Gloria I. Chavez’s dreams have come true.
Not only has she returned to her hometown of Brownsville after being gone for 27 years, but she is also now the chief of the Rio Grande Valley Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol.
The Border Patrol Friday held a Change of Command Ceremony officially transferring the authority and responsibility of the RGV Sector of the Border Patrol to Chavez. This was the first such ceremony held in Brownsville.
Chavez, a Brownsville native, graduated from Gladys Porter High School and attended Texas Southmost College before moving to Corpus Christi to begin her law enforcement career with the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office and then the Taft Police Department.
Raul L. Ortiz, chief of the entire U.S. Border Patrol, transferred the authority of the RGV Sector to Chavez during the passing of the Guidon which is a flag that identifies a company, troop, or organization. Green and gold streamers that represent each of the 20 operational sectors of the Border Patrol surround the Border Patrol guidon.
Chief Chavez was extremely excited to receive the RGV Sector Patrol organizational streamer saying “Rio Grande Valley do you know how much work it took me to get this streamer, all my work, it took 27 years to get me the streamer here; hell yeah.”
Although her family members, Ortiz and other federal, state, local dignitaries and stakeholders attended the event held at the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center, one person who wasn’t there was her mother San Juanita Chavez, who was looking down from heaven.
San Juanita passed away Oct. 16, 2022, about three months before Chief Chavez was to head the RGV Sector that has about 3,200 agents and covers over 316 border miles, 317 costal miles and 34 counties equating to more than 34,000 square miles.
Chief Chavez dedicated Friday’s ceremony to her mother thanking her for her guidance, as she was growing up. Trying to contain her emotions — Chief Chavez had practiced her acceptance speech 14 times she said — she spoke of her mother and how grateful she was to her.
“Mommy is here with us in spirit. She is smiling, she is so very proud of me, as she always said that she was, but little did Mommy know though that the woman I am today is all due because of who she was in my life and the strength and courage and love that I learned from her,” Chief Chavez said.
She dedicated Friday’s ceremony to her mother saying “I love you mommy and I will always love you.”
Chavez takes over as the 18th Chief Patrol Agent of the RGV Sector after previously serving as chief patrol agent of the El Paso Sector.
She has 27 years of border security and law-enforcement experience. Her experience and knowledge will prove vital as RGV continues to be among the busiest sectors along the southwest border.
Chavez began her Border Patrol career at Imperial Beach Station in the San Diego Sector. She continued her secondary education and completed her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration. She achieved her master’s degree in Homeland Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School in 2015.
To see more, view Brownsville Herald photojournalist Miguel Roberts’ full photo gallery here:
Photo Gallery: Brownsville native to head Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector
