About Us

A rare background

About 3,000 attorneys in Texas belong to the Criminal Defense Section of the State Bar of Texas.

  • Very few practice in both state and federal court.
  • Fewer still have nearly 40 years of experience in law enforcement and law.
  • Even fewer hold advanced Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees.
  • Far fewer are attorneys who also hold a PhD in a related field.

Dr. Douglas A’Hern is one of only 1% of all Texas attorneys who are former investigators, hold a Master of Laws, and have a related PhD.

My background

I bring a rare combination: formal legal education, senior U.S. government service and hands-on field experience.

I am a successful litigator in federal and state criminal defense and immigration deportation defense.

Federal service

Before entering private practice, I served with the U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at every level of the organization:

  • National Director
  • Interim Border Enforcement Coordinator
  • Assistant Port Director
  • Chief Inspector
  • Supervisor
  • Senior Inspector

I served along the U.S.-Mexico border, internationally and in Washington, D.C.

My highly decorated field career covered every part of federal law enforcement: special operations, interdiction, immigration, investigations and intelligence.

My enforcement work included:

  • Counter-terrorism
  • International narcotics trafficking
  • Weapons trafficking
  • Intellectual property rights enforcement
  • Fraud and money laundering
  • Bulk cash smuggling
  • Human trafficking, among others

Senior leadership

I held senior leadership positions in the federal government, specializing in law enforcement, intelligence, legislative work and policy development.

I served as a primary agency representative to numerous congressional offices, executive departments, foreign governments and other diplomatic entities.

I specialized in:

  • Transition management
  • Executive communication
  • Process improvement
  • Data analysis
  • Applying risk management principles

As an agency negotiator, I gained extensive labor relations experience, including helping craft a new bargaining unit agreement.

Litigation support and testimony

I helped frame federal criminal, labor relations and civil cases, and I drafted data relied on in extensive agency litigation.

I held operational oversight of agency participation in large-scale criminal investigations and initiatives.

I have extensive experience preparing witnesses and testifying at every level of court. I served as primary agency representative in settlement negotiations, mediations, and facility and contract negotiations.

Earlier field leadership

Earlier, I served as Border Security Coordinator in Laredo, Texas, and as Assistant Port Director in McAllen and Brownsville, Texas.

I supervised and coordinated all border enforcement and intelligence activities and special projects. I drafted policies and procedures and served as field trainer for all second-line managers in the field office.

I had direct supervisory responsibility over:

  • Targeting and analysis
  • Trade compliance and facilitation
  • Immigration
  • Agriculture
  • Cargo entry and release
  • Summary operations
  • Trade risk management
  • Enforcement
  • Seizures and penalties
  • Canine enforcement

I also oversaw the implementation and management of multiple government contracts.

Before that, I served as a Chief Officer, Supervisory Inspector, Senior Inspector and Inspector in McAllen, Texas, and Nogales, Arizona. I made multiple major arrests and interdictions, and I supervised nationally recognized units that did the same, with an emphasis on export enforcement.

Training

I developed, taught and supervised advanced intermodal interdiction training for military and law enforcement officials from the United States, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Russia, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

The training focused on counter-proliferation, arms trafficking interdiction, and identifying problems in processing systems and improving them.

Military service

I am a U.S. Navy veteran and was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Forensic Psychology
Walden University · 3.85 GPA

Juris Doctor (J.D.)
South Texas College of Law

  • Phi Delta Phi
  • Commander Steve Bozeman Scholarship recipient
  • Dean’s Honor List
  • Academic Merit Award

Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), Forensic Psychology
Walden University · 3.85 GPA

Master of Laws (LL.M.), International Law
University of Houston Law Center · 3.1 GPA

Master of Laws (LL.M.), Intellectual Property and Information Law
University of Houston Law Center · 3.1 GPA

Master of Security Studies (MSS)
Angelo State University · 3.9 GPA

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
University of Houston-Downtown

  • Major: Criminal Justice · Minor: Communications
  • Magna Cum Laude
  • Golden Key Honor Society
  • Alpha Pi Sigma Honor Society

U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Training: Over 4,000 hours at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, including enhanced interdiction, intelligence and other courses.

Assignments

  • 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 Search Trainer

Awards and recognition

  • Commissioner’s Unit Citation (2x: 1997, 1999)
  • Customs Enforcement Officer of the Year (1997)
  • Sustained Superior Performance (1992–2003)
  • 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 for drafting the 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, Policía Nacional de Bolivia (04/99)
  • Certificate of Appreciation, National Collegiate Athletic Association (1993)
  • Certificate of Appreciation, USDA (01-12/93)
  • Letter of Appreciation, Texas Department of Public Safety (01/94)

Clearance: National Security Secret Clearance

U.S. Navy

  • Nine months of training at Naval Station Great Lakes and Fleet Combat Training Center
  • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

State of Texas licenses

  • Personal Protection Officer
  • Licensed Private Investigator
  • Armed Commissioned Security Officer
  • Unarmed Commissioned Security Officer
  • Concealed Handgun