HSOC head to lead new DHS ops division

The leader of the Homeland Security Operations Center, the nerve center that coordinates domestic responses to terrorism attacks, will become the first chief of the Homeland Security Department’s new operations division, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff announced today.

Matthew Broderick will become the director of the newly created Operations Coordination Division, Chertoff wrote in an Aug. 26 memo. He will report directly to Chertoff and Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson, Chertoff wrote.

DHS is reassigning some of its high-ranking employees to reflect organizational changes that Chertoff recommended in a departmentwide review he released in July.

Three of the reassignments will report to the new undersecretary of policy. Cresencio “Cris” Arcos, DHS’ director of international affairs, will become assistant secretary for international affairs in the Office of International Affairs.

Randy Beardsworth, acting undersecretary of border and transportation security, will become assistant secretary for strategic plans.

Alfonso “Al” Martinez-Fonts, special assistant to the secretary for the private sector, will become assistant secretary of the private sector in the Office of Private Sector Liaison.