Carrying Forward a Legacy of Service: A CBP Officer’s Journey Around the World

For Ian Fields, a career in law enforcement was never just a job. It was a way to continue a family legacy.

His father spent 26 years with the New Orleans Police Department, retiring as a sergeant. While his siblings chose careers in accounting, education, and engineering, Fields, the youngest of four, preferred to follow in his father's footsteps. "I wanted to do some type of law enforcement," he said. "I didn't want to just respond to calls. I wanted something more specialized."

His search for the right role began in 2005, after he spent time supporting the National Guard's response to Hurricane Katrina. While exploring opportunities in state, local, and federal law enforcement, he applied to become a state police officer, a probation and parole officer, and a U.S. Customs officer.

The federal hiring process took time. Several months passed before he received his first offer from Customs in 2007. By then, he had started work as a state probation and parole officer and decided to stay where he was.

Two years later, state budget challenges prompted him to revisit the opportunity with Customs. "I said something had to change and something had to be different," he recalled. "That something different was calling Customs back." This time, the process moved more quickly. In 2009, he entered on duty with CBP and began his career at the Port of Morgan City, about an hour south of New Orleans.

Over the 17 years that followed, his CBP career took him from Morgan City to the Port of New Orleans, Montreal Preclearance, and temporary assignments at CBP headquarters in Washington, D.C. His service also included two deployments to Afghanistan with the Army National Guard, first in 2003 and again in 2013. Those experiences reinforced the importance of teamwork, readiness, and staying focused on the mission, even when the work changes.

Today, Fields serves as a program manager with CBP's New Orleans Field Office. He supports the Jones Act Division of Enforcement, a national program that provides guidance, training, and subject matter expertise on coastwise trade issues. He also serves as the field office's use-of-force coordinator, resiliency coordinator, and recruiter-in-charge for a five-state region.

No two days look exactly alike. One day may involve coordinating with federal partners or providing technical guidance. Another may focus on employee well-being, mentoring newer officers, or helping applicants explore career options.

For Fields, those responsibilities are all part of the same larger picture. "Our mission stays the same," he said. "Our mission is defending the country. We are that first-line defense, so we all play a part." He believes every employee, regardless of title or assignment, contributes to that mission. "Your piece of the puzzle, even though you may think it is small, is still a piece of the puzzle," he said. "You are not in the dugout. You are actually in the game."

That belief shapes the way he approaches recruitment. He is candid with prospective applicants: CBP careers are not easy, but they can be rewarding. The agency offers opportunities to develop specialized skills, travel, move between work units, take on demanding assignments, or build a career closer to home.

"There are so many opportunities with CBP," he said. "You can travel the world to fulfill the mission. Or you can stay more grounded and have quality of life at home. The opportunities are there."

One of his most memorable career moments came during a temporary assignment with the Law Enforcement Operations Division at CBP headquarters. As part of an early-morning team, he helped prepare daily operational and situational briefings for agency leadership. Several times each week, he would brief senior leaders on significant events occurring across the field.

The first time, he said, he felt "like a deer in the headlights." But he approached the opportunity head-on. "I never thought I would be in those seats, briefing the executive assistant commissioner on what was going on in the field," he said. "Being able to do it, and then do it again, showed me I was ready for that next step."

That desire to keep learning and growing continues to guide him. Over the next 5 to 10 years, he hopes to progress within the Office of Field Operations, take on new challenges, and help prepare the next generation of CBP officers. "To me, a successful career is about the challenges that help you grow in your job, develop the skills to take on new opportunities, and also help others along the way," he said.

For Fields, the path from a young man looking to follow his father's example to a CBP leader, recruiter, and mentor has been defined by service. And after 17 years, he remains committed to helping others find their own place in the mission. Are you ready to shape your legacy with CBP?

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 70,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.

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