This interview was filmed on location at The Helix, Booz Allen’s Center for Innovation in Washington, D.C., as part of the event DE25: Driving Outcomes through Data. The program features top technology leaders from the public and private sectors sharing insights on cloud transformation, agentic AI, fraud prevention, and data governance. Through a series of dynamic conversations, the program captures how agencies are aligning digital infrastructure with mission needs to deliver real results for the American people. Watch the full show.
At the intersection of technology, national security, and operational urgency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is redefining what it means to deliver IT at the speed of mission. In the Driving Outcomes Through Data segment, Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia, CIO at CBP, offers a powerful look into how one of the federal government’s largest operational agencies is turning data into real-time decision-making power.
Processing 10 billion transactions and 50 billion data exchanges daily across over 1,700 locations, CBP sits at the frontline of America’s security, trade, and border operations. Bhagowalia’s vision—and execution—is not about incremental upgrades. It’s about building a future-ready, AI-enabled infrastructure that delivers actionable data where and when it’s needed most.
“Our job is to protect the American people and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity,” says Bhagowalia. “To do that, our agents need the right data, in the right hands, at the right time.”
Bhagowalia frames CBP’s technology journey around three pillars: strategic transformation, tactical operational excellence, and innovation at the speed of mission. This structure ensures that long-term modernization is rooted in present-day mission needs, and that innovation doesn’t come at the expense of reliability.
Uptime is critical—CBP aims for 99.99% availability across its systems to support continuous operations. That’s not just for headquarters—it’s for field agents, border patrol officers, and maritime units across the country who depend on timely data to make split-second decisions.
“We can’t be fighting fires,” Bhagowalia explains. “Our foundation has to be solid so we can focus on the next generation of transformation.”
One of the most exciting and forward-looking aspects of CBP’s strategy is its investment in edge computing. Traditionally, data collected at the border or in the field had to be transmitted back to central data centers before it could be processed and analyzed. Now, CBP is working to flip that model.
By processing two-thirds of its data directly at the edge, CBP is enabling faster, more autonomous decisions. Whether it’s drones, boats, aircraft, or wall sensors, operational technology in the field can now generate insights in real time—without waiting on connectivity back to headquarters.
“Imagine our agents getting answers on the spot instead of hours later,” Bhagowalia says. “That’s the power of edge computing.”
To make this vision a reality, CBP is investing in next-generation infrastructure that combines satellite connectivity, cloud computing, 5G, and even wearable devices for agents in the field.
Another key component of CBP’s success is the deep integration between mission and IT. Bhagowalia has embedded IT professionals directly with frontline agents and officers. These teams co-design software solutions that reflect operational realities and deliver rapid value.
“The agents tell us what they need, and we build it together,” he explains. “They’re embedded with our 250 agile development teams.”
This close collaboration enables CBP to turn around updates and new capabilities in weeks—or even days. For example, when tariff rules changed at midnight, CBP had updated software deployed and operational within one minute. When those rules were reversed the next day, updates went live again within 24 hours.
That kind of responsiveness is only possible when developers, users, and mission leaders are aligned on priorities, timelines, and feedback loops.
CBP is also a leader in AI adoption. Approximately 86% of its application tier has already migrated to the cloud, and Bhagowalia’s team is working to modernize the database layer as well. This will enable AI and machine learning models to be deployed closer to the edge—reducing latency and expanding the scope of real-time analysis.
One standout initiative is CBP’s use of biometric data, such as facial recognition and fingerprints, to identify persons of interest in the field. With help from AI, the agency has developed tools that can connect disparate data sources and flag individuals with high confidence—sometimes in near real time.
“It’s not just about catching the bad guys,” Bhagowalia says. “It’s about enabling our officers to do their jobs smarter and faster.”
Even as CBP pushes the envelope with AI and edge computing, it remains laser-focused on security. Bhagowalia highlights the agency’s early work on post-quantum cryptography (PQC)—a necessary investment given the growing risk that adversaries could eventually break today’s encryption standards.
CBP has already executed one of the first PQC use cases in government and is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security and industry leaders to expand that work. This forward-looking approach ensures that today’s innovations won’t become tomorrow’s vulnerabilities.
For Bhagowalia, the end goal of all this innovation is not just technological excellence—it’s empowered people. He envisions a future where new CBP employees can leverage AI tools and digital assistants to ramp up in months, not years, and where data is no longer a bottleneck but a force multiplier.
“AI and edge computing are going to change how we operate,” he concludes. “But it starts with listening to the people who do the job every day—and giving them the tools they need to succeed.”
In a world where national security depends on speed, intelligence, and precision, CBP is proving that mission-first innovation isn’t just possible—it’s already here.