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Statement from CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske on the Retirement of Border Patrol Chief Michael J. Fisher

Release Date
Fri, 10/16/2015

WASHINGTON— I congratulate Border Patrol Chief Mike Fisher on his retirement after 28 years of service to the country.  I am personally indebted to Chief Fisher for his partnership and leadership on the many important issues confronted by the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol.  Chief Fisher will retire as one of the longest serving Chiefs in U.S. Border Patrol history. 

Chief Fisher joined the U.S. Border Patrol in June of 1987 as a member of Class 208.  His career in Border Patrol began at the Douglas Station in the Tucson Sector and he quickly earned his place with the Border Patrol Tactical Unit “BORTAC” in 1990.  Chief Fisher later rose through the ranks serving the Detroit, Tucson, and San Diego Sectors in leadership positions.

During the transition to the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003, Chief Fisher was appointed Deputy Director for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Anti- Terrorism in Washington, DC, where he managed the operations of the office and served as a critical CBP liaison to the inter-agency intelligence community for anti-terrorist planning and operational coordination.

Chief Fisher was named Acting Chief of the Border Patrol on January 3, 2010, and was officially sworn in as Chief of the Border Patrol on May 9, 2010.  During his tenure as Chief, he developed and issued the 2012-2016 Border Patrol Strategic Plan, establishing an approach tailored to meet the changing environment of the 21st century border.  In addition, he issued the directive on the use of safe tactics and techniques with regard to use of force.  He also shepherded the transition of the Border Patrol pay system culminating in the passage of the Border Patrol Pay Reform Act this year.

I am grateful for Chief Fisher’s long service to the country as a U.S. Border Patrol agent.  I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021