Gregory T. Garcia, Ex-DHS President, Garcia Strategies, LLC Now President of Garcia Strategies, LLC, a strategic business and government affairs advisory services firm, Gregory (Greg) T. Garcia served as the nation's first Presidentially-appointed Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications (CS&C) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, from 2006-2008. Garcia led the strategic direction of CS&C, overseeing a $500 million budget for the National Cyber Security Division, the Office of Emergency Communications and the National Communications System. During Garcia's tenure, DHS affirmed the urgency of cyber security across the nation and embarked on a comprehensive cyber initiative that will measurably strengthen the security of our nation's networks against domestic and international threats. He established the Office of Emergency Communications, which collaborated with stakeholders across the country to develop a first-ever National Emergency Communications Plan and 56 state and territory plans to drive interoperable emergency communications for our federal, state and local first responders. His organization enhanced the availability, resiliency and priority service of communications for national security and emergency preparedness needs, and in disaster-stricken areas such as the Gulf States in the aftermath of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008. Finally, he worked to integrate the Nation's overall cyber and communications security strategy to align with the evolving architecture and risk profile of our national information infrastructure. Prior to joining the Department, Garcia served as Vice President for Information Security Programs and Policy with the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), where, among other accomplishments, he worked with the Department of Homeland Security to co-found the National Cyber Security Partnership. Before joining ITAA in April 2003, Garcia served on the staff of the House Science Committee where he was responsible for industry outreach and information technology and cyber security policy. Garcia had a lead role under Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) in drafting and shepherding the enactment of the Cyber Security Research and Development Act of 2002. Prior to his service on Capitol Hill, Garcia contributed to national policy development through several private sector organizations. He was the Director of 3Com Corporation's Global Government Relations Office in Washington, DC, where he established and managed all aspects of the company's strategic public policy formulation and advocacy. He served as Coalition Manager for Americans for Computer Privacy, a high profile grassroots policy advocacy campaign dedicated to overturning U.S. export and domestic use regulation of encryption technology. This effort was successful after just one year of intense lobbying and high-end media strategies. Garcia lobbied international trade policy for the American Electronics Association, including export controls, customs, European and multilateral trade negotiations. His first career position was as a consultant with Newmyer Associates, Inc., a public policy consulting firm where he advised on international trade policy for Fortune 500 clients. Garcia graduated with distinction from California State University at San Jose with a degree in Business Administration.