January 5, 2017
WASHINGTON - Bray Barnes, a Senior Advisor to Global Security and Innovative Strategies (GSIS), a security consulting and business advisory company whose principals are primarily former senior executives with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has joined the U.S. Council on Competitiveness as Senior Fellow.
“As cybersecurity becomes increasingly important to our country’s competitiveness, it’s imperative we keep it at the forefront of policy discussions,” said Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president and CEO, U.S. Council on Competitiveness. “Bray’s expertise in this field will provide us with perspective we need in order to make informed, strategic recommendations on how the country approaches its cybersecurity needs.”
Previously, Mr. Barnes was the Director, National Cybersecurity Institute, and is the Founder and Principal of Security Evaluation and Solutions Group, LLC, which provides three unique homeland security cornerstones of service employing industry-wide best management practices. Additionally, he served as a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cyber Focus Group.
As a member of the Senior Executive Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Mr. Barnes directed the First-Responder Program that provided interface, collaboration and coordination with federal, state, county, tribal and local law enforcement. He also served as chairman of the DHS Law Enforcement Council and the DHS First Responder Council. Additionally, Mr. Barnes held the position of Acting Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO), where he directed all aspects of human resources management for the 210,000 DHS employees.
Mr. Barnes, who received two Presidential appointments during the Bush Administration, is a licensed lawyer in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., having more than 30 years of experience in the legal profession. Prior to Mr. Barnes' legal career, he served in law enforcement for 11 years, graduating from the New Jersey State Police Academy as class president. He was on active duty with the United States Army as a radio operator during the Vietnam War, later graduating from Officer Candidate School as distinguished graduate.
