Senate Approves Critical DHS Leadership Position

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Russell Deyo to be Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Senate confirmed Mr. Deyo by a vote of 95 to 2.

“Given the challenges associated with fusing 22 separate agencies into one cohesive department, the Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security is an enormously important position,” Sen. Carper said. “Russell Deyo has extensive management experience and will enable the Department to continue making progress in challenging areas. Mr. Deyo’s perspective from the private and public sectors will be an important asset to Secretary Johnson as he works to unify the Department and continue its critical mission. I know that the Department’s leadership, employees and the American people have a lot to gain from Mr. Deyo. I thank my colleagues for approving his critically important nomination, and I look forward to working with Mr. Deyo in his new role.”

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs approved Mr. Deyo’s nomination during the 113^th Congress, on November 12, 2014, but his nomination did receive a vote on the Senate floor. The committee approved his nomination again during the 114^th Congress on March 4, 2015.

Sen. Carper also spoke on the floor about Mr. Deyo’s nomination. His remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:

“Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the nomination of Russ Deyo to be Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security. 

“Given the Department’s significant role in the security of our country, it is critical that Secretary Jeh Johnson has a full leadership team in place. That includes Russ Deyo as his Under Secretary for Management, the third-highest position in the Department.

“This vote is long overdue. Mr. Deyo was approved by our Committee not once but twice. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to act on his nomination before the end of the 113th Congress, so our Committee approved his nomination again this January. And, as of this week, more than a year will have passed since the last Senate-confirmed Under Secretary for Management, Rafael Borras, stepped down from his post. 

“I’d like to thank our Committee’s Chairman, Ron Johnson, for his efforts to move Mr. Deyo’s nomination so quickly this Congress.

“Everything I have learned about Mr. Deyo over the past several months has led me to conclude that he is an exceptional candidate to be the next Under Secretary for Management at DHS. 

“Mr. Deyo had an impressive 27-year career with Johnson & Johnson, where he served in several top positions, including General Counsel and Vice President for Administration. He was also a partner at a major U.S. law firm.

“Russ Deyo is also no stranger to public service and working with law enforcement organizations. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Jersey for eight years, including a period as chief of the public corruption unit.

“His perspective from the private and public sectors will be an invaluable asset to Secretary Johnson as he and his team work to get the Department operating in a more unified and cohesive manner.

“If confirmed, Mr. Deyo will have a number other challenges on his plate. For example, the Government Accountability Office continues to remind us that the overall management of the Department remains on GAO’s ‘High Risk’ list of government operations that need urgent attention. And, of course, if confirmed, Mr. Deyo will inherit the challenge of improving employee morale across the Department.

“I believe Mr. Deyo has the leadership experience and skills necessary to tackle these and other challenges at the Department and really make a difference.

“I urge all of my colleagues to support the nomination of Russ Deyo.”
 

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