New Customs Director on board at Homestead

  • Published
  • By Jake Shaw
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD ARB, FLA --  John Beutlich assumed command of the Customs and Border Protection's Miami Air and Marine Branch here at Homestead Air Reserve Base June 11. 

Mr. Beutlich, a 20-year veteran of Customs, takes over from Robbie Viator, who recently transferred after leading the Homestead branch for 3 years.

As Director of Air Operations, Mr. Beutlich is responsible for 16 aircraft, 22 boats and nearly 100 enforcement personnel who patrol the sky and water in and around South Florida. The mission of the CBP Miami Air and Marine Branch is to protect the American people and critical infrastructure by using an integrated and coordinated air and marine force to detect, interdict and prevent acts of terrorism arising from unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and other contraband moving toward or crossing the borders of the United States. 

To be successful as an organization, the CBP Miami Air and Marine Branch must be able to adapt to challenges of the future, said Mr. Beutlich. 

"We are reactionary to events that occur around us. Today the events are focused on Cuba, the Southwest border and terrorism; tomorrow that focus may shift and we as an organization will have to react and adapt to those changes," he said. 

Prior to his arrival at Homestead, Mr. Beutlich was a program manager assigned to the Customs Air and Marine Headquarters in Washington D.C., and he also spent a year on a special detail working for the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

Mr. Beutlich, originally from Chicago, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Loyola University of Chicago in 1978 and he also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. 

After graduating from Loyola University of Chicago, Mr. Beutlich was commissioned in the Army in 1978, and continued to serve for nine years on active duty. He accepted an inter-service transfer to the Navy Reserve in 1987 and started his career with Customs that same year. Mr. Beutlich retired from the Navy Reserve in 2000 as a Commander after 20 years of service. 

While serving in the Army and Navy Reserve, Mr. Beutlich attended a variety of schools, ranging from electronic warfare to combined arms. He has also attended many courses in safety, firearms and marine law enforcement as a Customs agent. 

As the boss, Mr. Beutlich prefers to manage his employees in a way that allows the pilots, marine officers and agents to get the job done without interference. 

"I have a great group of people and supervisors who work for me. This allows me to manage issues, deal with higher headquarters and to trust orders given will be carried out. My job is to get them the tools they need to do their job while keeping them as unburdened as possible so they can accomplish their mission," he said.