Le Journal

Brian Given, who most recently served as Acting Chief Security Officer at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has joined Georgetown University as Chief of Staff for the Office of Public Safety, bringing nearly two decades of experience across emergency management, security operations, and federal mission support. Given now serves as a senior advisor and operational lead supporting campus safety and security efforts. His responsibilities include coordinating departmental initiatives, managing executive communications, and streamlining administrative processes that support public safety operations across the university. Before arriving at Georgetown, Given spent nearly nine years at FEMA, holding a series of leadership roles spanning security, continuity, operations, and enterprise management. He served as Acting Chief Security Officer from April 2025 through January 2026, overseeing agency-wide security programs designed to protect FEMA personnel, facilities, and resources while mitigating risks tied to fraud and operational disruption. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chief Security Officer, helping manage FEMA’s protective services and internal security posture during a period of sustained disaster response activity. Earlier in his FEMA career, Given led business and operational functions across multiple mission support components. As Director of the Business Support Division, he coordinated disaster and continuity readiness across FEMA’s mission support enterprise, integrating efforts among human capital, IT, procurement, administrative services, and security offices. He also previously served as Chief of the Operations Branch within the Risk Management Directorate, where he oversaw budget execution, acquisitions, and performance management. Given’s background also includes experience in enterprise systems development and emergency communications. He led the integration of FEMA’s customer relationship management platform within the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration and supported national emergency communications planning efforts earlier in his career. Before joining FEMA, Given worked at Booz Allen Hamilton for nearly a decade, supporting FEMA programs focused on flood risk mapping, portfolio management, and disaster communications, as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National 911 Program. (AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)

Throughout 2025, the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) advanced key Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Administration priorities by delivering research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) that accelerated technical solutions and strengthened our nation’s security and resilience. To showcase the breadth of the Directorate’s accomplishments, S&T has shared its 2025 S&T Year in Review. Last year ushered in a renewed emphasis on securing the nation’s borders, and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) demonstrated its ability to meet that challenge. Through focused research, development, testing, and evaluation efforts, S&T delivered tools and capabilities that enabled DHS Components to execute their missions more effectively. These efforts included the development of a next-generation analytics platform designed to enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s situational awareness across air and maritime domains, as well as evaluations of counter–unmanned aircraft system technologies to inform response strategies for the U.S. Secret Service, Federal Protective Service, and state and local law enforcement facing malicious drone activity. Beyond border security, S&T advanced efforts to disrupt transnational criminal organizations and other illicit activity. Work in this area included the development of an end-to-end fentanyl supply chain model, the deployment of AI-enabled analytics to accelerate investigative processes, and the delivery of the Trace Vapor Generator system to improve fentanyl vapor detection at crime scenes and ports of entry. S&T-developed software tools focused on combating human trafficking have contributed to the rescue of hundreds of victims—most of them children—and supported the dismantling of more than 35 criminal networks. S&T also played a significant role in strengthening the security of the nation’s critical infrastructure. In collaboration with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, S&T assessed cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the national freight rail network and proposed mitigation strategies to reduce risk. The directorate also published best practices for critical infrastructure owners and operators that rely on Positioning, Navigation, and Timing systems, aimed at protecting essential services from GPS jamming and spoofing threats. Given the widespread dependence on GPS across sectors, safeguarding this capability remains a priority. Looking ahead to 2026, S&T is preparing to support DHS during several high-profile international events, including the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations and FIFA World Cup matches hosted across the United States. Recognizing that such events present attractive targets for disruption, S&T is continuing focused research and development efforts to help ensure public safety and security during these nationally significant moments.