Alex Dahms (GHS ’07) always knew he wanted to work in Law Enforcement at the U.S. Federal level. He currently serves as a border guard in Jackman, Maine. His job duties in U.S. Customs and Border Protection are to enforce customs and immigration laws while focusing on border security. This includes passenger and cargo screening and enforcing immigration and customs compliance.

After high school, Dahms spent a year at Bridgton Academy and then earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. Joseph’s College in 2012. For the next five years, he worked at the Cumberland County Sherif ’s Office before moving on to U.S. Customs and Border Protection which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Dahms said, “As a customs officer, it’s important to build your knowledge base as you interact with travelers from around the U.S.andtheworld.Throughconversation and key questioning, we determine who is and who isn’t admissible to the United States and ascertain if they have the necessary documents to enter the country.”

Detail-oriented, Dahms also has a good memory for faces. He recognized the author of this article as his old 5th grade library teacher whom he hadn’t seen in more than 20 years, when she passed through customs returning from a trip to Quebec this summer.

His job also requires staying on top of current worldwide events. Learning about various customs, religions, ideologies, and different cultures is also important knowledge to have when interacting with travelers.

While currently posted on the U.S. Canadian Border, Dahms has also served on the southern border in Texas at Eagle Pass, and Laredo. There he worked alongside the men and women within Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the National Guard, and with local and State Authorities, and other Federal Agents – tracking and processing illegal aliens trying to enter the United States. Finding contraband such as illegal drugs, weapons, stolen goods, including vehicles, and fake documents is also part of his job. Being on alert for smuggling trends and travelers who pose a risk to the United States is key.

Dahms said, “There are a lot of moving parts but the hard work and dedication of the men and women who secure our nation’s borders, on land, air, and sea, including passenger processing and cargo processing, 24-7, is remarkable.”

Dahms grew up in Gorham Village, on a dead end street. He fondly recalls playing street hockey, wiffle ball, football and manhunt games with neighborhood friends. They biked all over town, using the trail systems to get from point to point.

Academically, Dahms said he had to study a little extra to stay on top of his assignments. He remembers Mr. Wilcox and Mr. Tanguay always preached discipline and attention to detail. Ms. Herlihy expected written essays using a strong writer’s voice.

Dahms’ work schedule is challenging, but in his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors, going hiking, golfing, enjoying a campfire, watching sports, grilling, and traveling near and far. He also keeps up with news from his hometown of Gorham.

Dahms is the son of Kevin and Caroline Dahms who now reside in Bridgton. His older brother, Joseph was a GHS ’02 graduate.