The White House on Tuesday evening said that President Obama plans to nominate Alan Bersin, who is currently the country’s “Border Czar,” to serve as Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Bersin’s joined the Department of Homeland Security in April as assistant secretary for International Affairs and special representative for Border Affairs. During the past five months he has led the administration’s efforts to implement the Southwest Border Initiative, an effort that has resulted on improved information sharing with Mexican authorities and increased screening of vehicles and people leaving the United States for Mexico and who are suspected of carrying cash and weapons related to the illegal drug trade.

As the head of CBP Bersin will oversee an agency charged with balancing the demands of security along the nation’s borders with the need to facilitate legitimate travel and trade.

Prior to joining the administration Bersin was chairman of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. Before that, he was California’s Secretary of Education from 2005 to 2006 after a seven-year stint as superintendent of public education in San Diego.

Bersin is a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California from 1993 to 1998.