Mark Dawson is the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston, Texas. Mr. Dawson has direct oversight of investigations, enforcement initiatives, and operations targeting transnational criminal organizations that exploit America’s travel, trade, and financial systems for illicit purposes within the area of responsibility of the HSI Houston office. This area of responsibility is comprised of 54 counties in the state of Texas stretching from the East Texas border along the Louisiana State line to South Texas along the Texas Gulf Coast, and includes portions of the Eastern, Western, and Southern Judicial Districts of Texas. HSI Houston includes the city of Houston which is ranked the fourth largest city in the U.S., George Bush Intercontinental Airport which serves over six million international air passengers per year, and the Port of Houston which is the second largest seaport in the nation handling approximately 200 million tons of cargo per year.

Prior to this assignment, Mr. Dawson was the Deputy Special Agent in Charge (DSAC) HSI Laredo, Texas, with direct oversight of the HSI Laredo, HSI Brownsville, HSI Harlingen, HSI McAllen, and HSI Falcon Dam offices. This area of responsibility includes over 300 miles of international border, 22 ports of entry, 7 U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints, and over 325 law enforcement officers and support personnel.

Mr. Dawson has served in several roles at headquarters including his role as the East Operations Chief in Domestic Operations. Mr. Dawson began his law enforcement career in 1997 as a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Laredo, Texas. He went on to become a special agent with the U.S. Customs Service in El Paso, Texas, before returning to Laredo, Texas, where he was promoted to supervisory special agent. Mr. Dawson is a graduate of Radford University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.