Change of Command formally welcomes Kentucky native
HOUSTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection at George Bush Intercontinental Airport conducted a change of command ceremony to formally welcome its new port director.
Though Raymond S. Polley, a 26-year CBP veteran, officially assumed the reins of leadership in April, the change of command ceremony placed a formal aspect to the change in leadership.
Shawn Polley
The change of command ceremony is deeply rooted in military tradition dating back to at least the 18th century when organizational flags unique to each unit were developed.
During a change of command, the organizational flag is passed from the outgoing leader, signifying the relinquishment of responsibility related to that organization, to the leader assuming command and thereby publicly acknowledging his responsibility for the organization.
“Houston is a great place to be,” Polley said. “I am very happy to be here.” Polley has spent the last six months familiarizing himself with an international airport listed among the top 50 busiest airports by passenger traffic.
“Having previously worked as the port director at IAH, I have a keen idea on the workload, Shawn faces,” said Houston’s Acting CBP Director of Field Operations Beverly Good. “Having been his supervisor for the last few months, I can say with certainty that he’s the right man for the job. I’m glad to see the port in such great hands as he continues strengthening the important working relationships in and outside of the Houston Airport Service.”
Polley, who hails from Eastern Kentucky, joined U.S. Customs Service in 1992 after serving as an infantryman in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, Polley graduated from the Army’s Jungle School, Airborne School and Air Assault Schools. In his four years with the Army, Polley earned the Combat Infantry Badge and the Jungle Expert Badge.
“When I made the decision to join the military, I wanted to be in the thick of it,” he said with a smile. “When I was searching for my next career, I came across a vacancy with U.S. Customs Service and felt that my skillset would transfer pretty easily.”
Polley’s decision to continue in public service has taken him across the country including duty locations in Cincinnati, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; Mobile, Alabama; New Orleans, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.
“I did a six-month temporary duty in New Orleans immediately after Hurricane Katrina to assist the agency in its recovery efforts,” he explained. “I returned to a far more recovered city in 2013.”
After spending three years in the “Big Easy” and immediately before his selection to Houston, Polley worked at CBP headquarters where he directed programs related to improving physical and personal security using force policy, canine program and the Anti-Terrorism and Contraband Enforcement Teams.
Polley is a graduate of Morehead State University. He also attended the University of Kentucky and the University of Chicago.
The outgoing port director is Charles Perez, a 32-year CBP veteran. Perez is currently the Santa Teresa Port Director in Santa Teresa New Mexico.