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.
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