Bruce M . Lawlor Major General ( Retired ) Bruce M . Lawlor ( born January 24 , 1948 ) is a retired United States Army officer . He is prominent as the first commander of Joint Task Force - Civil Support . In addition , he was one of five White House staff members who wrote the plan to create the Department of Homeland Security , and he was the first DHS Chief of Staff . Early life and service in Vietnam . Bruce Michael Lawlor was born in Bellows Falls , Vermont on January 24 , 1948 , and graduated from Vermont Academy in 1966 . He briefly attended the United States Military Academy before transferring to George Washington University , from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in political science in 1970 . While attending West Point Lawlor was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency . Trained as a Vietnamese linguist , he was a member of the Phoenix Program and served in South Vietnam from 1971 to 1973 as the leader of a counter - terrorism team . In 1974 Lawlor received a direct commission in the United States Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer . Lawlor received his law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1975 and started a practice in Springfield , Vermont . Political career . A Democrat , Lawlor was a legal advisor to Governor Thomas P . Salmon . In 1980 Lawlor won election to the Vermont House of Representatives . He served two terms , 1981 to 1985 . In 1984 Lawlor won the Democratic nomination for Vermont Attorney General and lost the general election to Jeffrey L . Amestoy . Continued military career . In 1979 Lawlor transferred his military membership to the Vermont Army National Guard . Initially assigned as the intelligence officer in an Armor battalion , Lawlor became qualified in the Armor branch and advanced through command and staff positions including : commander of the 86th Armored Brigade ' s 1st Battalion 172nd Armor Battalion ; commander of the 86th Brigade ; Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander , Europe ; and Assistant Division Commander of the 42nd Infantry Division . In 1986 he graduated from the Command and General Staff College . In 1996 Lawlor received a Master of Science degree in National Security Studies from Norwich University as part of the Army War College ' s Senior Service College Fellowship Program ( SSCF ) . In addition , he attended the National Security Fellows Program at Harvard University ' s John F . Kennedy School of Government . Later military career . From May 1998 to October 1999 Lawlor served as Deputy Director for Operations , Readiness and Mobilization in the Army ' s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans . From October 1999 until October , 2001 Lawlor was commander of Joint Task Force - Civil Support , the first individual assigned to this position . In this assignment Lawlor oversaw creation of the Civil Support Team concept , an initiative that enables the National Guard to play a greater role in responding to domestic terrorism than has historically been allowed since the passage of the Posse Comitatus Act . Lawlor retired from the military in November , 2003 . Military awards and decorations . General Lawlor ' s awards and decorations include : Continued governmental career . Shortly after the September 11 , 2001 terrorist attacks , Lawlor joined the White House staff to help plan and coordinate the response as Senior Director for Protection and Prevention in the Office of Homeland Security . While in this position Lawlor was one of the chief creators of the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security . When DHS was officially founded in March , 2003 Lawlor was named its first Chief of Staff , serving until November , 2003 . In 2003 Lawlor earned a Doctor of Science degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University . Post governmental career . Since leaving DHS Lawlor has continued his involvement in national security affairs through both academia and private business , including : Member of the Board of Advisors for the Global Panel Foundation ; Member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council ( HSAC ) ; Chief Executive Officer of Centuria Corporation ; Distinguished Service Professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology ; Professor at the George Washington University ; Instructor at the Army War College ; and Director of the Center for Technology , Security , and Public Policy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ; Advisory Board Member for Patron Systems , Inc . ; and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Community Research Associates , Inc . He currently resides in Arlington , Virginia .