Smyth native rises through Border Patrol ranks

An Atkins native’s rapid trajectory through instructional and leadership posts in the United States Border Patrol has taken him to the Port Angeles (Washington) Station where he is the Patrol Agent in Charge.

Jay Cumbow, son of J.W. and Anne Cumbow, began his new role Jan. 23.

From Washington by telephone Thursday, Jay Cumbow said he was working as a campus police officer in Roanoke when he passed a man in a border patrol hat. Looking into that area of service, he applied and attended the 307^th session of the border patrol academy in Glynco, Ga., in May of 1996.

Glynco, he said, is federal property not easily found on a map that abuts Brunswick, Ga.

His leadership skills evident from the start, he was made a section leader of one his academy sessions’ two sections. He said his group was deployed to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta just after the bombing incident.

After completing academy training he was assigned to the Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector.

He said he has served as a senior patrol agent and was assigned to an intelligence unit and other duties including those of lead emergency medical technician specializing in mountain rescue transporting the injured from inaccessible locations.

He has instructed basic and advanced firearms tactics and developed a special operations course, and taught in two tours at the academy.

Most recently, Cumbow commanded a Mobile Response Team, the newest component of the Border Patrol’s Special Operations Group designed to respond to tactical situations as well as disasters.

“It can have boots on the ground anywhere in the U.S. within 48 hours,” Cumbow said.

Cumbow said he has achieved promotions faster than the norm, but views promotions not as goals in themselves but as greater opportunities “to influence wellbeing of my personnel.”

He credits his parents’ influence for “by their nature” instilling in him “a sense of responsibility and attention to detail. Who I am was influenced by them,” he said, and his command style was influenced by those under whom he’s served.

Cumbow is a 1987 graduate of Marion Senior High School.

“I am very proud of where I came from,” he said. “People I talk to always get to hear about where I came from.”

dkegley@wythenews.com