In the post-9/11 age of globalization and immigration, we’ve spent $1 trillion to defend the homeland, but has it made us any safer? The Homeland Security Project will host a conversation with DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer Alan Bersin, assessing the Department’s performance preparing for and responding to the challenges of a globalized world.
Assistant Secretary Bersin oversees DHS’s international engagement, serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary in all matters pertaining to international affairs, and is responsible for leading the Department’s strategic planning and policy formulation functions.
Additionally, Bersin serves as Vice President of INTERPOL for the Americas Region and is a member of the INTERPOL Executive Committee, having been elected to those positions at INTERPOL’s 81st General Assembly in November 2012.
From 2010 to 2011, Bersin served as Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a position from which he oversaw the operations of CBP’s 58,000-employee work force and managed an operating budget of more than $12 billion.
Prior to his service with DHS, Mr. Bersin served as California’s Secretary of Education, and was appointed by President Clinton to serve as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.
Mr. Bersin received his Bachelor’s degree at Harvard University, studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and then earned a J.D. from Yale Law School.
This seminar is cohosted by the IGA and Diplomacy PICs. It is off the record and nothing said can be published without the speaker's permission.
As space is limited for this event, RSVPs will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Belfer Center Seminars are strictly off-the-record. By requesting to attend the seminar, you agree that you will comply with the Belfer Center's strict policy against recording or disclosing the contents of the seminar. Your access is conditioned on your compliance with these restrictions. Should you violate these rules, the Center will pursue all available legal options and you will be excluded from all future events.Please contact Sam_Parker@hks18.harvard.edu with RSVPs.
