Jerry Williams was appointed as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 31, 2007. He was first assigned to DHS as the Deputy CSO in 2005.

Mr. Williams directs policy and oversight related to security activities for the 32 Components and over 208,000 employees that comprise DHS. He develops policy and procedures in the following major areas: Personnel Security; Special Security Programs; Administrative Security; Physical Security; Counterintelligence & Investigations; Operations Security; and Security Training and Awareness. As CSO, he also supports the Chief Information Officer in the area of security policy related to the IT environment.

Mr. Williams is responsible for investigating all counterintelligence incidents and anomalies, in coordination with the component Intelligence/Security organizations, as necessary. He ensures that the Office of Security maintains and operates capabilities for detecting anomalies and for investigative follow up in conjunction with appropriate law enforcement and counterintelligence agencies. He also takes all appropriate actions to recruit, train, and manage a cadre of skilled counterintelligence personnel.

Mr. Williams began his Federal career as a police officer with the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division. In 1980 he transferred to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, as a criminal investigator, where he conducted investigations related to program fraud and employee misconduct.

In 1982 he returned to the Secret Service as a Special Agent in the New York Field Office. Throughout his career he furthered the investigative, protective, and training missions of the Secret Service. Mr. Williams was assigned to the Presidential Protective Division as a senior agent and as a supervisor. He conducted both domestic and international security advances and led the security arrangements for President Clinton’s first inauguration.

After twenty years with the Secret Service, Mr. Williams joined the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of the Inspector General (OIG). At the Treasury OIG he worked with U.S. Senate committees and conducted nationwide process reviews of the internal affairs functions of all Department of Treasury law enforcement bureaus.

In 2000, Mr. Williams joined the U.S. Customs Service, Office of Internal Affairs; where he led a staff in developing policy and information systems. Following the establishment of DHS, Mr. Williams was reassigned to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Professional Responsibility. He assumed a Chief of Staff role in the new agency addressing budget, procurement, and personnel requirements. Managing the transfer of personnel and assets from legacy agencies into one cohesive office was among the greatest challenges of his Federal career.

Mr. Williams holds a Master of Arts degree in Forensic Science from Antioch University, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York.