Description

Please join us for our monthly luncheon featuring Mary Ellen Callahan, the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office. Ms. Callahan is a distinguished leader in homeland security with an extensive career dedicated to safeguarding our nation. 

About Mary Ellen Callahan: 

In August 2023, Mary Ellen Callahan commenced her role as Assistant Secretary for the CWMD Office at DHS. The CWMD Office plays a pivotal role in leading the Department's efforts to protect the United States against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, coordinating closely with both domestic and international partners. Prior to her current role, Ms. Callahan served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from September 2021 to August 2023, providing strategic policy advice on a wide range of critical issues. Her tenure included overseeing DHS operations, human capital, and facilities management, as well as fostering partnerships across government and with international counterparts. Ms. Callahan's distinguished career in privacy, cybersecurity, and national security also includes her leadership roles as DHS's Chief Privacy Officer and Chief FOIA Officer under Secretary Janet Napolitano, and her corporate experience as Assistant General Counsel for Privacy and Cybersecurity at The Walt Disney Company. She has a track record of negotiating international agreements and implementing privacy protections across complex systems. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the DHS Outstanding Service Medal, awarded by Secretary Mayorkas in 2023. Ms. Callahan is an esteemed alumna of the University of Pittsburgh and The University of Chicago Law School, and she has been recognized as a Truman Scholar. Join us for this unique opportunity to hear from Mary Ellen Callahan about her experiences, insights into homeland security challenges, and the future of safeguarding our nation.

About WHS: 

WHS is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in March 2009. The group has grown to nearly 4500 public and private sector members.  2014-2015 marked the organization’s 5th Anniversary.

The Mission of Women in Homeland Security is to build the homeland security community. WHS provides a professional organization for women working in the field of homeland security who are committed both to their jobs and to combating the threat of terrorism.  “Homeland security” is a relatively new field and the organization strives to provide women and men with a forum to learn about the many facets of the discipline and to build the connections necessary for a better understanding of the different roles of Federal, State and Local professionals in the prevention, protection and response to any type of incident. Through monthly meetings, book club, WHS University and the group’s charity work, Women in Homeland Security fosters a collaborative environment for homeland security professionals to improve our nation’s security and intelligence on critical homeland security topics confronting the nation.