Acting Under Secretary for Management
Chris Cummiskey was appointed Acting Under Secretary for Management at DHS in February, 2014. One of four Under Secretaries at DHS, Mr. Cummiskey oversees the Management Directorate’s programs, processes, and people through the six line of business chiefs: the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Human Capital Officer, the Chief Procurement Officer, the Chief Readiness Support Officer, and the Chief Security Officer. He also serves as the DHS Chief Acquisition Officer overseeing $19 Billion in acquisition programs ranging from cyber security to aviation security.
The Management Directorate is responsible for department-wide management, standard setting, and operations – with a focus on integrating and unifying the third largest department in the Federal government. Mr. Cummiskey oversees the day-to-day operations of the Directorate and provides direction in the continued maturation of the Department. Mr. Cummiskey has been a strong member of the department’s executive leadership team most recently as Deputy Under Secretary for Management from May 2010 to September 2013 and earlier as the Chief of Staff for the Management Directorate from March 2009 until May 2010.
Mr. Cummiskey is active in the Department’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities. He co-chairs the DHS Executive Steering Committee on the National Cybersecurity Protection System, which has a lead role in protecting the Federal Government’s cybersecurity networks. Mr. Cummiskey also serves on the DHS Executive Leadership Committee overseeing the government-wide implementation of President Obama’s Cybersecurity Executive Order and Presidential Policy Directive on Protecting Critical Infrastructure. Additionally, he provides expertise and oversight on the implementation of the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s Cyberskills Task Force recommendations, which provide an action plan for attracting, growing and retaining top cyber talent at the department.
Mr. Cummiskey is the Department’s Performance Improvement Officer and is responsible for goal-setting and performance review across DHS. In this capacity, he works closely with the White House Office of Management and Budget to improve performance efforts across the Federal government. Mr. Cummiskey provides counsel to the Secretary of Homeland Security on a wide range of initiatives. Specifically, Mr. Cummiskey:
- Serves as the Senior Accountable Official for the Department to the White House Council on Environmental Quality on issues relating to sustainability, environmental leadership and the economy.
- Acts as the primary point of contact on veterans affairs for the Secretary to the White House and Veteran Service Organizations across the country.
- Leads efforts as the Senior Accountable Official for the Department on the White House’s Open Government Initiative.
- Guides the Department as the primary point of contact with the Government Accountability Office in order to improve relations and protocols on congressionally mandated audits and inquiries.
- Oversees the Department’s Headquarters Consolidation project at St. Elizabeths, working closely with the General Services Administration as well as District of Columbia city government.
- Is instrumental in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Efficiency Review Initiative, which seeks to improve the way taxpayer dollars are spent.
Prior to joining DHS, Mr. Cummiskey was the Chief Information Officer for the State of Arizona. Appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano in 2003, Mr. Cummiskey advanced the Governor’s agenda of innovation and government transformation through the use of technology. In 2007, Mr. Cummiskey led the effort to create the state’s first information security plan and hired Arizona’s first Chief Information Security Officer.
As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, Mr. Cummiskey chaired several key executive initiatives during his tenure. In 2008, Mr. Cummiskey received the Distinguished Service to State Government Award from the National Governor’s Association for his work on innovation and government transformation.
Mr. Cummiskey was elected to the Arizona State Legislature at the age of 26 and served in the House and Senate from 1991 through 2002. During his tenure in the Senate, Mr. Cummiskey held many leadership posts including that of Floor Leader. As a Senator, he was a recognized leader in the promotion of E-government, emerging technologies and the New Economy.