

Oppenheimer also held the position of Director of Network Security Operations for DHS/CBP, where he directed the development and implementation of enterprise-wide security strategies. In that role he was accountable for protecting mission-critical networks, safeguarding sensitive data, and mitigating cyber risks. These mission areas are essential to maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of CBP’s IT assets against evolving threats.

He obtained significant private-sector experience including his time as Vice President of Network Services at The Centech Group. In this capacity, he managed large-scale network operations and service delivery engagements and worked with clients to design, deploy, and sustain robust and secure IT environments. His private-sector tenure provided him with practical experience in all aspects of customer-centric IT delivery. In his current leadership role, Oppenheimer champions innovation and resilience in CBP’s passenger systems, balancing requirements for security, scalability, and user experience. His current work supports programs handling over 90 applications that facilitate CBP’s mission at the border while safeguarding personally identifiable information and data. His emphasis on integrating emerging technologies, improving operational maturity, and strengthening cybersecurity reflects his commitment to ensuring a secure IT environment that translates to more efficient and effective screening at US borders.