September 2023 Monthly Meeting

Michael “Mike” Hebert is the Supervisory CBP Officer for the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection’s (CBP) National Jones Act Division of Enforcement (JADE). Due to his vast
knowledge of coastwise trade laws, SCBPO Hebert was appointed by senior CBP leadership to
create and lead JADE, a national unit with the focused mission of education and enforcement of
our nation’s coastwise trade laws. SCBPO Hebert created and has direct oversight of the CBP
coastwise trade enforcement strategy.

SCBPO Hebert has over 34 years of federal service, including nine years as an active-duty
military veteran, both in the U.S. Army and the Louisiana National Guard. As a member of the
Louisiana National Guard Counter Drug Program (CDP), he was assigned to the Terrebonne
Parish Sheriff’s Office first, then to the U.S. Customs Service Office of Investigations in Houma,
LA.

Mr. Hebert began his career with the U.S. Customs Service in 1998 in the Port of Morgan City.
He was a student of Customs Inspector Basic Training Course USCSI-9907, where he was
awarded both the Outstanding Performance Award and the Distinguished Student Award. In
2005, Mr. Hebert was promoted to the position of Supervisor, then to Port Director for the CBP
Morgan City in 2007. As Port Director, he was responsible for all operational and administrative
aspects of the CBP Morgan City, the 2 nd busiest vessel arrival port in the nation for CBP during
his tenure. In 2010, he was assigned to the BP Oil Spill Incident Command Center in Houma,
LA, where he was the lead CBP Official, responsible for coordinating CBP operations
nationwide related to the BP Oil Spill. He was also the liaison between USCG and CBP for all
“Jones Act” related issues for the oil spill. In 2011 he was awarded the Leadership Award by the
Area Port Director of New Orleans. In 2014 Mr. Hebert was selected by senior OFO leadership
as the OFO lead to update HB 3100-03, the OFO Vessel Handbook, which was published on July
15, 2015. This handbook serves as the policy & procedure guide for CBPOs working in the
maritime environment. Until this update, the handbook had not been updated for 15 years.

Because of his outstanding relationship with internal and external partners, SCBPO Hebert was
voted in as the Vice Chairman of the South Louisiana Area Maritime Security Committee in
2015 and served as the Chairman of the Law Enforcement Sub-Committee.

SCBPO Hebert graduated in 2014 with a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice
Leadership & Executive Management. Due to his academic achievements, he was inducted into
both the Golden Key International Honor Society and Alpha Phi Sigma (Criminal Justice Honor
Society). From January 2015 through December 2018, Mr. Hebert served as an Adjunct
Instructor at the Nicholls State University, teaching courses on Marine Accident Prevention,
Maritime Enforcement & Security, and Disaster Management & Recovery.

Recently, Mr. Hebert received two distinctive community awards. In 2021, he received the
Houma-Thibodaux Diocesan Service Award for St. Gregory Church. In March 2022, He was
awarded the James L. Powell Alumni Award, the highest recognition given to a Nicholls State
University graduate.