Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a cabinet-level department created in response to the September 11 attacks. The deputy secretary is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, serving as the principal deputy, chief operating officer, and principal advisor to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. During the secretary's absence, the deputy secretary assumes the duties and powers of the office, ensuring continuity in the leadership of the nation's domestic security apparatus.

History and establishment

The position was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. The act formally created the United States Department of Homeland Security, consolidating 22 disparate federal agencies, including the United States Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The first deputy secretary, Gordon R. England, was sworn in on March 1, 2003, as the department began its monumental task of integrating these legacy components into a unified organization focused on preventing terrorist attacks, securing borders, and responding to disasters.

Appointment and succession

The deputy secretary is nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by a majority vote in the United States Senate, typically following hearings before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The position is in the first line of presidential succession for the department, immediately following the secretary. In the event both the secretary and deputy secretary positions are vacant, the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management or another designated under secretary would assume the role of acting secretary, as outlined in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 and departmental orders.

Roles and responsibilities

As the chief operating officer for the department, the deputy secretary oversees the day-to-day management and administration of its vast mission areas, which include cybersecurity, border security, and immigration services. The deputy secretary chairs the Deputies Committee of the Homeland Security Council and often represents the department before the United States Congress, the White House, and international partners like NATO. Key responsibilities involve executing the secretary's priorities, managing the department's annual budget exceeding $50 billion, and integrating the operations of component agencies such as Secret Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

List of deputy secretaries

{| class="wikitable" |- ! No. ! Portrait ! Name ! Term of office ! President(s) ! Secretary(ies) |- | 1 | 80px | Gordon R. England | March 1, 2003 – January 4, 2005 | rowspan="8" | George W. Bush | Tom Ridge
Michael Chertoff |- | 2 | 80px | James M. Loy | January 4, 2005 – March 1, 2007 | Michael Chertoff |- | 3 | 80px | Michael P. Jackson | March 1, 2007 – April 8, 2008 | Michael Chertoff |- | 4 | 80px | Paul A. Schneider | April 8, 2008 – January 20, 2009 | Michael Chertoff |- | 5 | 80px | Jane Holl Lute | April 13, 2009 – April 1, 2013 | rowspan="3" | Barack Obama | Janet Napolitano |- | 6 | 80px | Alejandro Mayorkas | December 23, 2013 – October 31, 2016 | Jeh Johnson |- | 7 | 80px | Elaine Duke | April 10, 2017 – April 15, 2018 | rowspan="2" | Donald Trump | John F. Kelly
Kirstjen Nielsen |- | 8 | 80px | David Pekoske | August 13, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | Kirstjen Nielsen
Kevin McAleenan
Chad Wolf |- | 9 | 80px | John Tien | July 28, 2021 – present | Joe Biden | Alejandro Mayorkas |}

Office of the Deputy Secretary

The Office of the Deputy Secretary, headquartered at the Nebraska Avenue Complex in Washington, D.C., provides direct staff support and coordinates cross-departmental initiatives. This office works closely with the Executive Secretariat and oversees several direct reporting offices, including the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans and the Office of the General Counsel. It plays a critical role in policy development, interagency coordination with entities like the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice, and the implementation of major directives from the White House and the Homeland Security Council.

Category:United States Department of Homeland Security officials Category:Deputy secretaries of United States federal departments