Event Speakers

Michael C. Kostelnik
Assistant Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Michael C. Kostelnik, Major General, USAF (Ret.) is the Assistant Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine. CBP Air and Marine is the world’s largest aviation and maritime law enforcement organization with more than 900 Federal Agents, operating from 75 air and marine locations, with more than 280 aircraft of 26 different types, and 220 marine vessels.

The mission of CBP Air and Marine is to protect the American people and Nation’s critical infrastructure through the coordinated use of integrated air and marine forces to detect, interdict and prevent acts of terrorism and the unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and other contraband toward or across the borders of the United States.

General Kostelnik, a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2002, has worked for more than 38 years in government service. From 2002 to 2005, he served as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Space Shuttle at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). While at NASA, he was responsible for the Nation’s human space flight program, operating the fleet of U.S. Space shuttles, and leading a 19 nation member team continuing development of the International Space Station. Prior to joining NASA, he spent more than 32 years on active military duty with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) serving as a fighter pilot, flying F-4 and F-15 aircraft, experimental test pilot, ACAT I Systems Program Director, Designated Acquisition Commander, and AFMC center commander. Th e general has served in such roles as the Vice Commander, Air Force Material Command, Commander, Air Armament Center, Vice Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Director of Special Access Programs, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Commandant of the USAF Test Pilot School, Systems Program Director for the Short-Range Attack Missile II, F-117, B-1B Conventional, and AC-130U Gunship.. During a prominent career in fighter operations, and research, development and test he has accumulated more than 3,300 hours of flight time in more than 60 different types of aircraft. The general has extensive leadership and management experience in requirements, development, acquisition, and test of leading edge aerospace systems.

He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1969, and a year later, he completed a Master of Science degree in industrial and management engineering from the University of Iowa. From 1975-1980, he completed extensive post-graduate doctoral course work in Electrical Engineering with the University of Florida. He is a graduate of the Program Management Course, Defense Systems Management College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the Executive Development Programs of the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, and the Maxwell School of leadership and Government at Syracuse University.

General Kostelnik has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, NDIA Gold Medal for Leadership, the Federal 100 Award, and the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership with oak leaf cluster. In 2004, the general was elected a member of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni of Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. General Kostelnik is a 2007 Presidential Rank Award recipient.