RICHARD PAUL CANTWELL
Bisbee,AZ
Summary
Mission-focused United States Border Patrol leader with more than 20 years of operational, supervisory, intelligence, and international liaison experience. Served in key leadership roles including Acting Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge, Watch Commander, Acting Special Operations Supervisor, Supervisor Border Patrol Agent, and Border Patrol Agent. Experienced leading large teams, directing complex field operations, managing resources, evaluating intelligence, coordinating with domestic and foreign partners, and strengthening operational effectiveness along the Southwest Border.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Watch Commander
Douglas Border Patrol Station
01.2022 - Current
- Serves as Watch Commander responsible for oversight of daily shift operations, including direction of 12 GS-13 supervisors and approximately 70 GS-12 Border Patrol Agents. Provide leadership, operational direction, and mission priorities to ensure effective field operations, agent safety, and border security outcomes.
- Direct daily shift operations by evaluating intelligence reports, border conditions, alien traffic patterns, and operational risk indicators.
- Assign personnel and resources to enforcement areas based on current intelligence, threat levels, operational priorities, and available staffing.
- Provide command-level guidance to supervisors and agents to ensure consistent execution of enforcement operations.
- Maintain accountability for operational decision-making during assigned shifts, including deployment of manpower and resources.
- Promote professionalism, accountability, teamwork, lawful enforcement practices, and sound officer-safety principles.
Acting Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge
Douglas Border Patrol Station
01.2025 - 04.2026
- Served as Acting Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge with responsibility for developing and executing operational strategy and administrative processes for the Douglas Border Patrol Station. Helped lead operations securing more than 40 miles of international boundary with Mexico.
- Provided senior leadership oversight for nearly 400 employees, including approximately 15 first-line supervisors, 6 second-line supervisors, and 24 non-uniformed personnel.
- Managed operational and administrative responsibilities involving 83 vehicles and more than 1,700 sensitive inventory assets.
- Mentored a young and diverse workforce emphasizing professionalism, accountability, operational control, and mission advantage.
- Served as a major community intergovernmental stakeholder, routinely liaising with representatives from the Government of Mexico, county officials, state and federal elected officials, and non-governmental organization leaders.
- Strengthened relationships with external partners to improve coordination, support border security objectives, and contribute to safer border communities.
Supervisor Border Patrol Agent
Brian A. Terry Station
01.2010 - 12.2021
- Led Border Patrol Agents in field and station operations to protect the homeland, enforce immigration and nationality laws, and support the United States Border Patrol mission. Supervised personnel conducting operations to detect, deter, apprehend and document aliens, narcotics smugglers and human smugglers.
- Assigned and monitored the work of Border Patrol Agents to ensure coverage across the station's area of operations.
- Evaluated intelligence, threat levels, traffic patterns, and operational conditions to determine manpower and resource deployments.
- Reassigned personnel and resources as needed to manage emerging risks and maintain operational effectiveness.
- Directed, delegated, and evaluated detainee processing to ensure individuals were placed in the appropriate program within the Consequence Delivery System.
- Reviewed administrative and criminal A-Files for accuracy and completeness, making corrections where necessary.
- Provided frontline leadership, coaching, and performance guidance to agents in both field and station environments.
Detailed to the National Targeting Center
National Targeting Center
08.2018 - 03.2019
- Served on detail to the National Targeting Center gaining specialized intelligence and targeting experience involving international law enforcement coordination and identification of high-risk travelers. Conducted research and analysis using multiple law enforcement and immigration databases to support national security and border security objectives.
- Used law enforcement, immigration, and travel-related systems to identify and investigate Known or Suspected Terrorists traveling internationally and from the United States.
- Conducted intelligence-driven reviews of international travel to identify potential threats, criminal fugitives, and individuals attempting to evade law enforcement.
- Identified U.S. citizens and noncitizens who were not designated as Known or Suspected Terrorists but were facing criminal charges in the United States and attempting to flee the country.
- Coordinated with local law enforcement, the Office of Field Operations, and other federal agencies to support successful apprehensions.
- Strengthened intelligence research, targeting, analytical judgment, and interagency coordination skills in a national-level operational environment.
Acting Special Operations Supervisor
Foreign Operations Branch
01.2017 - 08.2018
- Served as Acting Special Operations Supervisor and member of the Command Staff with responsibility for multiple administrative, operational, and foreign liaison functions. Represented the station as a part-time member of the Foreign Operations Branch.
- Supervised administrative responsibilities within Payroll, Technology, Station Security, Training, Budget, Public Liaison, Foreign Operations Branch, Inventory, and Tactical infrastructure.
- Oversaw day-to-day operations of assigned program areas to ensure efficient station operations, mission continuity, and compliance.
- Ensured 100 percent compliance with site security inspections, including inspections related to Jane Doe litigation and the Self-Inspection Program.
- Coordinated and participated in national patrols along the international border.
- Built and maintained strong professional relationships with members of the Government of Mexico.
- Attended binational meetings, delivered presentations, guided tours, and shared selected information with Mexican partners in accordance with policy and operational requirements.
- Supported cross-border collaboration and strengthened trust between U.S. Border Patrol personnel and foreign government counterparts.
Border Patrol Agent
Douglas Border Patrol Station
08.2004 - 12.2009
- Served as a Border Patrol Agent responsible for enforcing immigration and nationality laws, protecting the homeland, and supporting the United States Border Patrol mission along the Southwest Border.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR06-1994
Skills
- Leadership and Supervision
- Border Security Operations
- Intelligence Analysis
- National Targeting Center Operations
- Watch Commander Duties
- Foreign Operations
- Binational Coordination
- Interagency Coordination
- Government of Mexico Liaison
Timeline
Acting Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge
Douglas Border Patrol Station
01.2025 - 04.2026
Watch Commander
Douglas Border Patrol Station
01.2022 - Current
Detailed to the National Targeting Center
National Targeting Center
08.2018 - 03.2019
Acting Special Operations Supervisor
Foreign Operations Branch
01.2017 - 08.2018
Supervisor Border Patrol Agent
Brian A. Terry Station
01.2010 - 12.2021
Border Patrol Agent
Douglas Border Patrol Station
08.2004 - 12.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Oregon