Introduction

Speaker: Brigadier General Michael C. H. McDaniel, USA (Ret), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Strategy (HD), Force Planning and Mission Assurance

Brigadier General Michael C. H. McDaniel, USA (Ret), is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Strategy, Force Planning and Mission Assurance.  His responsibilities include oversight of HD Strategy, Force Planning, Experimentation, Science and Technology, Mission Assurance and  Intergovernmental Relations. Additionally his office provides outreach to DHS, state and local governments, the private sector, congressional and White House liaison, and HD domestic Counterterrorism and Counternarcotics programs on behalf of the ASD for Homeland Defense. His responsibilities in Mission Assurance include supervision of both the DoD Critical Infrastructure Protection program and Global Anti-terrorism/Force Protection policy.

General McDaniel was appointed by the Michigan Governor as her Advisor on Homeland Security, on February 5, 2003 and served in that capacity until July 31, 2009 while simultaneously serving as the Assistant Adjutant General for Homeland Security, Michigan National Guard.

He was the liaison between the Governor's Office and all federal, state and local agencies on homeland security with responsibility for developing statewide policy on homeland security preparedness and for coordinating the development of plans and training for homeland security on a statewide basis. His duties included coordinating efforts to protect the state and its critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks, to ensure all state agencies have interoperable IT and communications systems, and to prepare for, prevent, and mitigate the consequences of terrorist threats or attacks.

General McDaniel served as a member of the National Governors Association's Homeland Security Advisors Council. He was elected to the eight-member Executive Committee in 2006, and re-elected in 2008. General McDaniel was named by the Office of Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security as Chair of the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council in 2007. General McDaniel has been a member of the Michigan National Guard for over 24 years, previously serving as a military judge.

While serving as the Chair of the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council (SLTTGCC), the Council extensively contributed to the 2009 revision of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, and was also instrumental in recognizing Critical Manufacturing as the 18th critical sector of the national economy. Other significant contributions include the publications A Guide to Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Protection at the State, Regional, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Level in September 2008, and a Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Protection Capabilities for Fusion Centers.

Previously, General McDaniel was the Assistant Attorney General for Litigation in the Executive Division of the Michigan Department of Attorney General. His duties included the review of all civil and criminal actions proposed to be initiated by the department in state or federal trial courts, and evaluation of all proposed settlements of every court case. General McDaniel was responsible for special projects, such as anti-terrorism legislation, forming the hate crimes prosecution team, and supervising the prosecution of internet tobacco sales to minors. He has maintained his bar membership and has an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

General McDaniel has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Bonaventure University, a Juris Doctorate degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the Army War College, and a Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Security) degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is the recipient of the Zimbardo Award, awarded to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security graduate who best embodies high academic achievement, outstanding leadership and innovation in homeland security thinking.