Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – With an extensive career that goes as far back as three decades, Jaime Salazar has returned home to Texas Southmost College – the place where it all started.
The San Benito native is TSC’s Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Security and Risk Management.
He came to TSC one year ago as the Director of Risk Management and has quickly been promoted because of the experience he brings to the table.
During his time at TSC, Salazar has implemented processes and plans to ensure that students, faculty and staff have a safe and secure learning environment. Among the plans he has implemented are building an emergency management system, transitioning TSC’s campus security to a hybrid campus security model by partnering with the Brownsville Police Department for patrolling and monitoring, and partnering with other local law enforcement agencies to put emergency procedures in place.
“Being from the Valley, I always wanted to return and give back to the college and community that helped prepare me for my future,” said Salazar. “And it has come full circle now that I’m part of the TSC team.”
Before graduating from TSC with his Associate of Applied Science degree in Police Administration, and with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Brownsville, Salazar served his country in the Army for a little over two years.
“To serve and protect is my calling,” said the Army veteran.
And to serve and protect he did.
He went on to join the United States Border Patrol, climbing the ranks quickly achieving the rank of GS-15, which is the highest level within the Federal Civil Service. Furthermore, he held numerous leadership positions within the Department of Homeland Security, and Customs and Border Protection.
Salazar moved up from first-line supervisor with the border patrol and agent in charge for intelligence in the Rio Grande Valley for the Customs and Border Protection Agency to working at the CBP and Border Patrol headquarters in Washington, D.C. as an associate chief.
His long-time federal career also included combating human trafficking and transnational organized crime, as well as graduating from the Senior Executive Service Key Leadership program at American University.
“I’ve had a great career that has exposed me to the international community and that has opened many doors,” said Salazar. “And I’ve always wanted to share my knowledge with the place I call home.”
So when he retired in 2019 as the chief of staff for the Joint Task Force – West South Texas Corridor in the Southeast Texas border, he applied at TSC.
Salazar said there are many aspects of his job that are his favorite such as providing a safe and secure environment that reduces the risk of incidents and ensuring public safety to the entire TSC community.
“Our department has great support from our college president and board of trustee members,” he said. “We have all of the tools and resources we need to provide safety and security. It’s great to be back and part of a winning team that provides a safe and secure environment for students and employees.”
“It’s great to be back and part of a winning team that provides a safe and secure environment for learning and achieving goals,” added Salazar. “TSC gave me the opportunity of a great education and now I have an opportunity to give back.”
