DHS, ICE get new top managers

President Donald Trump is picking a Homeland Security veteran to serve as the second in command of the agency, and also has named an acting director at the agency's immigration component.

If confirmed, Elaine Duke will serve as deputy secretary of Homeland Security. She will replace Chip Fulghum, who currently fills that role in an acting capacity.

Duke is no stranger to DHS, having served as undersecretary for management in President George W. Bush's administration. Before joining the senior ranks of DHS, she was deputy assistant administrator for acquisition at the Transportation Security Administration, where she oversaw the agency's post 9/11 acquisition program that federalized passenger and baggage screening at U.S. airports. Before that, she held various positions with the Department of Defense.

Since leaving government service in 2010, Duke has worked as an acquisition and business consultant.

Trump also appointed Thomas Homan as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homan has an extensive background with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the agency's group responsible for tracking down, arresting and deporting criminal undocumented aliens or those that pose a threat to national security. ERO also works with immigrants who are seeking asylum in the U.S.

Homan has been executive associate director of the division since 2013, and before that served as a New York City police officer, a Border Patrol Agent and a special agent with ICE's predecessor the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

According to DHS, when ICE was created in 2003, Homan was named as the assistant agent in charge in Dallas. In 2009, Homan stepped up to become assistant director for enforcement within ERO at ICE headquarters and subsequently promoted to deputy executive associate director of ERO.

In another DHS personnel move, DHS' former under secretary for science and technology, Dr. Reginald Brothers, started working for global security advisory firm The Chertoff Group as a principal on Jan. 30.

At S&T, Brothers worked to help the technology directorate open up to industry in a more collaborative and agile way. In remarks at his Jan. 17 departure from the agency, Brothers said S&T brought together industry, academia, responders, government organizations and the public to help crowdsource the future of DHS research and development efforts.

At the Chertoff Group, Brothers will develop growth strategies and identify market solutions, according to the company. He will also advise clients on evolving threats and the resulting policy implications across the technology and security sectors.