Plenary Speaker

Dr. Daniel M. Gerstein has served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Science & Technology in the Department of Homeland Security since August 2011. He is also an Adjunct Professor at American University in Washington, DC. Dr. Gerstein has extensive experience in the security and defense sectors in a variety of positions while serving as a Senior Executive Service (SES) government civilian, in uniform, and in industry. Before joining DHS, he served as the Principal Director for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy). In uniform, he served on four different continents participating in homeland security and counterterrorism, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and combat in addition to serving for over a decade in the Pentagon in various high level staff assignments. Following retirement from active duty, Dr. Gerstein joined L-3 Communications as Vice President for Homeland Security Services. Dr. Gerstein also has extensive experience in international negotiations including having served on the Holbrooke Delegation that negotiated the peace settlement in Bosnia. He has been awarded numerous foreign, military and civilian awards including the Department of State´s Distinguished Service Award and the U.S. Army Soldiers Medal for heroism. He has published numerous books and articles on national security, biological warfare, and information technology including most recently National Security and Arms Control in the Age of Biotechnology (Roman & Littlefield, May 2013). Dr. Gerstein graduated from the United States Military Academy and has masters degrees from Georgia Tech, the National Defense University and the Command & General Staff College, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from George Mason University in Biodefense.