Homeland Security Outlook

Former Assistant Commissioner of CBP for Public Affairs

Jeff Robertson’s professional life has focused on challenges in maritime and border security arenas. He has more than 25 years of experience with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, serving in public affairs, operations, and intelligence roles.




He last served in government as CBP’s Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs – principal communications executive for the 54,000-person sub-cabinet agency with an annual budget of more than $11 billion. He led strategic and crisis communications for CBP’s portfolio of responsibilities, including the Border Patrol, Field Operations, Air and Marine Operations, and Trade regulation. In this role, he advised the Commissioner on public relations issues, messaging, branding, media relations, and communications strategy for border security and comprehensive immigration reform initiatives.



In industry, he has served as Communications Director for Parsons Corporation in Washington, DC, and as a consultant with Whitney, Bradley, and Brown, Inc. He retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2005.
Mr. Robertson has a B.S. in Government from the United States Coast Guard Academy and an M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College. He serves on several advisory boards, including Homeland Security Outlook, the Border Security Expo, and the International Maritime Security Conference; is a member of the Maritime Security Working Group at the Heritage Foundation; and, serves on the board of directors for two small non-profit organizations.