Senior Vice President, Risk and Cybersecurity Policy at American Bankers Association

Former Partner & Chief Technology Officer, GSIS

Former Director, Science & Technology Directorate, DHS

Former Director, Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA)

Paul Benda is a Partner and Chief Technology Officer at GSIS. He has held numerous positions in the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. He formerly worked in the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security as Director, Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency and Senior Counselor to the Undersecretary of Science and Technology. In these roles he oversaw and executed SAFETY Act applications and approvals, enabling security capabilities at prominent and nationally significant venues, including sports stadiums, airports, ports, commercial facilities and urban transportation centers. Mr. Benda also established research agendas and budget priorities for new technologies and capabilities for DHS. He advocated numerous new technologies including state-of-the-art infrared cameras to assist the U.S. Coast Guard during off-shore search and rescue operations and development of a “walk through” advanced imaging technology capability that will dramatically increase throughput at airport security checkpoints. At DHS, he also served as Chief of Staff for Science and Technology and Acting Deputy Undersecretary, Science and Technology Directorate.

Prior to joining DHS, Mr. Benda held various roles in the Pentagon Force Protection Agency including leading the effort to develop a new Integrated Security Master Plan for the Pentagon Reservation, installation of physical security systems to protect the Pentagon and surrounding DoD facilities, and the design, development, and implementation of the Pentagon Shield Program which provides real-time detection and protection from chemical, biological, and radiological incidents. He has also worked as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and as a defense contractor at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Mr. Benda is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.