Elaine Costanzo Duke, former Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary for Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Elaine Duke was the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from April 10, 2017 to April 15, 2018. She also served as the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security from July 31, 2017 to December 6, 2017.

Prior to her appointment, Deputy Secretary Duke was the principal of Elaine Duke & Associates, LLC, where she provided acquisition and business consulting services to large and small businesses.

An accomplished leader and a civil servant for most of her career, Deputy Secretary Duke has served in the federal government for nearly three decades, including as the Department’s Senate-confirmed Under Secretary for Management, a position she held from 2008-2010.

As Under Secretary, she was responsible for the Department’s management functions and corresponding $47 billion budget. Prior to her appointment, she served both as the Department’s Deputy Under Secretary for Management and Chief Procurement Officer. She also served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Acquisition at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), delivering an acquisition program that met the post 9/11 legislative mandate to federalize passenger and baggage screening at U.S. airports. Prior to her service at DHS, Deputy Secretary Duke held various positions with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Deputy Secretary Duke received her B.S. in Business Management from New Hampshire College, now Southern New Hampshire University, and her M.B.A. from Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Over the course of her federal government service, Deputy Secretary Duke has received the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, the DHS Secretary’s Medal, the TSA Silver Medal for Customer Service, the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Public Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Medal.

Deputy Secretary Duke has served as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and as a strategic advisor to the Government Technology and Services Coalition, assisting small and mid-tier businesses in the federal sector. She has taught acquisition at American University.

In addition to her work for Elaine Duke & Associates, LLC, Ms. Duke is an Adjunct Professor of Acquisition for American University Master’s in Public Administration program and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Homeland Security Studies & Analysis Institute. She is also a Director of the Procurement Roundtable and frequently serves as an expert in acquisition and guest speaker for various not-for-profit venues, educational forums, and government organizations.  Ms. Duke is the Chairman of the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries Board of Directors.

Ms. Duke had a 28 year career with the Federal government, culminating with her nomination by President Bush and Senate confirmation on June 27, 2008 as the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Under Secretary for Management.  She held this position until April 1, 2010.  As the Under Secretary, she was responsible for the management of the Department’s $47 billion budget.  She was the Department’s Chief Acquisition Officer and led DHS’ $17 billion acquisition program. She provided executive leadership to the DHS Chief Information Officer, with responsibility for the Department’s enterprise architecture through strategic use of information technology and communications systems.  Ms. Duke led the personnel policies and practices for DHS’ 230,000 employees through the Chief Human Capital Officer.  Additionally, she provided oversight of the Department’s personnel security, and real and personal property programs.

From October 2007 until her confirmation as Under Secretary, Ms. Duke served as Deputy Under Secretary for Management.  In October 2004, she began her tenure as DHS’ Deputy, and then Chief Procurement Officer.   As the Department’s senior procurement executive, she was responsible for the management, administration and oversight of the Department’s $17 billion acquisition program and $14B financial assistance program,  as well as DHS’ strategic and competitive sourcing programs.  During this time, she championed the creation of the Acquisition Professional Career Program to rebuild the acquisition workforce for the 21st century, and established an acquisition program management system.

Ms. Duke assisted in the stand-up of the DHS while at the Transportation Security Administration, where she served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Acquisition beginning in August 2002.  While at TSA, she delivered an acquisition program that met the post 9/11 legislative mandate to federalize passenger and baggage screening at US airports.

Ms. Duke spent a great deal of her career with the US Navy where she held various acquisition positions of progressive responsibility.  She served as the Director, Office of Contract Policy as well as Deputy Director of the Hull, Mechanical and Electrical Contracts Division of the Naval Sea Systems Command.  While on the staff of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment), Ms. Duke worked with local governments affected by the Base Closure and Realignment program,  developing contract and financial assistance programs to revitalize local communities impacted by base closures.  Ms. Duke also held various acquisition positions with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command including Deputy Director of the Contracting Department at the Navy Public Works Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

She began her federal career as a contracting officer with the US Air Force.  In addition to her work with the Department of Defense, Ms. Duke served as the Deputy Director of Contracting and Property Management at the Smithsonian Institution and Director of Acquisition and Grant Services for the Federal Railroad Administration.

Ms. Duke holds a BS degree in Business Management and a MBA.  During her service with the Federal Government, Ms. Duke received the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, the DHS Secretary’s Medal, the Transportation Security Administration Silver Medal for Customer Service, the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Public Service, and the US Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Medal.