By Steve Neavling
Border Patrol’s Laredo Sector has a new permanent leader.
Joel Martinez, who served as the acting head since March, was officially sworn in as chief patrol agent of the sector during a change-of-command ceremony on Friday.
Martinez previously served as deputy chief patrol agent of the Rio Grande Valley Sector.
Martinez joined the Border Patrol in 1992 at the Laredo South Station in the Laredo Sector. He previously served as patrol agent in charge of the Laredo South Station, executive responsible for the Sector Intelligence Unit, and assistant chief of the Southeast Border Operations division at Border Patrol headquarters.
Martinez spent much of his 31-year career at the RGV Sector.
In May 2019, Martinez became deputy chief patrol agent of the Laredo Sector before becoming deputy chief patrol agent of the Rio Grande Valley Sector.
Martinez graduated from the CBP Leadership Institute-University of Maryland-Smith School of Business and received a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Ashford University.
Martinez will oversee nine Border Patrol stations tasked with securing 136 border miles along the Rio Grande, stretching from Texas to the Oklahoma and Arkansas state lines.
