Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
Deborah E. Kramer is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She is the Principal advisor for policy issues to the Assistant Secretary for CWMD in developing, managing, and ensuring the effective implementation and adequacy of CWMD policies. Ms. Kramer provides leadership guidance on establishing, revising and reviewing policies, mission objectives and organizational design, and provides interpretation of issues that impact the CWMD Office. She assists the CWMD Assistant Secretary in establishing innovative and efficient programs for conducting strategic planning and collaborating across DHS components and the interagency; applies knowledge, skill, and abilities associated with organizational and change management to develop approaches to help shape goals and set requirements regarding weapons of mass destruction threats to the Nation; and assists in the development of formal networks with responsible officials in other Executive Level Departments, as they pertain to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear concerns.
Ms. Kramer previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Center for Preparedness, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services. In that role she led national programs designed to prepare the nation for 21st century health security threats, including the Health Care Readiness program; Medical Reserve Corps; the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Critical Infrastructure Program; HHS Continuity of Operations; the HHS Secretary’s Operations Center; and ASPR security and intelligence, information management, data and analytics programs.
In addition Ms. Kramer served in various senior leadership roles to include the Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Support, Veterans Health Administration (VHA); Department of Veterans Affairs as the principal advisor to Under Secretary for Health, leading VHA’s healthcare environment and facilities programs, procurement and logistics and healthcare technology management, in support of 1298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1113 outpatient sites of care; and as the Chief, Medical Systems Acquisition, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense, Department of Defense, with oversight responsibility for the research development, acquisition, fielding and lifecycle management of biological, chemical and radiological medical countermeasures for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Ms. Kramer is a former active duty Army Medical Service Corps officer. She began her military career as an Army National Guard enlisted combat medic and operating room technician and earned her officers commission via Officers Candidate School. She has several awards to her credit including the Bronze Star and Army Commanders Awards for Civilian Service, and is a former Army Acquisition Corps member.
Ms. Kramer is a FEMA Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellow, a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, holds a Master of Science in Biotechnology Management from University of Maryland Global Campus, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.