Speakers Keynote Speakers and Other Plenary Session Speakers Chief Administrative Officers Council
Jan Lesher - DHS Chief of Staff Operations
Jan Lesher became Chief of Staff, Operations to Secretary Janet Napolitano in January 2009. Previously, Lesher served several roles in Governor Napolitano’s administration in Arizona, including Chief of Staff and Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce. Born, raised and educated in Tucson, Arizona, her professional experience is extensive; she served as Vice-President of Communications and Marketing for the Tucson Economic Development Corporation, Executive Director of the Tucson Community Cable Corporation and Vice-President of Warner-Amex Cable. She founded Lesher Communications in 1990, handling corporate, public and government relations for various entities until she joined the Governor’s staff in2003. As Chief of Staff, Lesher is responsible for the management of the Secretary’s Office and oversees the day to day administration of numerous program areas, often working with other government agencies and private entities to address issues and work on solutions. Lesher served as an incorporating board member of Arizona Economic Resource Organization (AERO), a nonprofit entity working with economic development groups statewide on policy and recommendations for modernizing and diversifying the state’s economy. Additionally, Lesher held positions on numerous panels and commissions, including the Greater Arizona Development Authority, the Arizona Aerospace and Defense Commission, the Governor’s Council on Innovation and Technology, Governor’s Council on Workforce Policy, the Arizona-Mexico Commission and others. She has an extensive and impressive history of community involvement, including service with the Arizona Town Hall; the Greater Tucson Economic Council; the Community Food Bank; La Frontera; she was named Metropolitan Tucson Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2005 and Arizona Capitol Times Leader of the Year in Public Policy in 2008. Lesher holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona. Elaine C. Duke - Under Secretary for Management
On October 29, 2007 Elaine C. Duke was appointed Deputy Under Secretary for Management. Previously she was the Chief Procurement Officer for the Department of Homeland Security. In this capacity she provided leadership over the department's $14 billion in contracts and $11 billion in financial assistance programs. Ms. Duke was the department's Deputy Chief Procurement Officer from October 2004 to December 2005, when she assumed duties as the acting Chief Procurement Officer. In January 2006, Ms. Duke took over full responsibilities as the department's second procurement chief. Before coming to the headquarters, she served for two years as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration. Sheryl "Sharie" Bourbeau - DHS HQ
Sharie Bourbeau became the Department of Homeland Security’s second Deputy Under Secretary for Management on June 22, 2009. She ensures the Management Directorate meets its mission goals by providing direction to a staff of Senior Executive Service (SES) members, SES-equivalent employees, and senior federal employees. Ms. Bourbeau leads the day-to-day operations of the Management Directorate and provides strong direction in the continued unification and maturation of the Department.
Mark Sullivan was sworn in as the 22nd Director of the United States Secret Service on May 31, 2006. Mr. Sullivan was named Deputy Director in January 2006. Prior to that, he served as the Assistant Director for the Office of Protective Operations where he managed all protective activities for the agency, encompassing 12 divisions and 2,300 employees. A native of Arlington, Massachusetts, Mr. Sullivan began his Secret Service career as a special agent assigned to the Detroit Field Office in 1983, after having served for three years as a special agent in the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1990, Mr. Sullivan was transferred to the Fraud Division in Washington, D.C., where he coordinated and monitored multi-jurisdictional criminal investigations involving credit card fraud, bank fraud, and similar criminal activity. In 1991, Mr. Sullivan received his first assignment to the Presidential Protective Division, where he served for four years. In 1996, Mr. Sullivan entered the agency’s supervisory ranks with his selection as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Protective Operations. He returned to the field in 1997 as the Resident Agent in Charge of the Columbus Resident Office, which oversaw all Secret Service activities in Central Ohio. Twenty months later, Mr. Sullivan was promoted and transferred back to Washington, D.C., as Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Counterfeit Division, where he managed the agency’s investigative activities related to the criminal production and distribution of counterfeit currency and other financial instruments. In July of 1999, he returned to the Presidential Protective Division, this time as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Mr. Sullivan was promoted into the federal Senior Executive Service in July of 2000, when he was selected as a Deputy Assistant Director in the Office of Protective Operations. In 2002, he was reassigned to the position of Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Vice Presidential Protective Division. A year later, he was reassigned to the position of Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Human Resources and Training. Mark Sullivan has been the recipient of numerous awards for superior performance throughout his 25-year tenure with the Secret Service and his 30-year career in federal law enforcement. Most recently, he was awarded a 2005 Distinguished Presidential Rank Award. Mr. Sullivan received his bachelor’s degree from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. Donald G. Bathurst – Chief Administrative Officer
Mr. Bathurst is Chief of Administrative Services, Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for delivery of administrative services to the Department of Homeland Security, including facilities acquisition, facilities management, inventory management, records management, health and safety programs, environmental compliance, mail room, motor pool, fleet management and a customer service center.
Mr. Bradford Cooper is currently serving as the first Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Cooper is responsible for providing executive level policy, oversight and operational leadership for: Real Property, Design and Construction, Personal Property, Logistics, Marine, Aviation, Fleet, Environmental Planning, Historic and Cultural Preservation, Environmental Management, Occupational Safety and Health, Energy, Mail, Records, Directives, Forms, Printing, Publications and Graphics and Library. Previously he was the Director of Asset Management at the Department of Homeland Security where he provided executive oversight for Real Property, Design and Construction, Personal Property, Logistics, Marine, Aviation, Fleet and Mail Management. He spent the prior eight years with the Department of the Treasury-United States Mint in various executive level positions, including Senior Advisor to the Director, Associate Director for Manufacturing, Deputy Associate Director for Sales and Marketing, and Superintendent of the West Point Mint. His responsibilities included manufacturing, engineering, supply chain management, sales and marketing, coin design and engraving, safety, environment, energy, facilities and construction management, research and development, finance, human resources and systems support. While at the United States Mint, Mr. Cooper developed and implemented a comprehensive five year capital investment and workforce management plan to achieve world class status through the implementation of a Total Productive Manufacturing (TPM) effort that combined the principles of lean manufacturing, ISO9000 (product design and quality management system), ISO14001(Environmental Management System) and supply chain management. In addition, Mr. Cooper received the Secretary of Treasury Award on three separate occasions for:
Before coming to the Government, Mr. Cooper worked for over 11 years in various positions in the private sector, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer U.S. Controls Corporation. Prior to that, he was Plant Manager, Operations Manager and Safety Director responsible for domestic and international operations at Texas Instruments Inc., as well as an Engineer for Raytheon Corporation. He holds a BS in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Massachusetts College of Engineering.
Jeffery Orner is the Coast Guard's Deputy Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics. He has served in this position since November 2005. Mr. Orner has been a member of the Senior Executive Service since July 1999. He provides executive leadership of the Coast Guard's engineering and logistics programs and workforce (Naval, Civil, Aeronautical and Industrial), maintaining the Coast Guard's $25 billion capital plant consisting of 230 ships, 1,800 boats, 200 aircraft and 23,000 facilities. The CG-4 team is responsible to maintain affordable readiness for the Coast Guard, through innovative and disciplined approaches to logistics, engineering and industrial processes. He is also the Coast Guard's Chief Administrative Officer. Mr. Orner was the Executive Director of the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) from 2001 to 2005. As the Command's number two official, Mr. Orner led a worldwide work force of over 24,000 military and civilian personnel; he oversaw $10 billion in annual spending; and was NAVSUP's acquisition executive. He managed the Navy's supply chain operations while leading an enterprise-wide business transformation. Mr. Orner also led the Navy's logistics community. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Orner was the Assistant Deputy Commander, Fleet Logistic Support at the Naval Sea Systems Command. As NAVSEA's senior logistician, he was responsible for fleet support and acquisition logistics, including all processes, products and services necessary to achieve and sustain affordable readiness for all ships and ship systems, Navy-wide. He led NAVSEA's efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Fleet customer support, and led the team that developed the Distance Support program. The Naval Sea Logistics Center , a logistics and information technology center of excellence, reported to him. From 1993 to 1998, he was an Assistant Program Executive Officer for Mine Warfare, where he led a nationwide team working on life-cycle cost reduction initiatives, fleet readiness improvement efforts, and the establishment of disciplined configuration management processes for 25 system acquisition and shipbuilding programs and over 70 in-service systems used on ships, aircraft and by Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams. Mr. Orner was the Configuration Management and Logistic Support Branch Head in the NAVSEA Surface Combatant Ship Program Office from 1988 to 1993. There he led a team that managed the readiness, configuration management, maintenance and support of all non-AEGIS surface combatant ships in all life cycle phases, including shipbuilding, major modernization, and in-service support. The Department of the Navy hired Mr. Orner in 1982 as a graduate cooperative education student. When he graduated from that program, NAVSEA selected him into their Fleet Logistic Support Directorate, where he worked on business process improvement efforts, including configuration management, the Fleet Modernization Program and related educational efforts. A native of Ebensburg , PA , Mr. Orner holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield , Ohio , and a Master of Science Degree from the Kogod School of Business at The American University in Washington , D.C. He is a member of the Acquisition Professional Corps, certified in Program Management and in Life Cycle Logistics. Mr. Orner has received both the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and the Navy Superior Civilian Service Medal. In 1996 Mr. Orner was the first winner of the Admiral Stan Arthur Award for Logistics Excellence (CNO Logistician of the Year Award) and the NAVSEA Logistician of the Year award. In 2004 the NAVSUP civilian and military team w as awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation in recognition of the Command's business transformation and its superior mission performance. Mr. Orner was awarded the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive by the President of the United States in 2005.
Michael “Mike” James Keegan is the Chief Administrative Officer and Director, Support Services and Facilities Management for the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Mike brings a wealth of experience to the Support Services and Facilities Management Division. After retiring from the U.S. Navy he transitioned to the private sector working in the electrical power generation industry as a Maintenance Manager, Operations Manager and Plant Manager responsible for construction, start-up, operations, maintenance and business development at four diverse power generating plants. Mike was promoted to Regional Vice President at PG&E National Energy Group, responsible for a portfolio of power plants as well as development, construction and O&M for a variety of new projects. He elected to join the federal government and accepted a position with the Architect of the U.S. Capitol as the Director of Facilities & Power, responsible for the management and upkeep of facilities and infrastructure on Capitol Hill. Prior to coming to FEMA, Mike was the Associate Director, Facilities & Property Management for the Department of the Interior. In this position, he was responsible for policy and oversight of asset management, facilities management, capital project investment and control, energy conservation, fleet/vehicle management, space and quarter’s utilization, personal property and museum management.”
Pat Wallis became the Director of the Office of Asset Management (OAM) in October 2007. In her current position, Ms. Wallis is responsible for leading the ICE effort to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate agency-wide policies, procedures, and programs in the areas of Facilities Management, Property Management, Administrative Services, and Records Management. Ms. Wallis also manages the direct delivery of administrative and facilities support to ICE Headquarters locations. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Wallis served at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Chief Procurement Officer as the Director, Management and Budget, and as Acting Director, Office of Acquisition Policy and Oversight. Ms. Wallis has been with DHS since its inception and was instrumental in establishing the organizational structure, staffing, and operating policies and procedures for the Department’s Office of Inspector General. Prior to her service with DHS Headquarters, she served 5 years at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 11 years at the Internal Revenue Service.
Nelson U. Garabito was appointed Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Administration in August 2008. In this position, he oversees the administrative and financial management activities of the Secret Service. Mr. Garabito’s career with the Secret Service began in August 1988 as a Special Agent in the Newark, New Jersey, Field Office. In 1993, he was assigned to the San Juan Field Office in Puerto Rico. Two years later, he joined the Presidential Protective Division, where he served in a number of operational assignments over a period of five years. Mr. Garabito entered the agency’s supervisory ranks in 2000 with his selection as Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division’s White House Security Branch with oversight over all White House complex security functions. In 2002, Mr. Garabito returned to the field as Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office, where he supervised Secret Service investigations and protective assignments. In March 2004, Mr. Garabito was promoted to Special Agent in Charge within the Office of Protective Operations where he directed the newly formed Airspace Security Program. In this position, he played a lead role in the development and planning of the interagency airspace security effort for more than ten National Special Security Events (NSSEs).In January 2006, he was elected chairman of the Interagency Airspace Protection Working Group, comprised of 18 federal agencies who together address areas of concern, develop recommended strategies and propose solutions for issues involving air security operations. In December 2008, Mr. Garabito received Senior Executive Service certification from the Office of Personnel Management. In February 2009, Mr. Garabito was selected by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano as the Deputy Principal Federal Official for the President’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress, a designated NSSE. In his current position, Mr. Garabito oversees the Administrative Operations Division which manages the purchase and lease of all Secret Service facilities, space, automobile fleet and equipment. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Union City, NJ, Garabito received dual Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Political Science from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ.
Marcus L. Hill serves as the Assistant Director for Administration at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia. He was appointed to this position in June 2006. In this position, he provides executive oversight of two offices, comprised of seven divisions and program areas, that provide support services to the FLETC law enforcement training mission. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Operations Support within the Administration Directorate. Mr. Hill began his FLETC career in 1999 when he accepted the position as Chief, Staffing and Classification Branch with the Human Resources Division. From 1999 to 2002, he also held positions as the Senior Policy and Project Analyst (SPPA) for the Office of Planning and Resources, and the Assistant to the FLETC Director. Mr. Hill left the FLETC for a short period of time from July 2002 to January 2004. During that time, he served as the Administrative Officer for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in the Jacksonville, Florida, Field Office. Mr. Hill rejoined the FLETC team in January 2004 where he served as the SPPA for the Training Directorate. In addition to his service with the FLETC and TSA, Mr. Hill has held a variety of civil service positions within the Department of the Navy, and the United States Air Force. Mr. Hill also has an extensive military background including service with the United States Air Force active and reserve components, and recently retired as a reserve officer. During his civilian and military careers, he has been recognized on several occasions for Distinguished and Meritorious service. Mr. Hill is married and has three children.
In December 2003, Nancy W. Guilliams was appointed Director of Administration, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Mrs. Guilliams formerly served as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Administration with the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice from 2000 to 2003.
Gloria Eskridge is the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Chief Administrative Officer and Director, Administrative Operations. Gloria came to DHS from the United States Mint, were she was Associate Director of Sales and Marketing. Under her leadership the collectible and investment business grew to over $1 billion dollars. She managed the 50 States Quarter Program, the most popular coin program in the history of the United States. She worked with the governors and the Commission of Fine Arts in development of each design and coordinated launch events that were attended by several thousand citizens of the state. She worked with Congress and stakeholder groups, numerous coin and Congressional Medals programs. These included the popular Marine Corps Commemorative Coin and Congressional gold medals honoring Dali Lama and Mother Theresa. She managed a customer service operation servicing over one million calls per year. The University of Michigan recognized the customer service operation as a top performer compared with government and private sector organizations. Prior to joining the United States Mint, she worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International and was Director of International Business Development. She graduated from Greensboro College with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and an MBA from Wake Forest University.
Dr. Teresa R. Pohlman has over 25 years of extensive leadership experience managing all aspects of public and private sector environmental and infrastructure program and product development. Her background includes management positions with responsibility for $300 million to over $1 billion annual budgets for environmental, infrastructure, and facility maintenance programs. At Headquarters Air Force, she was the Environmental Division Chief, and managed the Air Force's $1 Billion environmental program, including cleanup, compliance, conservation, and pollution prevention, for all bases in the United States and overseas, including international bilateral agreements with Russia , Norway , Argentina , and Italy . She also served as an Air Force Regional Program Manager with the Air Force Base Conversion Agency, for a $300 million program concerned with base closure and disposal issues, closing five Air Force bases. While working for the Navy, she served at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Headquarters as the Navy single point of contact for environmental base closure issues, She also worked at the Naval Coastal Systems Center in Panama City , Florida as the Project Manager for the Chemical Warfare Protective Dive Suit. As the Tenant Activities Group Leader at the Pentagon Renovation Office (PRO), she was responsible for the strategic master planning for the entire Pentagon Renovation, other facilities on the Pentagon Reservation, and other geographically dispersed sites for alternate operations. She ensured that the strategic design and requirements for these projects were consistent across the Department of Defense, among the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the other Defense agencies. These requirements integrated operations and maintenance considerations during construction, via the Design Process, where multiple stakeholders participated to ensure renovation and construction are accomplished without sacrificing mission continuity. In addition, she managed the safety and occupational health program for all projects in the Pentagon Renovation Office's $3 billion program, including both renovation and new construction. She was also responsible for coordinating the overall implementation strategy to incorporate appropriate force protection projects, added to the Pentagon Renovation Program as a result of the September attacks, into the $1billion Pentagon renovation efforts. For their outstanding efforts in sustainable construction, her Team won the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management, one of five awarded in the federal government. In addition, she spearheaded the efforts for LEED certification of three Pentagon Renovation projects, the Metro Entrance Facility, the Pentagon Athletic Center , and the Remote Delivery Facility. Prior to the Department of Defense, she worked for several defense contractors, and wrote Program Management Plans, Operational Specifications, and Quality Assurance Plans for research and development projects. She also performed and directed power spectral density, moment of inertia, and stress analysis of a large Navy ship cargo transfer crane, and analyzed an inertial navigation system for shock and vibration effects. While working at Rockwell International and NASA, she managed and executed the installation and test of Orbiter Experiments on the Space Shuttle, for the first three flights of the Columbia. Currently, Dr. Pohlman is the Director, Occupational Safety and Environmental Programs at Headquarters, Department of Homeland Security.
Scott Myers is the Director of Assets and Logistics Management for the Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for reporting, tracking, and management of the department assets. Prior to coming with the Department of Homeland Security he was with the Treasury Department. He began his career with the government nine years ago at the United States Mint as the Controller, Circulating Coinage. He was responsible for leveraging the Mint’s newly implemented ERP system to provide meaningful financial and operational information. He also developed the performance metrics for the Circulating Coinage Strategic Business Unit. His most recent position was the Associate Director for Manufacturing Operations. In this position he was responsible for the four minting operations that manufacture United States coinage. As Associate Director he was responsible for the implementation of Lean Supply Chain Manufacturing concepts as well as the development and implementation of a comprehensive capital modernization program. Prior to coming to government, Scott spent twenty-two years with Reynolds Aluminum, the maker of Reynolds Wrap. During his career he served in administrative, financial, and operational roles. His experience ranges from developing and implementing business processes and controls, managing fleet and logistics operations, business startups and acquisitions, to consolidation of operations. Scott has a BA from Florida State University and an MBA from Duke University. Karl Johnson assumed his current position in December 2006, after serving as the Assistant Director Asset Management and Director of Mail Management for the Department of Homeland Security. In his current position, Mr. Johnson is responsible for the Departments Records, Directives, Printing, Library Services, Forms and Mail Management Programs. Prior to joining the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Johnson, was a National Operations Manager for Pitney Bowes. Mr. Johnson led a team with representation from Congress, DoD, university research laboratories, United States Postal Service, and commercial industry in recovery operations and reestablishment of mail services to Congress following the October 2001 Anthrax attack against the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Johnson retired from the United States Air Force in 2001 were he served as a Security Forces Officer commanding Security and Law Enforcement units and as a subject matter expert for nuclear weapon security policies and system security engineering for weapons acquisition and development. He has a Master of Arts degree in Business Management from Webster University , and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Minnesota State University . He is a graduate with honors from the United States Air Force, Air War College and Air Command and Staff College.
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