2016 Homeland Security Conference

Drew Kuepper
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy, Unity of Effort Integration
Department of Homeland Security


Mr. Kuepper joined the DHS Office of Policy in October 2015 after having worked as a Special Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security since March 2014. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Unity of Effort Integration, his primary responsibility is to orchestrate the implementation of the Secretary’s Unity of Effort initiative, which significantly changes DHS’s planning, programming, budget, and execution system and joint operational planning and joint operations. The effort, begun in April 2014, includes establishment of DHS Senior Leader Forums, Joint Requirements Council, and Joint Task Forces, and harmonizes DHS strategy, plans, and analysis processes across all DHS Components and headquarters. Mr. Kuepper’s previous position was as the Director, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense (OASD(HD)) from June 2011 to February 2014. In that capacity, he was responsible for development and implementation of strategy and force development guidance for domestic CBRN military operations, including oversight of the applicable elements of the DoD analytic agenda, capability development process, force planning efforts, and program/budget review. His CBRN team performed these functions in coordination with other elements of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, USSTRATCOM, and USNORTHCOM, the Departments of State, Energy, Justice, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, and the National Security Staff.

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