Claire Grady

Claire Grady
United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
Acting
In office
April 16, 2018 – April 10, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
SecretaryKirstjen Nielsen
Preceded byElaine Duke
Succeeded byDavid Pekoske (acting)
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management
In office
August 8, 2017 – April 10, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
SecretaryJohn F. Kelly
Kirstjen Nielsen
Preceded byRussell Deyo
Succeeded byRandolph Alles
Personal details
EducationTrinity University, Texas (BA)
University of Maryland, College Park (MBA)
National Defense University (MS)
AwardsPresidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive
WebsiteOfficial profile

Claire M. Grady is a former American government official who served in areas of national defense and security procurement. She served as the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management, as well as the acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from August 2017 until April 2019. Prior to assuming her the role, she served as director of defense procurement and acquisition policy at the United States Department of Defense.[1] In her previous capacity in the U.S. Department of Defense, Grady was a member of the Defense Acquisition Board.[2]

In her role at the Department of Defense, Grady provided advice on matters related to the procurement of major weapon and automated information systems and led policy for services acquisition. She oversaw the department's contingency, domestic, and international contract policy in areas including competition, leasing, multiyear contracting, source selection, warranties, and e-business.[3] She previously served as the United States Coast Guard's deputy assistant commandant for acquisition, director of acquisition services, and head of contracting activity. She was also director of strategic initiatives for the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Chief Procurement Officer.[3]

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen submitted her resignation as secretary of homeland security on April 7, 2019, after a White House meeting with President Trump, two days after the President announced he wanted to go in a "tougher" direction on immigration.[4] She had cut short a week-long trip to Europe where she was going to discuss cybersecurity and terror threats with senior UK and Swedish government officials.[4]

Trump also had tweeted, on April 7, that Kevin McAleenan, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, would become acting secretary.[5][6][7] Trump announced that intention following the resignation of Nielsen on April 7, 2019.[8] Legally, under 6 U.S.C. §113(g), the role would have fallen to then-Acting Deputy Secretary Grady.[9] That succession was made legal after Trump forced Grady, the next in line,[10] to resign on April 9. In a tweet, Nielsen had said that she had agreed to remain in her position until April 10, 2019 "to assist with an orderly transition and ensure that key DHS missions are not impacted."[11][12]

On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, Nielsen announced that Grady resigned effective April 10.[13]

  1. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The White House. May 16, 2017. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  2. ^ Mazmanian, Adam (May 17, 2017). "for top management post at DHS". FCW. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Nicholas, Scott (May 18, 2017). "President Trump to Nominate Claire Grady as DHS Undersecretary for Management". ExecutiveGov. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Alvarez, Priscilla; Sands, Geneva (April 8, 2019). "How border hardliners nudged out Nielsen". CNN. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  5. ^ "DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigns after clashes with Trump on immigration". CBS News. April 7, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  6. ^ Matt Bewig (January 14, 2018). "Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Who Is Kevin McAleenan?". AllGov. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  7. ^ Miles, Frank (April 7, 2019). "Kevin McAleenan, new acting DHS boss, has long record in border security". Fox News. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  8. ^ Haberman, Maggie; Weiland, Noah (April 7, 2019). "Kirstjen Nielsen Out as Trump's Homeland Security Secretary". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  9. ^ David Brennan (April 8, 2019). "Will Donald Trump replace Claire Grady?". Newsweek. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  10. ^ Gerstein, Josh; Beasley, Stephanie (April 9, 2019). "Legality of Trump move to replace Nielsen questioned". POLITICO. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  11. ^ Jansen, Bart; Cummings, William; Collins, Michael (April 7, 2019). "Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of Homeland Security, is out of the Trump administration". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  12. ^ Katherine Faulders (April 8, 2019). "Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigns". ABC News. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  13. ^ Hesson, Ted (April 9, 2019). "Nielsen: Acting DHS Deputy Grady offers resignation". Politico. Retrieved April 10, 2019.