Originally published Former DHS Secretary Elaine Duke Selected for Homeland Security Lifetime Achievement Award on by https://www.hstoday.us/featured/former-dhs-secretary-elaine-duke-selected-for-homeland-security-lifetime-achievement-award/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=former-dhs-secretary-elaine-duke-selected-for-homeland-security-lifetime-achievement-award at Homeland Security
HOMELAND SECURITY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
In commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, HSToday introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021, celebrating individuals who’ve dedicated their lives to the nation’s safety post 9/11 and showcased remarkable agility and selflessness in homeland security pursuits.
The Honorable Elaine Duke, former Secretary of Homeland Security;
Principal, Elaine Duke & Associates
Elaine Duke has served the homeland and defense missions in the federal government for 
over three decades. She is a plank holder of the Department of Homeland Security and known not only as an accomplished leader, but as a soldier for good government, sound practices, and transparency for the American people.
As Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, she set the tone of enforcing the law with respect and integrity. She has been a relentless warrior for the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of the mission to secure America. Throughout her career she has taken on some of the most challenging projects – all from her commitment to serve the mission of protecting the nation. She used – and continues to use – her skills, philosophy of good government, and ethical approach to further the mission and ensure sound operations for the Department.
Duke was confirmed in 2008, as the Department of Homeland Security’s Under Secretary for Management where she managed the Department’s $47 billion budget, appropriations, expenditures of funds, accounting, and finance. She was an exemplary leader focused on the backbone of the Department’s essential business functions. She administered the Department’s $17 billion in acquisitions and procurement and directed human capital resources and personnel programs for 216,000 employees. She administered control of the Department’s enterprise architecture through strategic use of information technology and communications systems in addition to the oversight of the Department’s facilities, property, equipment, and other material resources. She ran operations for the department and improved the confidence, performance, and execution of DHS’s operations.
Prior to her appointment as the Under Secretary for Management, Secretary Duke served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Management and Chief Procurement Officer. A hallmark of her leadership is her commitment to the future and the sustainability of the functions needed for successful operations. At DHS, she championed the creation of the Acquisition Professional Career Program to re-build the federal acquisition workforce for the 21st century.
After 9/11, she joined the effort to stand up the new Department of Homeland Security serving at the Transportation Security Administration as Deputy Assistant Administrator beginning in August 2002. Duke was instrumental in operationalizing the Aviation and Transportation Security Act that established TSA, and mandated that the new agency assume responsibility for security in all U.S. commercial airports. As DAC, she developed and executed the acquisition program that met the post 9/11 legislative mandate to federalize passenger screening and baggage screening airports.
Prior to 9/11, Secretary Duke’s service was devoted to the U.S. Navy where she held various acquisition positions of progressive responsibility. She served as the director, Office of Contract Policy, as well as the Deputy Director of Hull, Mechanical and Electrical Division in the Contracts Directorate with the Naval Sea Systems Command. While on the staff of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations & Environment), Ms. Duke oversaw the base closure and realignment program. She developed and implemented contracting strategies as well as a first ever grant program that provided for financial assistance to revitalize the local communities impacted by the base closures. Ms. Duke also held various acquisition positions with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, including the Deputy Director of the Contracting Department at the Navy Public Works Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
She began her career as a contracting officer for the U.S. Air Force. In addition to her work at the Department of Defense, Ms. Duke served as the Deputy Director of Contracting and Property Management for the Smithsonian Institution and Director of Acquisition and Grant Services for the Federal Railroad Administration.
During her service with the federal government, Ms. Duke has been the recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, the Transportation Security Administration’s Silver Medal for Customer Service, and the Department of Army Commander’s Award for Public Service. She has served as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and as a strategic advisor to the Government Technology and Services Coalition, assisting small and mid-tier businesses in the federal sector. She has taught acquisition at American University and was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration in 2018. Homeland Security is proud to bestow the Lifetime Achievement Award to Secretary Elaine Duke.
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Originally published Former DHS Secretary Elaine Duke Selected for Homeland Security Lifetime Achievement Award on by https://www.hstoday.us/featured/former-dhs-secretary-elaine-duke-selected-for-homeland-security-lifetime-achievement-award/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=former-dhs-secretary-elaine-duke-selected-for-homeland-security-lifetime-achievement-award at Homeland Security
Originally published Homeland Security
