MICHELE M. LEONHART
Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration
U.S. Department of Justice
REGISTER
Michele M. Leonhart was unanimously confirmed as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration by the U.S. Senate on December 22, 2010, following her nomination by President Obama in February 2010. In that capacity, Ms. Leonhart, a career DEA Special Agent, directs the $3 billion agency and is responsible for over 10,000 employees in domestic offices throughout the U.S. and in 86 foreign offices in 67 countries. Ms. Leonhart had been the Acting Administrator since November 2007, and served as DEA’s Deputy Administrator since 2004.
Prior to becoming Administrator and Deputy Administrator, Ms. Leonhart held several positions within DEA’s Senior Executive Service (SES). She was the Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division from 1998-2003. In that capacity, she commanded one of DEA’s largest Field Divisions and was responsible for all enforcement and administrative operations in the Los Angeles area, as well as Nevada, Hawaii, Guam and Saipan. She previously held the position of Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s San Francisco Field Division from 1997-1998, becoming DEA’s first female ever to be promoted to the position of Special Agent in Charge. Ms. Leonhart’s first appointment within the SES was in 1996 when she spearheaded DEA’s Special Agent Recruitment efforts at DEA Headquarters.
As a career DEA Special Agent, Ms. Leonhart held several key positions as she moved through the ranks of DEA. In 1995 she was promoted to the position of Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division, responsible for Southwest Border enforcement operations and division administrative functions. Between 1993 and 1995, Ms. Leonhart held management positions within DEA Headquarters to include Career Board Executive Secretary, Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Inspector, and Staff Coordinator in the Operations Division. Ms. Leonhart’s first supervisory position was in DEA’s San Diego Field Division. Prior to that, Ms. Leonhart initiated major drug investigations and conspiracy cases in Minneapolis and St. Louis, and served as a DEA Special Agent recruiter.
While at DEA, she attended Boston University’s Leadership Institute, and is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations in recognition of her leadership, performance and commitment to public service. She was awarded the rank of Distinguished Executive by President Bush in 2004, the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service from President Bush in 2005, and the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service from President Clinton in 2000. Additionally, Administrator Leonhart received the Law Enforcement Exploring William H. Spurgeon Award in 2006, the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Outstanding Federal Law Enforcement Employee Award in 2005, and the Administrator’s Award in 1993.
Ms. Leonhart has more than 30 years in law enforcement, beginning her law enforcement career as a Baltimore City Police Officer after graduating from college in Minnesota with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice in 1978. She joined the ranks of DEA as a Special Agent in 1980. A native of Minnesota, Ms. Leonhart is married and has two sons.

Can you support this luncheon? Contact us at womeninhs@yahoo.com for more information.

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Sarah Kendall is the Associate Director for the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS). She assumed her role on May 29, 2012.

Background Experience/Significant Achievements:

Kendall has over 15 years of experience in law, program management and policymaking. Before serving in her current role, she was the Director for Border and Interior Enforcement for the White House National Security Staff and was responsible for diverse immigration benefit, law enforcement, anti-fraud, and visa policy issues.

During her career, Kendall has held senior policy, legal and operational leadership roles at several federal agencies including the National Security Council, Department of Justice, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, and the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Education

Kendall has a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Spanish from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a doctorate in law from University of Houston Law Center in Houston, Texas.

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Snacking on treats, attendees heard from The Stylist online, a web based tool to help women find the best looks for their body type. And boy did it work! See all the photos here and be sure to join us next year!

Many thanks to the Lucky Knot and the Stylist Online for all their support.

Visit them in Alexandria, VA for fabulous fashion in classic styles. You can visit the stylist online at www.thestylistonline.com for your body type analysis and a look at what will make you look great!

Many thanks to everyone who participated and to all our supporters who made it such a fabulous day!

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Radha Sekar
Associate Director of Management and Adminstration and CFO,
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Radha Sekar is the acting executive associate director of Management and Administration and the chief financial officer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ms. Sekar oversees accounting and finance, budget, facilities and engineering, and asset management. Prior to joining ICE, she was the assistant deputy undersecretary for financial management for the undersecretary of defense comptroller In this capacity, she served as the senior advisor and assistant to the under secretary of defense (comptroller), responsible for maximizing synergies and capabilities both within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and defense-wide. Ms. Sekar has an extensive background in developing and implementing new and re-engineered business processes, defining and implementing business rules that lead to statutory compliances and commercial best practices, developing financial management policies and implementing business application systems that support them. She has more than 20 years experience practicing these principles in the public and private sectors. As the assistant deputy chief financial officer for the Department of Defense, she supervised department-wide financial improvement and audit readiness efforts, developed and implemented financial management regulations and policies, prepared the Department of Defense’s quarterly and annual financial statements and was responsible for the overall financial management improvement efforts of the Department of Defense. Ms. Sekar is a leader in defining and developing C4ISR-compliant technical and functional business enterprise architectures. She is a past partner at IBM Business Consulting Services and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
She is a graduate of State University of New York at Buffalo with a Master of Business Administration degree and a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She is also a charted accountant (similar to a certified public accountant) in India and holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from University of Madras, India.

Gwendolyn Sykes
CFO, U.S. Secret Service
As Morehouse College’s CFO, Ms. Sykes is responsible for budgeting, accounting and financial reporting, student financial services, financial aid, human resources, auxiliary services, investment management, internal control and the integrity of financial information. She previously served as Yale University’s Chief Financial Office, the first in that university’s 306-year history. Prior to Yale, she held the position of CFO at NASA, a Presidentially appointed position. Her government career also included experience in the Department of Defense and the Congressional offices of Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska. She holds a BA in accounting from Catholic University and an MPA from American University. Ms. Sykes now serves as an Adjunct Professor in American University’s School of Public Affairs. She has been recognized for her achievements by Black Enterprise, Newsweek, and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Deborah Schilling
CFO, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Ms. Schilling is an accomplished executive with a wide range of experience in the areas of performance management, financial management, budgeting, real estate investment, and asset management, both in the public and private sectors. She has the rare combination of twenty-five years of Federal Government experience and five years of private sector real estate investment experience. She is the current Chief Financial Officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Prior to coming to CBP, she served as the Director of Budget for the Department of Homeland Security where she managed a professional staff of 40 analysts.
As Executive Vice President for Alpine Realty Investments and the Senior Vice President for Acquisitions at Government Property Investors Inc., she was responsible for the acquisition of properties, both existing and to-be-built projects, throughout the United States and for leasing and property management. She acquired over 30 properties worth approximately $850 million, primarily office buildings leased to the Federal Government.

WHS thanks our platinum sponsor for hosting and supporting WHS:

and our Gold Luncheon Sponsor:

We couldn’t do it without our generous supporters! Interested in supporting WHS? Contact womeninhs@yahoo.com for more information!

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Download our latest invite here!!

Women in Homeland Security
invites you to join us for the
2012 Spirit of Giving Charity Auction
to benefit the
Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial Foundation
November 29, 2012
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Arlington, VA
Register at: http://whsholidayauction2012.eventbrite.com

Thank you to our Supporters!

Platinum sponsor
Deloitte.

Gold Sponsor
Harris

Silver Sponsors
L3 STRATIS
SAIC

BASKETS & OTHER DONATIONS
Lockheed Martin Flight Simulation Experience * Linda Millis, AFCEA * Beth Jones, FabuLuxe Skin * Kristina Tanasichuk, Government Technology & Services Coalition * Brian Finch, Dickstein Shapiro * Misty Thomas, Pampered Chef * Heather Doucet, Rodin + Fields Dermatologists * Adria Tippins-Owens, Romantatherapy from Passion Parties by Tip Toys * Vera Bradley tote, Collectable Treasures * Caribou Coffee * Rob Burton, Venable *

Join us today! Contact Anne Petera, Harris apetera@harris.com or womeninhs@yahoo.com to contribute your basket or item today!

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VA – Flavor Force One – Winners of the 2012 BBQ Cook-Off!!

Teams from the Coast Guard Enlisted Association, InfraGard, Chief Petty Officers Association – DC, Coast Guard C4&IT, VA Task Force One and DMI-ICE sponsored by Fat Willis cooked up some amazing BBQ including bacon covered cinnamon rolls, ribs, pork lolly pops, stuffed pork loin, grilled portabello mushrooms and MUCH more to try and win the coveted Cook-Off Trophy! As many of you know, WHS raised funds last year for the Fairfax County International Search & Rescue (VA Task Force One) and they joined us with their BBQ to help build our homeland security community.

Team InfraGard cooks up some amazing ribs. InfraGard is the FBI’s public-private partnership program to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure.

WHS annually selects a charity related to the homeland security to help bring together the many diverse communities that make up “homeland.” To date we have raised funds for permanently wounded soldiers, the Coast Guard Morale fund and Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial Foundation and the VA Task Force One. This year’s charity – the Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial Foundation — seeks to build a memorial to those Coasties that have died in the line of duty. Learn more about the CGEMF at www.CGEMF.org where you can still make a donation

Team USCG C4 & IT with pork lolly pops and bacon cinnamon rolls

We want to thank all of the folks that volunteered, came out to join us and who baked up some of the best desserts in town!! Thank you also to all of our generous sponsors: Our platinum sponsor GEICO, Gold Sponsors General Dynamics C4 and the Government Technology & Services Coalition, in addition to: Applied Technology Group, Capgemini, Catalyst Partners, The Chertoff Group, E-Global Tech, Highlight Technologies, MSA, the SpecPro Group and Women in Defense.

GEICO presents CGEMF President MCPO Dawn Smith with their donation of $7500. Thank you GEICO!

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