Frank J. Cilluffo

Director, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, George Washington University

Frank J. Cilluffo is an Associate Vice President at The George Washington University where he leads a number of national security and cyber security policy and research initiatives. Cilluffo directs the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security (CCHS), is co-director of GW’s Cyber Center for National and Economic Security and along with the School of Business, launched the university’s World Executive MBA in Cybersecurity program. CCHS is also about to launch a program on Digital Threats.

Cilluffo is routinely called upon to advise senior officials in the Executive Branch, US Armed Services, and State and Local governments on an array of national and homeland security strategy and policy matters. He also frequently briefs Congressional committees and their staffs and has testified before Congress over 25 times at high profile hearings on counterterrorism, cyber threats, security and deterrence, weapons proliferation, organized crime, intelligence and threat assessment, as well as emergency management, border and transportation security. Similarly, he works with US allies and organizations such as NATO and Europol. He has presented at a number of bi-lateral and multi-lateral summits on cybersecurity and countering Islamist terrorism, including the UN Security Council.

Cilluffo has published extensively in academic, law, business, and policy journals, and magazines and newspapers worldwide, including: ABC News, Foreign Policy, The Journal of International Security Affairs, The National Interest, Parameters, Politico, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, USA Today, US News & World Report, The Washington Quarterly and the Washington Post. He currently serves on the editorial advisory board for Military and Strategic Affairs and routinely acts as a reviewer for other publications and for grant-making foundations.

Cilluffo serves or has served on various national security-related committees sponsored by the US government and non-profit organizations, including the Homeland Security Advisory Council, where he served as the Vice Chairman of the Future of Terrorism Task Force, chaired by Congressman Lee Hamilton. Cilluffo also served as a member of the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Committee, Defense Science Board committees and summer studies, and along with Norm Augustine, chaired the first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Advisory Council. He continues to remain active in the non-profit, educational and think tank communities serving on various committees and panels. His current leadership positions include serving on the National Council of Advisors for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and as chairman of the National Consortium for Advanced Policing.

Cilluffo joined GW in 2003, establishing CCHS as a prominent nonpartisan “think and do tank” dedicated to the building bridges between theory and practice to advance US security. CCHS has hosted numerous Cabinet Members and agency directors, military and law enforcement officers, Members of Congress, diplomats, business executives and academics and has issued dozens of reports that are widely cited by media, research institutions, think tanks and governments.

Prior to joining GW, Cilluffo served as Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Immediately following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Cilluffo was appointed by President George W. Bush to the newly created Office of Homeland Security. During his tenure at The White House, he was involved in a wide range of counterterrorism and homeland security strategy and policy initiatives, served as a principal advisor to Governor Tom Ridge, and directed the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Before his White House appointment, Cilluffo spent eight years in senior policy positions with the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank. At CSIS, he chaired or directed numerous committees and task forces on homeland defense, counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, as well as information warfare and information assurance.