U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowGovernment Website**Official websites use .gov**
              
                              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Safely connect using HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock**
                (A locked padlock)
                or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  
 Menu

      close
        
                            Enter Search Term
                Search
      Topics
      
                
  
          Topics


      
        Topics
    
    
              Border Security
      
    
              Citizenship and Immigration
      
    
              Cybersecurity
      
    
              Disasters
      
    
              Election Security
      
    
              Homeland Security Enterprise
      
    
              Human Trafficking
      
    
              Immigration and Customs Enforcement
      
    
              Preventing Terrorism and Targeted Violence
      
    
              Resilience
      
    
              Science and Technology
      
    
              Trade and Economic Security
      
    
              Transportation Security
      
    
              News
      
                
  
          News


      
        News
    
    
              All DHS News
      
    
              Apps
      
    
              Blog
      
    
              Comunicados de Prensa
      
    
              Data
      
    
              Events
      
    
              Fact Sheets
      
    
              Featured News
      
    
              Homeland Security LIVE
      
    
              Media Contacts
      
    
              Media Library
      
    
              National Terrorism Advisory System
      
    
              Press Releases
      
    
              Publications Library
      
    
              Social Media
      
    
              Speeches
      
    
              Subscribe
      
    
              Testimony
      
    
              In Focus
      
                
  
          In Focus


      
        In Focus
    
    
              Addressing Climate Change
      
    
              Artificial Intelligence at DHS
      
    
              Cybersecurity
      
    
              Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
      
    
              Honoring Veterans
      
    
              Migration and Borders
      
    
              Operation Allies Welcome
      
    
              Recognizing DHS Excellence
      
    
              Uniting for Ukraine
      
    
              How Do I?
      
                
  
          How Do I?


      
        How Do I?
    
    
              Alphabetical Listing
      
    
              At DHS
      
    
              For Businesses
      
    
              For Travelers
      
    
              For the Public
      
    
              Get Involved
      
                
  
          Get Involved


      
        Get Involved
    
    
              #BeCyberSmart
      
    
              Blue Campaign
      
    
              Citizen Corps
      
    
              If You See Something, Say Something®
      
    
              Know2Protect
      
    
              Nationwide SAR Initiative
      
    
              REAL ID
      
    
              Ready.gov
      
    
              Stop the Bleed
      
    
              US Coast Guard Auxiliary
      
    
              About DHS
      
                
  
          About DHS


      
        About DHS
    
    
              Budget & Performance
      
    
              Contact Us
      
    
              Employee Resources
      
    
              History
      
    
              Homeland Security Careers
      
    
              In Memoriam
      
    
              Laws & Regulations
      
    
              Leadership
      
    
              Mission
      
    
              Organization
      
    
              Priorities
      
    
              Site Links Breadcrumb
Home
  Leadership
  Richard D. McComb

     About DHS
                
      Budget & Performance
                
                    
      
      Contact Us
                
                    
      
      Employee Resources
                
                    
      
      History
                
                    
      
      Homeland Security Careers
                
                    
      
      In Memoriam
                
                    
      
      Laws & Regulations
                
                    
      
      Leadership
                
                    
      
      Mission
                
                    
      
      Organization
                
                    
      
      Priorities
                
                    
      
      Site LinksRichard D. McComb
Reporting to the Under Secretary for Management, Richard McComb was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and position of Chief Security Officer (CSO) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security effective April 3, 2016.

In his role as CSO, Mr. McComb is responsible for security-related programs affecting the more than 235,000 DHS employees that make up the Department. Designated as the Senior Agency Official by the DHS Secretary, Mr. McComb has oversight authorities over all DHS security programs, including those undertaken at all DHS Components. He exercises department-wide security program authorities in the areas of personnel security, physical security and investigations, administrative security, insider threats, identity management, special access programs, and security training and awareness. As Chair of the CSO Council, Mr. McComb partners with all his counterparts in the DHS Components to lead a highly collaborative and uniquely decentralized security program designed to safeguard the Department’s people, property, information, and systems.

Prior to coming to DHS, Mr. McComb served as the Director, Leased Facilities Protection Directorate, Pentagon Force Protection Agency. In this capacity, Mr. McComb had overall responsibility for force protection, security, law enforcement, and emergency management functions for all Department of Defense (DoD) leased and DoD occupied facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR), excluding the Pentagon Reservation. He was the senior security advisor to the Director, Pentagon Force Protection Agency regarding the policies, systems, and procedures designed to ensure the protection of the nearly 22,000 DoD employees occupying the 64 leased facilities located throughout the NCR.

Mr. McComb served over 27 years in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer from which he retired in 2015 as a Colonel. During this time, Mr. McComb held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility including key security and law enforcement staff duty in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Headquarters Air Force, where he served as the Associate Director of Security Forces. He has served as a Chief of Security Forces four times at the installation level and once at the Major Command level. Mr. McComb also served as the Installation Commander of Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, one of only 12 DoD joint bases providing full-service installation support for military airlift and sealift operations, 53 multi-service organizations and a base population of more than 40,000 people.

Mr. McComb holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbus State University, a Master of Arts in Administrative Management with a public sector concentration from the University of Maryland University College, as well as a Masters in Military Operational Art and Sciences from Air University and a Masters in National Security Strategy from the National War College, National Defense University. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy.

    Last Updated: 11/15/2021
  
Was this page helpful?
  Yes
NoThis page was not helpful because the content
  has too little information
has too much information
is confusing
is out-of-date Return to top

           Topics
      
    
                  News
      
    
                  In Focus
      
    
                  How Do I?
      
    
                  Get Involved
      
    
                  About DHS
                            
        U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal
      
    DHS.gov
                  An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityAbout DHS
                              Accessibility
                              Budget and Performance
                              DHS Components
                              FOIA Requests
                              No FEAR Act Data
                              Privacy Policy
                              Site Links
                              Office of Inspector General
                              The White House
                              USA.gov

                        Looking for U.S. government information and services?
                Visit USA.gov