Border Patrol Academy Podcast

Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) Ryan Landrum sits down with the senior mentor for Border Patrol Class 1196, CPA John R. Modlin. CPA Modlin describes the challenges he faces as Chief of Tucson Sector, one of the largest sectors on the southwest border. He also describes the multiple geographical locations he has worked throughout his career.

Former Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy Jason Owens returns to the studio for the first time as a guest. Now leading the agents and staff of the Del Rio Sector, CPA Owens talks about how he is navigating his transition from the Academy to field command and the challenges the agency faces today.

In this episode, Daniel Altman, Executive Director, CBP OPR, sits down with Chief Landrum to shed some light on his agency. They define the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), the investigation process, and the steps OPR takes to maintain the public trust.

This week, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Julie A. Gallagher swung by the W.I.N. Podcast studio. She and Chief Landrum talk about her career, how she overcame a significant personal tragedy, and what it took to become one of the first female BORSTAR agents in the history of the Border Patrol.

Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) Ryan Landrum sits down with Border Patrol Class 1180's senior mentor, CPA Anthony Scott Good. CPA Good describes the challenges of being Chief on the northern border, and his career leading up to becoming chief.

Chief Patrol Agent Ryan Landrum of the Border Patrol Academy sits down with his uncle, and new Chief Patrol Agent of the Laredo Sector, Carl Landrum. Listen in as they talk about what family has meant to both of their careers and how their leadership philosophies have helped them reach their personal and professional goals. 

Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, Ryan P. Landrum takes the reins on his debut as host of the W.I.N. Podcast. He interviews Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of Enterprise Services Ryan J. Scudder. On the season 2 premiere, Chief Landrum covers over the illustrious career of (A) EAC Scudder.

Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz recently stopped by the studio for his second W.I.N. Podcast episode. He sat down with Chief Landrum to talk about the current challenges facing the Border Patrol and how instrumental the new USBP National Strategy is to the success of the agency moving forward.

Chief Owens final WIN podcast host, now Border Patrol Academy Chief Ryan P. Landrum. They discuss Chief Landrum's career and his vision for the Border Patrol Academy.

Listen to Chief Owens and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Claudia Apolinar talk about the details of her ambush.On July 12, 2019, Deputy Apolinar graduated from Los Angeles County Academy Class 437 and was sworn in as a deputy sheriff. Her initial assignment was at the Century Regional Detention Facility. After spending only six months in a custody assignment, Deputy Apolinar transferred to patrol and was assigned to the Transit Services Bureau. The bureau is responsible for patrolling Metro bus ways, railways, and stations and spans throughout most of Los Angeles County. On September 12, 2020, Deputy Apolinar was with her partner in a patrol vehicle at the Martin Luther King Transit Center in Compton. They had just completed their routine patrol of the area when a lone gunman fired several shots into their vehicle. The rounds struck both deputies in the head, torso, and arms. Deputy Apolinar was severely wounded in the face. Despite severe injuries to her face and arm, Deputy Apolinar was able to communicate via her service radio, and directed backup personnel to their location and indicated the suspect had fled the scene. Deputy Apolinar assisted her partner out of the vehicle and both took cover. Her partner had been struck in the arm and head but she was able to render aid despite being severely injured herself.  Together, they maintained a strategic position until back up arrived. Deputy Apolinar displayed incredible courage and resiliency in the face of danger.   

Listen as Chief Jason D. Owens interviews his CBP counterpart, the Executive Director for the Field Operations Academy, Christopher Holtzer.Christopher R. Holtzer is the Senior Executive Service Executive Director of the Field Operations Academy (FOA), headquartered in Glynco, Georgia.  He is responsible for the design, delivery and evaluation of Customs and Border Protection basic and advanced training delivered at the FOA and in the field.Mr. Holtzer entered on duty with the U.S. Customs Service on May 1, 2000.  His first duty assignment was in the Chicago Field Office at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport.  While in the Chicago Field Office, he was promoted to Supervisory CBP Officer and served an extended assignment as an Acting Chief CBP Officer.  He also served several assignments at various southern and northern border ports of entry including San Diego, El Paso, Blaine, Detroit, and Houlton. In 2008, Mr. Holtzer transitioned to the Office of Training Development (OTD) at the Advanced Training Center (ATC).  While in OTD, he served in numerous capacities, including, Acting Assistant Director - Use of Force Training Branch (UFTB), Supervisory Leadership Training (SLT) Instructor, and Deputy Commander – CBP Quick Reaction Force (QRF).  He led the revision of the Intermediate Force Instructor Training Program (IFITP) and the development of the first-ever Intermediate Force Instructor Recertification Training Program (IFIRTP). In 2014, Mr. Holtzer was selected as the National Commander for the Office of Field Operations (OFO) Special Response Team (SRT).  While serving as the SRT National Commander, he led over 140 SRT Operators nationwide in tactical operations and training delivery.  He also oversaw the annual execution of over 400 tactical operations both internationally and nationwide, which resulted in scores of significant arrests and provided critical support to interagency partners.  In 2017, he directed and oversaw the deployment of 145 SRT Operators who provided critical tactical support to the law enforcement efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. 

Chief Owens sheds light on the struggles Border Patrol Agents and staff go through, and with the help of his guest LPC Shannon Mosley she will provide different options to assist employees.

Chief Owens interviews Retired Assistant Chief Clifford Gill, the first-ever Border Patrol Historian. The question of which was the first Border Patrol Station along with other interesting histories will be discussed.

Chief Owens interviews Border Patrol Agent Josh Guell. Our Veterans Day Special Edition!Border Patrol Agent Joshua D. Guell, born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, is currently serving at the Laredo West Station in the Laredo Sector. He entered duty on October 15, 2007 after graduating from the 720th session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, 2nd in his class. After 11 years of working with the Border Patrol, he applied his firsthand knowledge of the hardships returning veterans experience after deployment to create the Veterans Support Program (VSP) in March 2017. The program assists veterans employed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and their families. Up-to-date, VSP has assisted with thousands of veteran-related issues; assisting CBP employees on and off-duty. His effort was the catalyst to drive a concept to assist a few veterans in Laredo Texas to becoming a CBP pilot program, nationwide.       BPA Guell has a distinguished career proudly serving nine years, five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the elite U.S. Army Rangers before joining the U.S. Border Patrol. During his time in the military, he played a vital role in several significant operations. These include the Battle of Haditha Dam during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Along with providing flood control and a third of Iraq’s electrical generation capacity, the dam provided the only other crossing of the Euphrates River west of Baghdad. U.S. Army Rangers seized the Haditha Dam in April 2003 and prevented Iraqi forces from destroying it with some of the most intense fighting and largest use of enemy artillery since World War II. In the summer of 2005, he was also part of Operation Red Wings II, which lasted approximately three weeks. During this time, Guell’s team recovered the bodies of deceased SEALs and Army Special Operations aviators and rescued the only surviving member of the team, Marcus Luttrell. During his time in the military, Mr. Guell earned several commendations and medals for his bravery and outstanding duty. These include the Army Staff Identification Badge for his distinguished service to the Office of the Secretary of the Army during the almost three years he spent working at the Pentagon. The Bronze Star Medal, with the “V" device which is an award for heroism and valor in combat instead of for meritorious service or achievement in a combat zone. He was also awarded the Valorous Unit Award (VUA), the second highest United States military unit decoration that may be bestowed upon a military unit after the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). Other awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and other awards.While at the Border Patrol Academy, Mr. Guell was given the second overall in academics award, top shooter award, and twice awarded for leadership of his classmates. Because of his work with veterans in the Border Patrol through the VSP, on June 18, 2018, the City of Laredo recognized Border Patrol Agent (BPA) Joshua Guell as Veteran of the Month. On May 14, 2016 he was also recognized by U.S. House of Representative Henry Cuellar for his acts of courage while in the line of duty as a Border Patrol agent and awarded the Commissioners Life Saving award along with the Border Patrol Achievement Medal with “V” device. Mr. Guell is married and has 2 children and is a devout Christian and a member of Grace Bible Church for over 13 years. He also likes to attend/host Bible studies and help Churches in the Laredo community during his off time. 

Chief Owens interviews El Centro Sector Chief Bovino.Chief Bovino and Chief Owens are Border Patrol classmates! Listen as they talk about their experiences at the academy, career challenges, and accomplishments.Gregory K. Bovino is the Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector. Chief Bovino is responsible for managing all U.S. Border Patrol operations and administrative functions within the El Centro Sector, which encompasses 70 miles of land border as well as inland areas of California extending to the Oregon State line. The El Centro Sector is located within the Imperial Valley county area and is directly north of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Chief Bovino entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on November 17, 1996, as a member of Border Patrol Academy Class 325. His first duty assignment as a Border Patrol Agent was in California at the El Centro Station in the El Centro Sector. While in El Centro, he promoted to Senior Patrol Agent in 1999 and Supervisory Border Patrol Agent in May of 2002. During this time, he fulfilled significant details to the Border Patrol Tactical Unit including the position of Acting Field Operations Supervisor. There he was instrumental in developing the Border Patrol Marksman Observer Program as well as deploying to foreign assignments in Honduras, Egypt, and Africa. In May 2004, he was promoted to Assistant Chief with the Special Operations Division at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, D.C. There he spearheaded planning and execution of Operation Stonegarden; represented the Border Patrol in disaster response operations during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma, and Gustav; and crafted the Border Patrol Continuity of Operations Plan. From 2005 through 2008, Chief Bovino was detailed as the Acting Associate Chief of Special Operations Division. In October 2008, he was promoted to Patrol Agent in Charge of Blythe Border Patrol Station in Yuma Sector. There he led station operations at two permanent traffic checkpoints and in several locales throughout the interior of Arizona, California, and Nevada. In 2012, he was promoted to Patrol Agent in Charge of the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station where he led 417 Border Patrol Agents and staff within an area of responsibility including six linear miles of international boundary between the United States and Mexico and 66 linear miles of coastline from the San Diego metropolitan area north to Oceanside, California. He held that position until April of 2016, when he was promoted to Associate Chief of Policy at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Chief Bovino was promoted to Chief Patrol Agent at the New Orleans Sector on July 9, 2018.Chief Bovino holds two master’s degrees; one in National Security Strategy from the National War College, and the other in Public Administration from Appalachian State University. Mr. Bovino holds a Bachelor’s Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Natural Resources Management and Forestry from Western Carolina University. He also completed the Customs and Border Protection Leadership Institute in 2012 as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in 2016.