Executive Director, Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, Microsoft Corporation
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Domestic Counterterrorism, Homeland Security Council
Colonel, US Army (Ret)
Areas of Interest
1) cross-sector integration (federal, state, local, tribal, private, and non-profit)
2) similarities among terrorists, organized crime, drug cartels, and gangs
3) public/private partnerships
Biography
With over 35 years of experience in the areas of Combating Terrorism and Homeland Security, Colonel Joe Rozek, US Army (Ret), has served in senior positions within the White House and the Department of Defense, having played an integral role in the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and in the development of the nation’s post-9/11 defense strategy. Colonel Rozek served over 29 years in the United States Army, most of which was served in Special Forces (Green Berets). In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Colonel Rozek convened and directed the Secretary of Defense’s Crisis Coordination Center at the Pentagon synchronizing the Department’s response efforts. He then served as a subject matter expert for combating terrorism on the Vice President’s National Domestic Preparedness Review Group.
In October of 2001, Governor Tom Ridge selected Col. Rozek as his Senior Director for Threat Countermeasures and Incident Management, White House Office of Homeland Security. In this capacity, he assumed responsibility for coordinating the national response to the anthrax attack and for synthesizing homeland intelligence and information; and monitoring and coordinating interagency countermeasures and incident management. In July of 2004, Col. (Ret.) Rozek became the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Domestic Counterterrorism on the White House Homeland Security Council. In this capacity, he was responsible for facilitating, guiding and prioritizing national efforts in the areas of domestic intelligence, information sharing, anti-terrorism, counterterrorism, and incident coordination to detect, disrupt, and defeat terrorism in the United States. Prior to September 11, 2001, Colonel Rozek served as the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Civil Support; Director for Combating Terrorism and Sensitive Activities Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict; operations officer in the Special Operations Division, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and numerous other Special Forces and Infantry assignments including command of a Special Forces Battalion.
In the private sector, Joe Rozek has held the position of Vice President for Security, Operations, and Technology at System Planning Corporation headquartered in Arlington, Virginia where he was responsible for the management and direction of all corporate activities relating to homeland security and domestic preparedness. Currently, Mr. Rozek is the Executive Director for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism for the Microsoft Corporation. In this capacity, he is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic business plan in the area of homeland security, counterterrorism and information sharing. He serves on the Forum of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) and is the former chair and a current member on the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Information Network Advisory Council.
He continues to be a noted subject matter expert in counter-terrorism (hostage barricade and weapons of mass destruction), anti-terrorism, consequence management, national special security events and unconventional warfare.