Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – This week, Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Joel Martinez takes over the number two spot in the U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector.
Deputy Chief Martinez began his Border Patrol career in 1992, at the Laredo South Station in Laredo Sector. Throughout his career, he held key leadership roles to include Patrol Agent in Charge of the Laredo South Station, Director-Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats for the Laredo Sector where he was the executive responsible for the Sector Intelligence Unit, Laredo Sector Operations Center, Task Force officers, Joint Targeting Teams, and Foreign Operations Branch. He also served as Assistant Chief of the Southwest Border Operations Division at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters.
A San Benito, Texas, native, DCPA Martinez spent a significant portion of his career in the RGV, serving in multiple roles and stations over the course of his 28 year career.
“I am happy to return to the RGV and look forward to continuing the great work underway in the sector,” said Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Joel Martinez. “The sector remains the busiest in the nation and I am proud to join dedicated men and women working hard to secure the border in Rio Grande Valley.”
DCPA Martinez is a graduate of the CBP Leadership Institute-Cohort 1503-University of Maryland-Smith School of Business and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Ashford University. He completed the U.S. Naval War College-Fleet Seminar (Strategy & War) at NAS- Fort Worth. DCPA Martinez is the recipient of two CBP Commissioner’s Awards.
In the RGV Sector, Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Martinez has oversight of the strategy and tactical operations of nine stations responsible for securing 277 river miles and 316 coastal miles in an area of responsibility spanning 34 counties.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
