John D. Cohen currently serves as the DHS Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Previously Mr. Cohen has served as a Senior Expert on Global Threats for the Argonne National Laboratory; an on-air expert for ABC News on homeland security, terrorism, counterintelligence, and law enforcement issues; and an Adjunct Professor in the Georgetown University Security Studies Program and Center for Security Studies.
Mr. Cohen has more than three decades of experience in law enforcement, counterintelligence, and homeland security. Mr. Cohen has studied mass casualty attacks and is currently studying the impact of Internet-based communications technologies on crime and homeland/national security. During the Obama Administration, Mr. Cohen served as the DHS Acting Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis and Counterterrorism Coordinator. During his time at DHS, Mr. Cohen was a direct adviser to the Secretary and oversaw the development and implementation of several high visibility Department-wide crime prevention, counterterrorism, counterintelligence and border and transportation security initiatives. Mr. Cohen also led the Department’s efforts to establish multi-disciplinary programs focused on countering violent extremism, preventing and responding to mass casualty/active shooter attacks, improving information sharing, and expanding DHS’ interactions and collaboration with state and local law enforcement organizations, private sector companies and faith-based organizations.
Previously Mr. Cohen served as the Senior Advisor to the Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he authored and coordinated the implementation of key components of the 2007 White House National Strategy for Information Sharing.
Mr. Cohen has an extensive background in homeland security and law enforcement operations and policy development. He was Senior Homeland Security Policy Advisor to several state and local officials including then-Governor Mitt Romney of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Janet Napolitano, Governor of the State of Arizona. In 2004, he was selected by the National Journal as one of the “100 Key People in Homeland Security.” He was also named “Law Enforcement Person of the Year,” by Law Enforcement News for his work in developing and establishing a national non-emergency number, 3-1-1. He has worked within the private sector and has held a variety of government positions including Special Agent, Office of Naval Intelligence; Police Detective and Patrol Officer, City of Gardena, California; Senior Investigator, House Judiciary Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Senior Policy Advisor to the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States. He is the recipient of a number of awards and commendations including the Drug Enforcement Administration “Administrator’s Award,” The South Bay “Medal of Valor,” and DHS’ “Distinguished Service Medal.”