Winkowski Uninterested in Heading CBP as Political Appointee
CBP is in need of a Senate-confirmed commissioner, said CBP Deputy Commissioner Thomas Winkowski during the May 22 Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) meeting in Washington. Winkowski said he looks forward to the day a permanent commissioner is chosen, but he wouldn't be interested in taking that role. "If nominated I will not accept and if drafted, I will not run," he said, paraphrasing a famous quote from Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman. "It's been a long time and hopefully some inroads are being made here and we'll get this show on road," he said.
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Winkowski's remarks came after COAC co-chair Kathy Neal pointed to the need of a permanent head at CBP. "CBP has been without a politically appointed commissioner for several years now," said Neal, director of Global Trade Compliance at Regal Beloit. "It's imperative that the agency have a politically appointed commissioner as soon as possible because of the stature and nature of the importance of this agency," she said. Winkowski assumed the duties of CBP Commssioner in April following the retirement of David Aguilar (see 13040115).