There are around 3,000 attorney's in Texas who belong to the Criminal Defense Section of the Texas State Bar.

There are very few that practice both in state court and federal courts.

There are fewer who have over 20 years of experience as a criminal investigator.

There are even fewer who hold advance Masters Degrees in Law. 

There are ever far fewer who hold a PhD doctorate in a related field as well as being an attorney.

 Dr. Douglas A'Hern stands as only 1% of all attorney's in Texas who are prior investigators, hold a Masters in Law and have a related PhD.

I possess a unique combination of formal legal education and experience, senior U.S. government service and operational field experience. 

I am a successful litigator who engages in federal and state criminal defense, visa and immigration benefits, immigration removal defense, administrative law defense and a wide variety of complex civil litigation.

Before joining in the private legal field, I served with the United States Customs Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  These positions consisted of all levels of the organization; National Director, interim Border Enforcement Coordinator, Assistant Port Director, Chief Inspector, Supervisor, and Senior Inspector.  I served in these positions throughout the United States/Mexico Border region, internationally, and in Washington, D.C.

I focused my highly decorated field career on all aspects of federal law enforcement special operations, interdiction, immigration, investigations, and intelligence.  My enforcement experience includes counter-terrorism, international narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, intellectual property rights enforcement, fraud, money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, human trafficking and others.

I have served in senior leadership positions with the federal government, specializing in law enforcement, intelligence, legislative, and policy development. I served as a primary agency representative to numerous Congressional, executive departments, foreign government, and other diplomatic entities. I specialized in transition management, executive communication, process improvement, data analysis and implementation of risk management principles. I gained extensive experience in labor relations while serving as an agency negotiator crafting and new bargaining unit agreement.

I have worked to frame federal criminal, labor relations and civil cases and drafted data relied upon for extensive agency litigation. I have held operational oversight of agency participation in large-scale criminal investigations and initiatives.  I have extensive experience in witness preparation and testifying in all court levels, serving as primary agency representative in settlement negotiations, mediations, facility and contract negotiations

Prior to this position, I held positions as the Border Security Coordinator in Laredo, Texas and as the Assistant Port Director in McAllen, Texas and Brownsville, Texas. I supervised and coordinated all border enforcement and intelligence activities and special projects. I drafted policy and procedures and served as a field trainer for all second line managers within the field office. I held direct supervisory responsibilities over Targeting and Analysis, Trade Compliance and Facilitation, Immigration, Agriculture, Cargo Entry and Release, Summary Operations, Trade Risk Management, Enforcement, and Seizures and Penalties and Canine Enforcement. I oversaw the implementation and management of multiple government contracts.   

I have also served as a Chief Officer, Supervisory Inspector, Senior Inspector and Inspector in McAllen, Texas and Nogales, Arizona.  I affected multiple major arrests and interdictions and supervised nationally recognized units doing same.  Emphasis on Export Enforcement

I have developed, taught and supervised advanced inter-modal interdiction training for military and law enforcement officials from the United States, Latin America, Eastern European countries, Russia, Hong Kong and others.  This work focused on counter-proliferation and arms trafficking interdiction, as well as systems processing problem identification and enhancement.

I am a veteran of the United States Navy and has been awarded the Armed Services Expeditionary Medal

EDUCATION:

Doctorate of Philosophy - Forensic Psychology (Ph.D.)

• Walden University

• 3.85 GPA

Juris Doctorate (J.D.)

Master in Philosophy - Forensic Psychology (M.Phil)

• Walden University

• 3.85 GPA

Master of Laws - International Law (LLM)

• University of Houston Law Center

• 3.1 GPA

Master of Laws - Intellectual Property and Information Law (LLM)

• University of Houston Law Center

• 3.1 GPA

Masters Degree Security Studies (MSS)

• Angelo State University
• 3.9 GPA

Bachelor of Science (BS)

• University of Houston Downtown
• Criminal Justice major
• Communications minor 
• Magna Cum Laude
• Golden Key Honor Society
• Alpha Pi Sigma Honor Society

US Customs & Customs and Border Protection -  over 4000 hours training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center including enhanced interdiction,  intelligence, and others.

• Second Line Supervisor FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force

• International Border Interdiction Training Chief

• Designated Intelligence Officer

• McAllen Airport Task Force Supervisor

• Contraband Enforcement Team Member/Supervisor/Chief

• Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force Member/Supervisor/Chief

• Outbound Enforcement Team Member/Supervisor/Chief

• Personal Seach Trainer

• Commissioners Unit Citation (X 2) (97, 99)

• Customs Enforcement Officer of the Year (97)

• Sustained Superior Performance (92-03)

• Special Act Award Nogales District (08/92)

• Enforcement Officer of the Month-Nogales (09-10/91)

• Firearms Distinguished Expert Certificate (03/94)

• Strategic Problem Solving Border Rail Operations (09/97)

• Strategic Problem Solving Intelligence Collection Del Rio, Texas (07/98)

• Special Act Award Export Enforcement (06/97)

• Special Act Award Headquarters Inspection and Control (08/93)

• Special Act Award Southwest Region (07/93)

• Exceptional Enforcement Award (04/97)

• Letter of Recognition, Regional Commissioner

• Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate of Appreciation (04/99)

• Letter of Appreciation drafting Acquisition and Tracking of Forfeiture Funds Standard Operating Procedure Manual (12/98)

• Certificate of Appreciation Intelligence & Communications Division (07/99)

• Customs Office of International Affairs Certificate of Appreciation (05/99)

• Certificate of Appreciation, Cargo Interdiction Operations (01/94)

• Letter of Appreciation National Outbound Standard Operating Procedure

• Certificate of Appreciation RAIC McAllen, Office of Investigations (07/99)

• Certificate of Appreciation Policia National De Bolivia ( 04/99)

• Certificate of Appreciation National Collegiate Athletic Association (93) Certific

• of Appreciation USDA (01-12/93)

• Letter of Appreciation Texas Department of Public Safety (01/94)

• National Security Secret Clearance

US Navy - Nine months training at Naval Station Great Lakes & Fleet Combat Training Center

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.