Speaker Bios Homeland Security: The National Challenge April 9 11, 2014 Jim Flyzik: Jim Flyzik is the President of The Flyzik Group www.theflyzikgroup.com. The company specializes in Strategic Business Consulting, Performance Based Contracting Consulting and Training and Thought Leadership media events. The company assists small, medium and large companies in providing world-class government services. Jim also hosts the monthly radio program, The Federal Executive Forum on WFED 1050 AM and http://www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php?nid=49&sid=1554821. Jim also served as the Chairman of the AFCEA International Committee on Homeland Security. Jim served over 27 years in the federal government. He served as Senior Advisor to Governor Ridge in the White House Office of Homeland Security (OHS). He provided advice to OHS on the National Strategy and Information Management in support of the OHS mission. From February 1998 until December 2002, Jim also served as the Vice Chair of the Federal Government CIO Council overseeing numerous government-wide IT initiatives. He was also a member of the President s Critical Infrastructure Protection Board. Prior to this, from August 1997 until April 2002, Jim was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Systems and Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Department of the Treasury. He provided oversight, strategic planning and management direction on over $3.0 billion in annual information technology and information infrastructure programs within Treasury and its fourteen Bureaus. Jim also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Management for the Treasury Department from January 20, 2001 until February 8, 2002. In that role he provided oversight of all Treasury bureaus and served as the principal policy advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on matters involving the internal management of the Department and its bureaus. Jim received the Secretary Certificate of Appreciation on February 12, 2002 for his efforts during this transition period. Prior to his Treasury positions, Jim worked for 18 years at the U.S. Secret Service where he held key IT management positions, including the Chief of the Communications and ADP Operations Division, providing world class telecommunications in support of Secret Service tactical and operational requirements. Jim served as IT Team Leader on Vice President Gore's National Performance Review (NPR) Information Technology Team. Following this assignment, he was selected as Chairman of the Government Information Technology Services Working Group, to implement the NPR Information Technology recommendations and coordinate the government services portion of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). He was given the prestigious Eagle Award as the government information technology executive of the year in 1994, a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award in 1995, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award for Excellence in Information Technology in 1996, the AFFIRM Award for Outstanding Service to the Citizens in 1997, the Industry Advisory Council Award for Special Achievements and Leadership in 1997, the AFFIRM IRM Executive of the Year Award in 1998, and the Distinguished Rank Executive Award from President Clinton in 1999. In 2001 the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils presented him the John J. Franke award for outstanding government service. In March 2002, Jim was selected by the Federal CIO Council to receive the Azimuth Award as the Government Executive of the Year.
Jim has extensive public speaking experience and frequently serves as a featured speaker at industry events. He has developed, and currently teaches part-time, a graduate level course on Information Systems Security and Risk Assessment at the University of Maryland. Jim was given the Stanley J. Drazek Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998 by the University of Maryland. Jim has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Computer Science and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maryland with an area of concentration in Information Systems Management. Jim was inducted into the CIO Magazine Hall of Fame on October 29, 2007. He joins 31 other CIO s inducted over the past 20 years and is the first career government CIO to be selected. Gregory L. Shaw, D.Sc., CBCP: Gregory Shaw is an Associate Professor of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering and a Co-Director of the Institute for Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management. Since arriving at GWU in 2001 he has conducted research in support of Operation Safe Commerce, the organizational response to the 9-11 attacks, mass casualty preparedness and response, healthcare emergency management competencies and certification, the impact of the 9-11 attacks on corporate America and a risk assessment of the San Francisco ferry system. He is an adjunct faculty member for Florida Atlantic University, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy teaching graduate level courses in Homeland Security, Crisis and Emergency Management and Risk Management. Previously, Gregory Shaw served as an officer in the United States Coast Guard, retiring as a Captain in October 1996. While on active duty, he commanded four cutters and the Coast Guard s largest shore unit, served as Liaison Officer to the United States Navy Mine Warfare Command, and as a senior analyst for the Congressionally chartered Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces. Additionally, Gregory Shaw spent over twelve years in assignments related to Coast Guard training, education and development culminating in the assignment as Director of the Coast Guard s Training and Education System. Gregory Shaw has earned his Doctor of Science in Engineering Management at GWU and Masters Degrees in Physics at Wesleyan University, Education and Human Development at GWU, and Business Administration at Webster University. He is a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) through Disaster Recovery Institute International. The Honorable Kenneth P. Rapuano: Kenneth P. Rapuano is the Director of Advanced Systems and Policy at the MITRE Corporation. He is responsible for guiding crosscutting national and homeland security mission initiatives. Prior to joining MITRE, Mr. Rapuano served at the White House as Deputy Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush from 2004-2006. He chaired the Homeland Security Council Deputies Committee, cochaired the White House Counterterrorism Security Group, and was responsible for managing the development and implementation of homeland security policies among departments and agencies. He left the White House in 2006 to deploy to Afghanistan as a Marine Corps Reserve officer with a Joint Special Operations Task Force, establishing and directing a targeting fusion center tracking high-value terrorists and insurgents. He also served in Iraq in 2003, commanding the Joint Interrogations and Debriefing Center of the Iraq Survey Group established to conduct the mission of surveying and exploiting possible weapons of mass destruction sites and activities across Iraq. In 2003, Mr. Rapuano was appointed Deputy Under Secretary for Counter Terrorism at the Department of Energy, responsible for counter terrorism, homeland security, emergency response, and special access programs for DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Previous to that, he was the National Security Advisor to the Secretary of Energy. Mr. Rapuano has also served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Policy. He served 21 years on active duty and in the reserves as a Marine Corps infantry officer and intelligence officer.
Mr. Rapuano is a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of WMD at National Defense University, and the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute s Preparedness, Response and Resilience Task Force, and served as a member of the Homeland Security Science & Technology Advisory Committee, and the DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Advisory Committee. Mr. Rapuano received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Middlebury College, and a master's degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University. Dr. Cedric J. Sims: Dr. Cedric J. Sims is a Partner in Evermay Consulting Group, Inc. an advisory firm that provides strategic acquisition guidance to private sector clients focusing on Homeland Security and other federal agency mission areas. The company assists small, medium, and large companies with world-class government services, products and technology solutions. Driven by strong dedication to public service, Dr. Sims has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of acquisition and risk management, cyber security, capital planning, portfolio and program governance, and systems engineering applied to homeland security missions. Dr. Sims formerly served as Executive Director of the Office of Program Accountability and Risk Management (PARM) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security s (DHS) Office of the Under Secretary for Management from late 2010 until 2012. As Executive Director, Dr. Sims led efforts to promote better accountability of DHS acquisition investments and to mature the acquisition risk management process. This focus evolved the DHS acquisition process through enhanced operational governance and vigilance over the department s tolerance for risk in the execution of $18 billion of acquisition investment programs. Dr. Sims portfolio included policy, governance, support services, program management certification and training, and risk management strategies related to program execution. He chaired the Centers of Excellence Council and provided strategic leadership to Component Acquisition Executives. Dr. Sims led the merger to PARM of the legacy Acquisition and Program Management Division (APMD) and the Cost Analysis Division (CAD). Dr. Sims was selected in May 2009 to serve as Executive Director of the Enterprise Business Management Office (EBMO) within the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). As Executive Director, Dr. Sims oversaw enterprise strategies for governance of $6.4 billion of IT investments across DHS. He developed and executed portfolio and program management strategies aligned with the DHS Enterprise Architecture and business processes for Capital Planning and Investment Control, departmental budget formulation and acquisition reviews. Before joining DHS Headquarters, Dr. Sims served at the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) from 2001 until 2009. Dr. Sims leadership experience at Secret Service includes assignments as Branch Chief of Network Management, DHS Senior Infrastructure Officer, and interagency communication coordination roles at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, G8 Summit in Sea Island and various United Nations General Assemblies. In his last assignment, Dr. Sims was the key Secret Service leader responsible for defining, developing, and implementing a concept of future operations to provide context for investment decisions. Additionally, he facilitated the development of the Secret Service s first, portfolio-based, five-year budget that aligned with agency, departmental, and presidential objectives. From 1990 to 2000, Dr. Sims served in various management and research roles for the Texas A&M University System to include modernizing a Department of Defense command simulation system; promoting federal, state, and local interoperability through the Advanced Law Enforcement and Response Technology (ALERT) program. Dr. Sims received a bachelor of science in Computer Science and a bachelor of science in Journalism and holds a doctorate in Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Jose Arrieta: As the Procurement Ombudsman for the Department of Homeland Security, Jose Arrieta is responsible for promoting fairness, openness, and transparency across the Department throughout the acquisition process. Recognized as a FAC C Level III certified Acquisition expert, Jose engages industry partners and contracting offices as an independent mediator. His office works with all acquisition stakeholders to identify and resolve issues in a timely cost effective manner. His office develops training, policies, and procedures that promote effective communications and ensure competition. He serves as an advisor to the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer on industry related issues. Jose began his Government career as an acquisition intern at the General Services Administration (GSA). In his last position at GSA, he served as a Lead Contracting Officer with an unlimited warrant planning; high dollar value, highly complex, politically sensitive acquisitions for the General Supplies and Services (GSS) portfolio. Jose then joined TSA as a Program Manager for the Office of Intelligence & Analysis. In this role, he planned major acquisitions, managed the budget formulation & execution process, and provided performance oversight for a portfolio of risk based; intelligence driven; information technology contracts. Jose has served in several critical acquisition workforce roles in government including; contract specialist, contracting officer, procurement analyst, contracting officer s technical representative, program manager, and budget manager. Jose has also served as a consultant for U.S. and international entrepreneurs interested in raising investment/ grant funding for a range of different projects from a California based NASCAR team to a rice farm in the Philippines. He received his B.S. in Business Administration- Marketing from Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA and earned an MBA in Global Emerging Markets from American University, Washington DC. The Honorable Paul A. Schneider: Areas of Focus: Defense and aerospace industries Major acquisition, procurement and financial management Cyber security Systems engineering and technology assessment Previous Government Service: Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2008 2009) Under Secretary for Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2006 2007) Senior Acquisition Executive, National Security Agency (2002 2003) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of the Navy (1998 2002) Executive Director and Senior Civilian of the Naval Sea Systems Command, Department of the Navy (1994 1998) As Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, Paul Schneider managed day-to-day operations of an organization with approximately 220,000 employees and an annual budget of $52.6 billion. Earlier, as Under Secretary for Management, he was responsible for the department s financial management and for the procurement and management of such mission-critical assets as information technology systems, facilities and equipment. At Chertoff Group, Mr. Schneider will counsel clients on budgeting, procurement and overall management issues related to security programs. He will also serve as a strategic consultant to the defense and aerospace industries. Risk management always requires an investment often a large one, he says. Even amidst the vast uncertainties we have to deal with, we can help ensure that your investment delivers optimal returns. As a defense and aerospace consultant before joining DHS, Mr. Schneider conducted such high-level studies as an analysis for NASA of the risks and benefits of manned space flight.
He also served as the Senior Acquisition Executive of the National Security Agency, where he oversaw the development and acquisition of information security programs. Mr. Schneider holds a degree in nuclear engineering and is a member of the American Society of Naval Engineers, Armed forces Communications and Electronics Association and the Association of Scientists and Engineers. Admiral Thad Allen, United States Coast Guard, Retired: Booz Allen Executive Vice President Thad Allen is a leader in the firm s Departments of Justice and Homeland Security business in the civil market. He leads the development of thought leadership and client engagement regarding the future direction of law enforcement and homeland security. He is known for his expertise in bringing together government and non-government entities to address major challenges in a whole of government approach designed to achieve a unity of effort. Mr. Allen completed his distinguished career in the US Coast Guard as its 23rd Commandant. In 2010, President Barack Obama selected Mr. Allen to serve as the National Incident Commander for the unified response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Working closely with the US Environmental Protection Agency, DHS, the Departments of Defense, Interior, Commerce, and Health and Human Services, state and local entities, and BP, he sought to bring a unity of effort to response operations. Prior to his assignment as Commandant, Mr. Allen served as Coast Guard Chief of Staff. During his tenure in that position, in 2005, he was designated Principal Federal Official for the US government s response and recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita throughout the Gulf Coast region. Other Coast Guard assignments included Commander, Atlantic Area where in 2001 he led the Coast Guard s Atlantic Area forces following the September 11 attacks. He previously served as Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, where he oversaw all operations in the southeastern United States and in the Caribbean. Prior to joining Booz Allen, Mr. Allen served with the Rand Corporation. He is a Fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration and a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Allen also currently serves as a director on the Coast Guard Foundation and Partnership for Public Service. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Mr. Allen to the New York State Respond Commission tasked with finding ways to ensure that New York State is ready to respond to future weather-related disasters. He is a 1971 graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from The George Washington University from which he received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2006. He also holds an M.S. degree in management from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Allen has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from George Mason University, the National Defense University, and the National Graduate School. Andrew Weis: Andrew Weis has played a lead or major role in developing most of the nation s homeland security laws since 2004, including the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act, the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, and the SAFE Port Act. Currently, he is Vice President for Policy, Planning & Preparedness at Aveshka, Inc., a minority-owned small business that provides support services to the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, and Justice. Before that, Mr. Weis was a Managing Director at Civitas Group, llc, where he co-led the government practice. Prior to joining Civitas Group, Mr. Weis served as the Minority General Counsel for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where he advised Ranking Member Susan Collins on policy and legal matters and helped oversee the Committee s operations. As General Counsel, Mr. Weis oversaw the development of legislation related to, among other things, cyber security, chemical security, bombing prevention, weapons of mass destruction prevention and response, and information sharing.
Previously, Mr. Weis served as a senior staff member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. As Majority Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology, Mr. Weis managed the Committee s legislative and oversight activities on a range of homeland security matters, including emergency communications, homeland security grant funding, research and development, technology transfer, and military support to civilian authorities. Prior to working in Congress, Mr. Weis worked at the law firms of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, and Sidley Austin, LLP, and as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable T.S. Ellis, III, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Mr. Weis graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Stanford University with a degree in political science, where he was selected as a Harry S Truman Scholar and a John Gardner Public Service Fellow. He earned his law degree from Stanford Law School, where he graduated with honors and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He lives in Maryland with his wife and three children.