EL PASO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection appointed two Senior Executive Service leaders to top positions at the El Paso Field Office, elevating a native El Pasoan with 28 years of federal service to oversee one of the busiest border corridors in the country.
Ray Provencio, who most recently served as Port Director for the Port of El Paso, was named Director of Field Operations. Andrew Douglas, who oversaw the processing of more than 12.5 million international passengers, 60,000 flights, and $91 billion in imports as Area Port Director at Los Angeles International Airport, was named Port Director for the Port of El Paso. Both appointments took effect Monday.
“This marks the beginning of a new era for the El Paso Field Office and the Port of El Paso,” said Provencio. “Our region’s strategic position at the crossroads of commerce and community demands a leadership paradigm grounded in operational excellence, data-driven decision making, and collaborative partnership across law enforcement, industry and government.”
Provencio began his government service in 1998 and has held positions across CBP and the Department of Homeland Security, including Acting Executive Director of Admissibility and Passenger Programs at the Office of Field Operations headquarters in Washington, D.C. In that role he directed national-level program divisions focused on national security and streamlining entry and exit processes for lawful trade and travel. He also negotiated CBP’s first and second unified collective bargaining agreements and established the agency’s Workforce Liaison Unit, which CBP credited with reducing labor liability nationwide.
Douglas brings more than 24 years of CBP experience. Before his tenure at LAX, he served as Acting Director of Field Operations for the Los Angeles Field Office, managing seaports, airports, and specialized facilities. He also served as Acting Area Port Director for both El Paso and Laredo, Texas, where he oversaw enforcement activities, managed multi-million-dollar trade flows, and led initiatives to increase narcotics and currency seizures.
As Port Director in El Paso, Provencio had overseen operations across three international bridges, a commercial import facility, two international railroad operations, an international airport, and a Foreign Trade Zone — infrastructure Douglas now inherits. The West Texas–New Mexico region functions as a critical nexus for cross-border commerce, trade, and enforcement operations along the southern border.