CBP swears in new port director for Los Angeles airport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently swore in Donald R. Kusser as port director for the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

In this role, Kusser is responsible for managing all operational and administrative aspects of port security and trade facilitation, including air cargo, agricultural compliance, express consignment, international mail operations, and international passengers. He will oversee LAX, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, and John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.

“Mr Kusser will oversee some of the great innovations efforts we are taking in this agency from biometric technology to data analytics, but most importantly he’ll be the leader of a resilient workforce, and the public is counting in our resiliency to keep them safe and keep the economy moving,” John P. Wagner, CBP deputy executive assistant commissioner for the office of field operations, said.

LAX ranks second in the U.S. for the number of international travelers. CBP officers processed 12.4 million international travelers at the airport during fiscal year 2018.

Kusser formerly served as assistant port director of tactical operations for the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport.

Prior to that role, he was assistant port director of passenger operations at LAX.

Kusser began his federal career with the U.S. Customs Service.