Mr. Paul Schneider Selected As Chairman, AFCEA Homeland Security Committee

FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Honorable Paul A. Schneider, Principal at the Chertoff Group, former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and former Under Secretary for Management at DHS, has been selected to chair the AFCEA Homeland Security Committee. As the committee's chairman, he will provide direction to the members of the AFCEA Homeland Security Committee, helping guide AFCEA's outreach to security professionals in both government and industry.

From 1994-2009, Mr. Schneider served the government and focused his work in the main areas of defense and aerospace industries, cyber security, major acquisition, procurement and financial management as well as systems engineering and technology assessment. He previously served in a range of educational, executive, and analytic positions at the National Security Agency, Department of the Navy and conducted high-level studies for NASA. During his service, Mr. Schneider has been the recipient of the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award and the Distinguished Civilian Service Award; the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award (twice) and the President's Award for Distinguished Civilian Service. He also received three Presidential Rank Awards.

Mr. Schneider replaces outgoing Committee Chair Jim Flyzik. Mr. Flyzik will remain with the committee as chairman of the Homeland Security Conference subcommittee. Commenting on Mr. Schneider's selection, AFCEA International Vice President for Homeland Security, Dr. Vince Patton, said, "We are pleased that Mr. Schneider has accepted the appointment as our new chairman of the AFCEA Homeland Security Committee. Mr. Schneider's previous high level government position within DHS and his well-known professional reputation and experience are the perfect match for our homeland security focus. Without question, he will continue to provide the exceptional leadership that our outgoing chairman, Mr. Jim Flyzik, established."

As chairman of the committee, Mr. Schneider will be one of the principal speakers for the AFCEA Homeland Security Professional Development Course, which will be held December 5-7, 2012, at AFCEA Headquarters, Fairfax, VA. He will also be an integral part of the annual AFCEA Homeland Security Conference returning to Washington, D.C., February 26-28, 2013.

The AFCEA Homeland Security Committee is comprised of representatives from government, private sector and academia representing the homeland and global security community. Its purpose is to enhance AFCEA's outreach and to cultivate a spirit of partnership among the government, academia, and private sectors. The Committee provides forums, including symposia, meetings, and papers, for the exchange of ideas within this community.

AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit organization serving its members by providing a forum for the ethical exchange of information, and dedicated to increasing knowledge through the exploration of issues relevant to its members in information technology, communications and electronics for the defense, homeland security and intelligence communities. For more information visit www.afcea.org.

SOURCE AFCEA International