CBP Officer of the Year Recipient 2022: CBPO Amy Burgos

CBP Officer Amy Burgos was born in Orlando, FL, and grew up as one of eight siblings in her household. After high school, she attended Valencia College in Orlando where she pursued a degree in Criminal Justice.

After college, Officer Burgos saw an opportunity to join Law Enforcement and began her career with Customs and Border Protection in September 2016 at the Port of Laredo, Tx. Officer Burgos transferred to the Port of Jacksonville in 2018 and was placed on the Passenger Processing Team. When CBPO Burgos was not boarding vessels or aircraft, she worked in the Passenger Analytical Unit (PAU) sharpening her targeting and vetting skills.

In 2019, CBPO Burgos volunteered for an opportunity to become the first female Less Lethal Instructor at the Port of Jacksonville. Upon completion of the course, Officer Burgos was given the title of Primary Less Lethal Instructor for the Area Port of Jacksonville, Florida. As part of these duties, she is responsible to teach ground fighting, baton, taser, and OC spray techniques, to name a few. This type of collateral duty assignment is traditionally held by male officers due to the vigorous physical and mental training regimen required to graduate from the class, however, CBPO Burgos has not only held her own but excelled. She has consistently demonstrated her mental and physical toughness in this role and has been recognized as a premier instructor for the agency.

In 2020, Officer Burgos competed for and was selected to be a part of a brand-new task force attached to the Port of Jacksonville called the Jacksonville Strategic Targeting Analytical Response (JSTAR) Team. Since the formation of JSTAR, CBPO Burgos and her teammates were instrumental in securing CBP Jacksonville’s largest cocaine seizure in 2021, seizing a record 2, 816 lbs. of cocaine in one shipment. CBPO Burgos is also called upon to assist in Joint operations with other agencies such as USCG, CBP Air Marine, HSI, DEA, and State and Local law enforcement for joint large- and small-scale operations including surveillance, offshore boardings and traffic stop leading to narcotic seizures and arrests.

Officer Burgos is a shining example of what it takes to be a CBP Officer. Last year she received a Unit Citation for her work with J-STAR and she also has been nominated for CBP’s Blue Eagle Award, which is given to an individual or team in recognition of a significant enforcement result. The Blue Eagle Award is highly coveted within CBP and is one of the most distinguished honors a CBP Officer can receive.

Officer Burgos is the proud mother of two boys, Gabriel (14) and Damian (7).

Congratulations to the 2021 “CBP Officer of the Year Award” recipient, CBP