Andres Blanco

Andres "Andy" Blanco is both the Executive Director, Southeast Region, Air and Marine Operations (AMO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Deputy Director, Joint Task Force-Maritime, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). AMO's mission is to safeguard our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through its aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. AMO has approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, over 200 aircraft, and 350 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the 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.

As Executive Director, Southeast Region, AMO, Mr. Blanco is responsible for operations across AMO's Southeast Region, including administrative and operational oversight of over 400 personnel in 22 locations and coordination of aviation and maritime activities within CBP and other agencies to secure the nation's borders. As the Deputy Director, Joint Task Force-Maritime, DHS, he assists with oversight of the coordination of DHS components and partners to combat illicit enterprises, address mass maritime migration, and enhance readiness against maritime national security threats.

Mr. Blanco has more than 29 years of combined local and federal law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Houston, Texas, serving as a patrol deputy and on the uniformed narcotics unit. In 2005, he joined CBP as an officer before transferring to U.S. Border Patrol as an agent in 2007. In 2009, he joined AMO as a Marine Interdiction Agent in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he also served as a Vessel Commander, Primary Firearms Instructor, and Marine Instructor. In 2014, he was promoted to Supervisory Marine Interdiction Agent and Instructor at the National Marine Training Center in St. Augustine, Florida, where he trained more than 300 agents each fiscal year. He was the lead instructor for the Small Boat Interdiction Program and served as a team member on the 41' SAFE Boat Coastal Interceptor Vessel Testing and Evaluation team. In 2018, he was promoted to AMO Headquarters and served in various capacities, including as Northern Region Liaison; National Marine Training Center Liaison; Border Patrol Riverine Headquarters Liaison; and Deputy Director, Marine Operations. In 2020, he was promoted to Deputy Director, Marine Operations, McAllen Air and Marine Branch, and provided law enforcement leadership, management, and coordination of marine activities and assets throughout the area of responsibility. In 2023, he was selected as Director, Air and Marine Operations, McAllen Air and Marine Branch, and was responsible for the strategic oversight, management, and coordination of the branch's aviation and marine assets throughout the Rio Grande Valley and the South Texas Corridor. In 2025, he was promoted to his current positions and the DHS Senior Executive Service.

Mr. Blanco is the recipient of the 2018 AMO Executive Assistant Commissioner's Award for Excellence in Marine Operations and a graduate of the CBP Leadership Institute.