DHS Presidential Rank Award Recipients for 2022

Diane Sabatino

Diane Sabatino serves as Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, at CBP, the largest law enforcement agency in the United States. She has consistently demonstrated extraordinary and innovative leadership, and expertly delivered sustained, creative solutions to complex challenges in the trade and travel arenas. Ms. Sabatino modernized Traveler Processing at Ports of Entry in the United States; led CBP efforts in support of Operation Allies Welcome; established partnerships with stakeholders to improve Trade Processing; transformed high-risk passenger targeting and interdiction operations; and led relief and business resumption efforts following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Brandon Wales

In a period of unparalleled turbulence coming in the wake of the unexpected departure of the Senate-confirmed Director of CISA, and the discovery of the massive SolarWinds supply chain espionage campaign, Brandon Wales distinguished himself as the Acting Director of CISA from November 2020 to July 2021. Whether it was leading CISA’s highly intensive cyber incident response efforts, spearheading our work to protect the vaccine supply chain, conducting numerous Congressional briefings, engaging extensively with partners in industry, across the Federal government, and with leadership at the State and local levels, Mr. Wales earned the trust and confidence of stakeholders across the public and private sectors, and the admiration and respect of the CISA workforce. His ability to effectively lead CISA at such a critical time was fundamental to enabling the success of the Agency’s ability to manage and reduce significant risk to the digital and physical infrastructure Americans rely on every hour of every day. Mr. Wales provided stability, trust, and vision to help the agency maintain its footing amidst severe risks to our country.

David I. Maurstad

David Maurstad has shepherded the transformation of the largest single-peril insurance program in the world, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), through its biggest overhaul in the last 40 years with dedication, precision, and forward intention. He led his team to successfully implement a 21st Century pricing methodology which replaced a system plagued with longstanding inequities of low to moderate income policyholders with low flood risk subsidizing the premiums of policyholders with higher incomes and higher flood risk and paying some of the highest rates in the NFIP. For the first time in the history of the program, close to a million policyholders will see premium decreases that correct longstanding overpayments under the old system. The new methodology ends this cycle of injustice and aligns with President Biden’s call for federal programs to immediately address inequities. Mr. Maurstad has also transformed Federal disaster risk reduction investments to reduce disaster suffering, by leading and implementing the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities mitigation grant program.

MaryAnn Tierney

In her time as the Region III Administrator, MaryAnn Tierney has led the response to more than 88 Major Disaster Declarations, 8 Emergency Declarations, and two Fire Management Assistance Grants. All told, Ms. Tierney’s efforts have provided over $4,729,972,488 in Public Assistance and $563,728,450 in Individual Assistance to disaster survivors and their communities in the Mid-Atlantic. In 2013 she served as the Acting Regional Administrator in FEMA Region 2 where she supported New York and New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and delivered $3,501,529,198 in Public Assistance and $18,061,391 in Individuals and Households Program Assistance survivors and their communities. Ms. Tierney also regularly responds to disasters to address some of FEMA's most complex operations such as in November 2017 when she deployed to Puerto Rico to oversee Individual Assistance to survivors which resulted in reducing the 680,000-housing inspection backlog by three months, enabling a $400 million increase in assistance provided to survivors between November and December 2017.

William T. Fallon - Retired

William Fallon served as a member of the SES for 11 years, five years as the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Assistant Director for Training and six years as FLETC's Deputy Director. As Deputy Director of FLETC, he had oversight of more than 1,100 government employees and 1,950 contract employees across four domestic locations and two international offices, led financial operations totaling $500 million+ in direct and reimbursable authority, and oversaw all training programs and support lines of business. Some of his key accomplishments included developing and implementing an active shooter training plan that resulted in FLETC training 37,000 officers in six fiscal years, transforming key management processes such as forming a Business Analysis Office that integrates data analysis, project management, and process engineering and establishing an Office of Medical Oversight, and leading FLETC's planning and responses to three major hurricanes. During his tenure with the USMS, he led all basic, advanced, and leadership training and key USMS programs, including firearms and use of force, and spearheaded the USMS's historic effort to achieve full accreditation of the USMS Academy. He developed and implemented a new USMS body armor policy, ensuring specifications to mitigate risk and providing operational personnel with life-saving equipment, and developed the High Risk Fugitive Apprehension training program, providing advanced training for more than 5,000 law enforcement officers over four years to mitigate risk and increase officer safety.

Donald R. Lewis

Donald Lewis has served as the Assistant Director/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) for the past 11 years and with distinction as a member of the Senior Executive Service for the past seven years. Mr. Lewis leads a staff of federal employees who conduct the full complement of FLETC’s financial operations with an annual budget of more than $500 million in direct and reimbursable funding. During his tenure, he has led transformational efforts to automate the student billing and course cost development process, enhancing course cost accuracy from 70% to 95%, drastically reducing staff-hours expended, and establishing the ability to use real time data to enhance predictive capability. He implemented two financial management system modernization efforts to position FLETC and its two financial management service customers on the cutting edge of federal financial management, for which he received a DHS CFO Senior/Executive Leadership Award for Exemplary Performance. He successfully advocated for FLETC to secure an increase in funding of 32% throughout his tenure, including over $135 million in the past three years to expand dormitory facilities, training venues, and classrooms.

Patrick Lechleitner

Patrick Lechleitner deployed over 150 employees to assist in the vetting and screening of over vulnerable 75,000 Afghans while coordinating vetting and law enforcement support to the community as a result of Operation Allies Welcome. Mr. Lechleitner prioritized ICE HSI’s investigative equities, to ensure criminal investigators were responsive to calls of undocumented non-citizens being held against their will, extorted, or sexually assaulted, and to reports of possible stash house locations. Mr. Lechleitner’s leadership led to approximately 75 investigations into criminal organizations distributing counterfeit N-95 masks; the seizure of over 20 million counterfeit N95 respirator masks that were destined to first responders and front-line workers; and the seizure of over $5 million in criminal proceeds derived from the sale of counterfeit masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent internal study concluded that under Mr. Lechleitner’s leadership, HSI has saved an estimated $880 million in private and public sector losses through proactive cyber-enabled investigations. Mr. Lechleitner oversaw the implementation of a pilot program for body worn cameras throughout the agency to increase transparency between ICE and the communities it's serves, and enhance officer safety.

Tracy L. Renaud

Tracy Renaud, Associate Director Service Center Operations, received distinguished recognition for her extraordinary results in a variety of positions in USCIS. Tracy has been a model leader and champion of change. Notably spearheading operational efforts related to the relocation the USCIS Headquarters from Washington, DC to Camp Springs, MD, which reduced facilities costs by approximately $20M per year; leading the agency’s transition from paper applications to digital filing by establishing the myUSCIS online account tool for USCIS which now serves over 9 million online account holders; and leading USCIS in the unwavering support of Operation Allies Welcome by establishing temporary field offices and mobile biometrics processing stations in eight federally approved facilities to process arriving Afghan nationals and family members who assisted the United States in Afghanistan.

Sanjeev Bhagowalia

Sanjeev Bhagowalia serves as Assistant Commissioner, Information and Technology, and Chief Information Officer, at CBP, with responsibility for developing and implementing innovative systems that protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance our nation’s economic prosperity. He has consistently demonstrated that he is an innovative and resilient leader during period of tremendous growth and change. He led the design of a Model Cybersecurity Program at CBP; modernized CBP’s IT systems to deliver capabilities at the speed of CBP’s 24/7 mission, faster, better, more securely, and more affordably, by going to the Cloud; and co-led modernization of the International Trade Revenue Collection System.

Benjamine C. Huffman

Benjamine Huffman serves as the Acting Chief Operating Officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the largest Law Enforcement agency in the United States, where he has consistently demonstrated that he is an outstanding professional, a true visionary, and a superb leader. He has amassed an impressive array of accomplishments in his 37 years of Federal Service, including 34 years with the U.S. Border Patrol. He led a comprehensive initiative to process Afghan refugees; led CBP’s response to migrant surges on the Southwest Border; transformed CBP into a top tier workplace; transformed operations of CBP’s Enterprise Services workforce; enhanced workforce resiliency and crisis support; and led CBP efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gracia B. Szczech

Gracia Szczech continues to build upon her decorated career in emergency management and public service as she directs all activities in support of FEMA’s mission with state and tribal partners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. As the Regional Administrator, Ms. Szczech continually goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure FEMA is at its best when called upon to help an individual or community in their time of need. She continually leads from the front as she has supported response and recovery operations for 119 Major Disaster Declarations, to include some of the nation’s most devastating major hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and the COVID-19 global pandemic. In addition to her role supporting disaster operations, Ms. Szczech’s expertise and professionalism are also continually called upon to safeguard the American populous during unique and special events as she leads a diverse staff of more than 500 personnel in Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout her more than 23 years of federal service, Ms. Szczech has engrained FEMA’s core values of compassion, fairness, integrity, and respect, into all facets of her career.

Peter Fitzhugh - Retired

Peter Fitzhugh championed the effort to remunerate $6.8 million in seized narcotics proceeds back to the New York City community for use in the construction of new parks and playgrounds in the very neighborhoods where the funds were seized. Working closely with federal law enforcement partners, Mr. Fitzhugh assisted in the criminal arrest of 25 individuals for participation in the January 2021 Capitol Riots. Mr. Fitzhugh created the HSI Cyber Investigations Division and oversaw the construction of a one-of-a-kind multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art Cyber Lab. Mr. Fitzhugh also augmented existing narcotics enforcement units and established new tactics, techniques, and procedures to combat the illicit flow of narcotics and at the same time, furthering Congressional legislation, most specifically the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act via the establishment of the New York Operations Cell (NYOC). Additionally, he created a first-of-its-kind Innovation Lab, successfully negotiating new and more secure cloud hosting; enacting an agency-wide computer refresh; right-sizing competing in-house cyber support units; and deploying new technologies in direct support of sensitive, judicially-driven and Congressionally-reported HSI criminal investigations.

Ann F. Van Houten

Ms. Ann Van Houten transformed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) contracting processes through her servant leadership, by streamlining processes that eased requirements for her customers and allowed her staff to focus on high impact tasks. Ms. Van Houten delivered exceptional results, by collaborating across the Department on complex problems and implementing solutions including saving a multi-billion dollar U.S. Coast Guard cutter program when the contractor was close to bankruptcy. Additionally, Ms. Van Houten is widely sought after by others in the federal contracting community as an expert in procurement process improvements and for her insights on using cross functional teams to solve complex problems and obtain mission success.

Trae Watkins

Mr. Trae Watkins led the development and implementation of the Department's first Migrant Protection Protocol Immigrant Hearing Facilities along the Southwest border, which resulted in the receipt of the DHS Secretary's Silver Medal in 2019. During the early stages of the pandemic, Mr. Watkins built the Department’s $178 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirement which funded critical workforce health and safety actions for front-line law enforcement. Additionally, He served as a change agent for the implementation of the DHS PPE Safety Stock solution, which will allow DHS to have $20 million worth of PPE on hand for future natural disasters or pandemics. Lastly, Mr. Watkins spearheaded the Workplace of the Future initiative, which leverages communities of practice to design sharable, efficient, and flexible spaces throughout the Department, currently producing $1.3 billion in cost avoidance. This initiative can be applied across the Federal government and will result in a more resilient and sustainable Department.

Melissa Smislova

Melissa Smislova is a key influential federal career executive civil servant in the short history of the Department of Homeland Security’s primary intelligence organization, the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). Ms. Smislova pioneered, led and guided I&A in several senior executive roles since 2007, and was responsible for designing, staffing, and leading an intelligence organization designed to rectify failures in our national security apparatus identified after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Ms. Smislova’s extraordinary accomplishments, visionary leadership, and ability to navigate I&A through adversity and crisis have enabled a stronger, more resilient homeland security capability. The country is more secure from terrorist attacks and other threats because of her leadership and contributions to DHS and the Intelligence Community.

David Alexander

As a Senior Science Advisor, Dr. David Alexander leads a research portfolio supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that includes seventeen projects and over $76M in FY 2021 and FY 2022 funding as well as leveraging an additional $27M from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE) and FEMA. Dr. Alexander led the S&T Flood Apex Research Program, resulting in new data sets, tools and approaches to mitigate the impacts of flood disasters at the Federal, state and local community levels and in coordination with international partners. He led research at the community level to understand approaches to disaster resilience that includes addressing barriers to financial preparedness for low-income households and small businesses that included partnering with the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) for collaborative research on disaster insurance. Additionally, he worked in collaboration with FEMA via the National Hurricane Program Technology Modernization effort, streamlined the HURREVAC storm tracking and decision support platform, a computer-based tool commonly used throughout the Emergency Management community. Further, Dr. Alexander collaborated with NSF and DOE to develop the CIVIC Innovation program, providing millions of dollars in grant funding for communities across the country to work with civic and research partners to propose innovative pilot projects with potential for scalable, sustainable, and transferable impact in areas including disaster resiliency, climate change, and resources and service equity.

Julie Brewer

As a leader at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Ms. Julie Brewer accomplished extraordinary results for the nation’s security through her visionary, insightful, and proactive leadership. She resolved mission-critical issues, leading S&T through crucial policy and operational changes, and adeptly leading her people. Most notably, Ms. Brewer led S&T to complete construction of the $1.2 Billion National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, to deliver critical new discoveries about the SARS COV-2 Virus, and to stand-up a leadership team for Operations Allies Welcome. Furthermore, as the Director for the DHS Office of National Labs (ONL), Ms. Brewer led a complete transformation of the structure of DHS’s five national laboratories, which collectively operate on a $146 million budget and draw on an additional $60 million through collaborative work. As a direct result of her leadership and creative thinking, two of these labs, the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center and the Chemical Security Analysis Center, collaborated as never before to provide a vital response to COVID-19 in a partnership that also proved vital to the White House’s task force, was briefed directly to the President, and ultimately informed COVID policy for the nation.

Karen Burke

Karen Burke created a vision and strategy to support pioneering change for, and demonstration of, innovative solutions in checkpoint security. The knowledge gained through this effort impacts Aviation Security nationwide. Ms. Burke served as the Federal Coordinator at Holloman Air Force Base during the Operation Allies Welcome, interagency Humanitarian effort for Afghanistan.

William R. Hall - Retired

On 9-11 at The World Trade Center, William Hall commanded the initial search and rescue operation as a Police Chief with The Port Authority of NY & NJ. In May 2022, he was employed by TSA as the first Federal Security Director for JFK International Airport with the responsibility of federalizing airport security operations. As Executive Advisor / Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge, Mr. Hall spearheaded an initiative to formulate a strategic roadmap for Air Marshal Service expansion and enhancement.

Craig M. Lynes

Craig Lynes is highly skilled and experienced in diplomacy, international aviation, executive leadership, compliance, quality control/quality assurance and oversight, and transportation security. He has increased the United States’ global influence with key partners in critical locations and has represented the U.S. at the International Civil Aviation Organization. Mr. Lynes also led the TSA’s Critical Incident Management Group for the Ukraine-Russia tensions, as the Incident Manager where, using his experiences with Operation Allies Welcome, led the agency’s preparedness as well as the coordination with interagency partners. He changed the strategic direction for domestic and international aviation inspections and compliance management with the implementation of the TSA Action Plan Program, a form of Outcome Focused Compliance (OFC) and was an integral part of the Secretarial Action and Public Notice of an international airport, leading the Agency’s efforts of the Secretarial Action.

Holly C. Mehringer

Holly Mehringer oversees the day-to-day execution of the DHS’s $97 billion annual budget and manages the formulation of the annual DHS budget, its submission to Congress, and efforts to secure support for Administration, Secretarial and Departmental priorities. Ms. Mehringer averted a near financial collapse of USCIS fee revenue and avoided similar challenges for Customs and Border Protection and created DHS Fee Collections Scorecard to analyze impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fee revenue and justified $1.5B in supplemental fee funding from Congress. She secured OMB support for an additional $459M for the DHS FY2023 budget, leading to a $97.3B budget request: $2.5B above the FY2022 Enacted budget and the biggest President’s Budget request in Department history. Ms. Mehringer worked with the Department of State to ensure DHS had the appropriate authority to fund and support Operation Allies Welcome; secured an additional $340M in supplemental funding from Congress to enable the USG to offer safe harbor to 85,000 Afghanistan evacuees.

Susan M. Prosnitz

Susan Prosnitz helped develop and implement TSA's first cybersecurity requirements for the pipeline industry in response to the 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack. These requirements have served as a model for other transportation modes. She also led implementation of presidential proclamations in reliance on TSA authorities to address the COVID-19 public threat to the transportation system with impact on millions of travelers and transportation workers. In her Deputy Chief Counsel role, Ms. Prosnitz has overseen publication of high profile, complex regulations and helped TSA leverage emerging technologies related to digital identification, including mobile driver's licenses.

Gary O. Renfrow

Gary Renfrow’s career in military and government service spans over 40 years, currently serving as TSA Assistant Administrator (AA), International Operations (IO) charged with managing global transportation security risks through diplomacy and outcome focused regulatory authority—particularly important as nation’s across the globe recover from impacts of COVID-19. Prior to accepting this position, Mr. Renfrow served as AA for Domestic Aviation Operations, leading oversight and support for security operations at over 425 airports, comprising nearly 80 senior executives leading 50,000 employees who provide freedom of movement of people and commerce for over 2 million passengers daily (pre-COVID). Mr. Renfrow brings significant executive operational experience from the field, having served with distinction as Federal Security Director (FSD) at Philadelphia International Airport and Deputy FSD at PHL and JFK International. Prior to his time with TSA, he served over 30 years with honor and distinction in the United States Air Force—as an Enlisted Airman, Officer, and Civil Servant.

Lori A. Pietropaoli

Lori Pietropaoli, Northeast Regional Director, was recognized for her extraordinary results in promoting uniform implementation of immigration benefits policy to further national security, to continue eliminating adjudication backlogs, and to implement solutions for improving customer services. Notably, Lori implemented internal controls that reduced recurring deficiencies by 75% and overall Corrective Action Plans by 50% within 3 years; reduced delays between staffing allocation and selection. In 6 pay periods, increased staffing from 92% to 96%, ultimately achieving 98% staffing; and enhanced interviewing officers’ ability to identify/detect immigration fraud, resulting in increased referrals across by approximately 40%.

Delisa Walker Hall

In 2016, Dr. Delisa Walker Hall was appointed as the U.S. Secret Service’s (Secret Service) Talent Development Executive at a pivotal time for agency. During this period, the Secret Service’s focus was placed squarely on the development of its most valuable resource—its workforce. Since that time, Dr. Hall has revamped hiring, maximizing the Secret Service's ability to identify the best candidates, make high quality, sound assessments, and use special purpose tests, giving hiring processes legal defensibility. Dr. Hall is esteemed for her leadership in the establishment of a framework for a pre-employment psychological assessment program; launching the agency’s first enterprise-wide, competency-based leadership development system; establishing experiential learning opportunities for detailees while advancing institutional knowledge retention; as well as leading the implementation of a novel Secret Service Leadership Coaching Program in 2019 and Mentoring Program in March 2022. In many ways, Dr. Hall’s leadership has enhanced the knowledge and capabilities of the agency’s workforce and enabled the development of a strong and diverse workforce for the 21st century. 

Michelle M. Keeney

Dr. Michelle Keeney is a recognized expert in behavioral analysis, threat assessment, forensic psychology, law enforcement investigations, and designing research projects with operational impact. As a Senior Level Clinical Research Psychologist for the U.S. Secret Service (Secret Service), Dr. Keeney has delivered over 130 presentations and published her work nine times, to include in academic journals, a book chapter, and technical reports. Most notably, Dr. Keeney was selected to lead the Secret Service’s response to the President’s call for action after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Under her leadership, the Secret Service and other Department of Homeland Security components delivered joint one-day presentations to over 300 K-12 schools in 100 school districts across the country to improve threat assessment and prevent future acts of violence. In 2021, after studying individuals who had breached security at the White House Complex, Dr. Keeney led the creation of the Secret Service Crisis Intervention Team Program, a first in Federal law enforcement and credited with enhancing the agency’s ability to de-escalate volatile situations and improve security around the White House Complex.

John Malgeri

Since 2018, John Malgeri has served as Senior Level Human Resources (HR) Program Advisor at the U.S. Secret Service (Secret Service) where he provides guidance and advice, and leads management initiatives on strategic human capital programs, policies, and operations for the Secret Service Chief Human Capital Officer, supporting nearly 8,000 employees. He also co-chairs the HRStat Community of Practice, providing leadership for cross-governmental improvement among the 24 Chief Human Capital Officers Act (CHCO Act) Federal agencies focused on enhancing the quality of human capital data-driven reviews for achieving agency priority goals and objectives. He provides consultation and training across the Federal Government on topics such as retention, data analytical reviews, and metric design. In 2019, Mr. Malgeri analyzed proposed legislation renewing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and realized that unless Congress specified an extension of dual compensation waiver authority, it would expire.  Based upon his technical advice, the Office of Personnel Management sent a written request to Congress specifically requesting the extension. Prompt resolution of this legislative deficiency was crucial not only for the Secret Service, enabling the agency to utilize highly skilled reemployed annuitants, but for all Federal agencies utilizing the NDAA’s dual compensation waiver provisions to retain top talent.

James Murray- Retired

During his tenure as Director for the U.S. Secret Service (Secret Service), James Murray successfully executed the Agency’s integrated investigative and protective mission, leading the largest Secret Service workforce in the agency’s history (~7,900 employees), while providing stewardship for the agency’s nearly $3 billion budget. Mr. Murray, in a variety of executive leadership roles, has been responsible for the successful execution of several National Special Security Events, a designation reserved for only the most significant security operations in the United States. As a senior executive, Mr. Murray oversaw the development and execution of security plans for United Nations General Assembly events in New York City in 2016, 2017 and 2018; was heavily involved in leading security operations for each of the last two presidential elections, to include individual candidate protection, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates, the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and the Presidential Transition and the Inauguration. While simultaneously leading protective operations, the impact of Mr. Murray’s strategic investigative oversight is clear: since Fiscal Year 2019, an unprecedented $10 billion in potential fraud loss was averted through Secret Service criminal investigations. Mr. Murray’s successful management of the personnel, planning, logistics and resource allocations required to support protective operations activities, alongside the demands of criminal investigations, is a true testament to his leadership abilities in marshaling all required resources to attain high-quality, fully accountable outcomes, meeting both high customer service and risk management expectations.

Faron K. Paramore

On March 14, 2021, Faron Paramore began serving as the 22nd Deputy Director of the U.S. Secret Service (Secret Service). As a 31-year veteran of the Secret Service, the diversity of his leadership experience in protective and investigative assignments, coupled with his extensive executive leadership knowledge of and expertise in Federal legislative and appropriations processes, he has served the Secret Service well. As the primary senior official overseeing the agency’s nearly $3 billion budget, he implemented rigorous internal financial control policies and procedures that enabled better forecasting of budget impacts of upcoming mission-critical requirements. Under his leadership, the Secret Service worked to have legislation introduced/passed to authorize the National Computer Forensic Institute, as well as advanced legislation to strengthen the Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center, which provides guidance on conducting threat assessments to K-12 schools as well local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.