Beers moves to new role at DHS

Beers moves to new role at DHS    President Barack Obama intends to nominate Rand Beers as under secretary of the National Protection and Programs Directorate, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday.
   Beers, who worked as acting deputy secretary from Feb. 11 until the Senate recently confirmed Janet Holl Lute on April 3 and played a key role on Obama's DHS transition team following the election, will oversee five major offices, including Infrastructure Protection, Risk Management and Analysis and Intergovernmental Programs.
   The Infrastructure Office analyzes intelligence and coordinates public and private sector efforts to mitigate risks and effects of terrorist attacks or other disasters.
   Beers is staying on at DHS in the capacity of counselor to Secretary Janet Napolitano until he can be confirmed by the Senate. He will accompany Lute next week to Ottawa to meet with Canadian officials on a number of issues, including the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The program establishes stricter document requirements for travelers entering the United States.
   Beers has served in leadership roles under four presidents, including as the White House's National Security Council director for counterterrorism and counternarcotics; director for peacekeeping; senior director for intelligence programs; special assistant to the president and senior director for combating terrorism; and assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs. In 2006, Beers founded the National Security Network, a foreign policy think tank based in Washington, D.C.