By MC3 Brian H. Abel

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher speaks to NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) students during CHDS' Executive Leaders Program (ELP), Aug. 12. Fisher was invited to speak to ELP attendees on the major challenges facing the U.S. law enforcement and border patrol communities.

"I was invited to talk to one of the classes that is graduating. They were interested in hearing from someone within the organization about border security and law enforcement challenges," said Fisher. "They are an eclectic group, and I am really dying to have a dialogue with them."

Fisher fielded student questions, helping them navigate the often-competing interests with which border patrol professionals have to contend. He also offered students a window into how law enforcement strategies are formulated and missions are conducted along the border.

"We're thinking about how we can do the national and border security mission better and smarter," said Fisher. "Often times, border security is clouded in the policies and politics of immigration broadly."

Students attending the program come from a variety of complementary public safety and law enforcement agencies whose missions at times overlap, even with those of NPS' traditional student population.

"The Navy has a security mission in terms of making sure our maritime boarders are safe, and the border patrol has a maritime component to it as well," said CHDS Professor Nadav Morag. "I think there's some overlap in terms of the Navy's mission with what the border patrol does."