The George Washington University has named Darrell L. Darnell, a White House National Security official and D.C. homeland security and emergency management director under the Fenty Administration, as Senior Associate Vice President for Safety and Security at the University.

 

Darnell will direct the coordination, development and management of the Safety and Security Program for the Foggy Bottom, Virginia and Mount Vernon campuses. He also will evaluate the risks of study abroad programs in coordination with the Office of International Programs.

 

Darnell has been serving as the director for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Policy under the Obama Administration. Once referred to as “one of the founding fathers of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security” (CHDS) at the Naval Postgraduate School, Darnell previously held the position of director of the Washington, D.C, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. Darnell will oversee the University Police Department, the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, as well as the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, which includes laboratory safety and residential housing safety.

 

Darnell will be responsible for developing and maintaining partnerships with relevant federal and non-governmental agencies ranging from the U.S. Secret Service and D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Greater Washington Board of Trade. Additionally, he will advise GW President Knapp and other senior University leaders in an emergency situation, as well as coordinate the University’s overall operational response during a crisis.