Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, Manassas Air Branch located in Manassas, VA.

Duties

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This position is ideal for an expert Air Interdiction Agent looking for an opportunity to serve in a supervisory capacity, participating with higher-level officials in administering, managing, and planning the agency's aviation program, where the work requires the application of pilot and law enforcement knowledge and skills.

This position starts at a salary of $149,071.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $193,798.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

Typical duties may include:

• Leading and managing strategic aviation enforcement operations that support national security, border protection, and agency mission objectives.
• Overseeing the planning, execution, and evaluation of aerial surveillance and interdiction missions to ensure alignment with agency priorities, policies, and operational standards.
• Providing strategic direction to subordinate managers and enforcement personnel, ensuring effective resource allocation, mission readiness, and accountability.
• Serving as a senior liaison with DHS partners and federal, state, and local agencies to coordinate joint enforcement efforts, strengthen interagency collaboration, and address transnational threats.
• Advising senior leadership on criminal trends, intelligence data, aviation enforcement strategies, policy development, safety protocols, and workforce management initiatives, including recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and professional development.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
• You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Financial Disclosure is required.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
• Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess the ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle. A valid, non-restricted driver's license is required.
• Mobility Agreement: Selectee(s) will be subject to a mobility agreement.
• Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): You must be readily accessible to work on an unscheduled basis in excess of a 40-hour work week and will receive extra compensation.
• Uniform: You are required to wear an officially approved uniform while in duty status.
• Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC): You must have successfully completed relevant Federal law enforcement training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) prior to entry into this position. Entry-level training for Air and Marine Agents, Border Patrol Agents and Criminal Investigators meets this requirement.
• Security Clearance: You may be required to obtain a Secret or higher level clearance for this position.
• Travel: You may be required to travel for this position.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 1. A current FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with the following ratings: airplane, single engine and multi-engine land and instrument; OR rotorcraft helicopter and instrument. Appropriate U.S. military ratings may be substituted. Other certificates that meet or exceed the requirements of the Commercial Pilot Certificate are also acceptable (e.g., an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate).
• 2. A current FAA Class II Medical Certificate is acceptable for applicants who currently occupy Customs and Border Protection Air Interdiction Agent positions. For initial entry or re-entry into the occupation, a current FAA Class II Medical Certificate is acceptable for application purposes; however you MUST have a Class I by the time of your interview.
• 3. A documented log reflecting a minimum of 1500 hours total flight time, 75 hours instrument, 75 hours night, and 250 hours pilot-in-command.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Directing complex national aviation law enforcement operations with federal, foreign, state, local, and tribal partners.
• Formulating and implementing aviation interdiction policies, strategies, and courses of action.
• Developing aviation enforcement policies, procedures, and techniques.
• Planning and conducting aviation enforcement activities involving complex jurisdictional issues while serving as an expert in coordinating and overseeing aviation interdiction and enforcement efforts.
• Independently addressing complex aviation enforcement issues through policy and operational planning.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must:

• Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 09/23/2026.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Polygraph Examination: The Supervisory Air Interdiction Agent position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination.

Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package.

Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment.

Leadership Training: All newly appointed first-time CBP Supervisors are required to complete mandatory training. The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include 3 weeks of in residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Medical/physical: Successful candidates must meet the medical standards and physical requirements for the position. Any medical or psychiatric condition that could affect the ability of the individual to safely and efficiently perform the functions of the position may result in medical disqualification. Medical standards and physical requirements may include, but are not limited to, vision, hearing, and lifting requirements. Determinations are made on a case-by case basis.

Secondary Law Enforcement Officer Special Retirement Coverage: This is a secondary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers under CSRS and FERS 5 CFR 842.803, 5 CFR 831.903, 5 USC 8425(b), 5 USC 8335(b),5 USC 8412(d) and 5 USC 8336(c). Employees in secondary positions must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible for special retirement provisions: moved directly from a rigorous position to a secondary position without a break in service; complete 3 years of service in a rigorous position; and have been continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a rigorous position without a break in service exceeding 3 days. For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. For further information on when an employee continues or discontinues coverage under the special retirement system for law enforcement officers, see the CSRS and FERS handbook, Chapter 46 (CSRS pages 12-14, and FERS pages 41-43). If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at [redacted].

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal e