A/S Boyd and A/S Kaplan discuss DHS’s perspectives on global cooperation during COVID-19

On Thursday, May 21, 2020, the Meridian Corporate Council hosted a Global Business Briefing featuring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with the Beacon Global Strategies, U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, and #NatSecGirlSquad. The Hon. Andrew Shapiro, Managing Director and Founder of Beacon Global Strategies, moderated the conversation. Valerie Boyd, Assistant Secretary of International Affairs, opened the briefing with highlights of DHS’ work with international partners. Sam Kaplan, Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience Policy provided remarks on DHS’ role in coordinating policy and action for COVID-19.  

Assistant Secretary Valerie Boyd joined DHS in April 2019, following a Deputy Chief of Staff assignment at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Prior to her time at CBP, Boyd worked at the White House from 2008 to 2016, holding various roles at the National Security Council. Boyd briefly held a private sector position from 2016-2017, working at JP Morgan Chase as their Vice President and Business Manager of Corporate Responsibility. Assistant Secretary Sam Kaplan joined DHS in July 2017 as its Chief Privacy Officer and was named Assistant Secretary in January 2020. Prior to DHS, Kaplan held roles as Senior Counsel for Field Operations at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Counselor to a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, where he was involved in the Board’s oversight and advisory work on counterterrorism programs. 

Assistant Secretary Boyd opened the hour with remarks on DHS’ international affairs portfolio. She highlighted that DHS’ international work focused on putting strategy into action. Her remarks underscored the importance of DHS’ partnerships with international governments and multilateral organizations and noted that COVID-19 has facilitated closer relationships between DHS’ partners around the world. Assistant Secretary Kaplan continued the conversation with comments on DHS’ work to secure critical infrastructure and global supply chains, both physical and digital. DHS recommends that organizations read and apply DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidance for protecting against malicious cyber activity, which has been on the rise as many more people work from home. Assistant Secretary Kaplan closed by commenting that cyber resilience – the ability for business and government to withstand cyberattacks – should be a key part of the conversation about public safety and security. 

The hour-long briefing made clear the importance of public-private sector and international relationships are vital to the success of DHS’ work. Both business and government need to work together to share information and best practices to keep public safety a first and foremost issue. While COVID-19 is an unprecedented challenge, it also presents an unprecedented opportunity to bolster security at home and abroad.