ChrisO

Chris O’Neil joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection in April 2014 after retiring from the U.S. Coast Guard at the rank of Commander, with more than 29 years of active-duty military service in which he gained more than 26 years of public affairs experience. In his position at CBP he directs the activities of 94 personnel in the conduct of all forms of government communication to inform the public about the missions, operations and people of CBP. O’Neil’s began his public affairs career as a unit public affairs representative and base newspaper stringer during his service in the Air Force. He later enlisted in the Coast Guard and became a public affairs specialist. After earning his commission he later served as the 7th Coast Guard District public affairs officer, and went on to become the service’s Chief of Media Relations and finally Chief of Strategic Communications. O’Neil joined the National Association of Government Communicators in 2012 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2013, serving as the association’s Communications Director. He is a member of the National Press Club and was a member of the Public Relations Society of America for five years.