Newswise — The following member of The George Washington University Medical Center community is available to comment on topics regarding disaster preparedness and how the general public can prepare for and respond to an emergency during the Inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Daniel Kaniewski
Mr. Kaniewski served on the White House staff from July 2005 to August 2008, most recently as Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Response Policy. Just one month after joining the White House, he witnessed first hand the failed response to Hurricane Katrina. He then served as a co-author and editor of the White House report The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. Following the publication of this report, he worked to improve the nation's response capabilities and advised the President and White House senior staff during domestic incidents (including both man-made and natural disasters). He chaired the Domestic Readiness Group at the White House; managed the Presidential Disaster Declaration process; oversaw the development and approval of the National Response Framework and National Incident Management System; and traveled with the President aboard Air Force One to disaster sites.
Kaniewski re-joined The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) in August 2008, having previously served as the HSPI Deputy Director from 2002-2005. Kaniewski's current research interests include incident management, emergency management, and the homeland security policymaking process, including the structure and functions of the Homeland Security Council and National Security Council. His op-ed "Not Your Father's FEMA" recently appeared in The Washington Times.
Earlier in his career he was a Congressional Liaison for Terrorism Preparedness and Consequence Management at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Prior to 9/11, Kaniewski served as Homeland Security Fellow to members of the U.S. House of Representatives where he conducted research on congressional coordination for homeland security. He published his research and proposed a House Select Committee on Homeland Security in June 2001. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert subsequently created the Select Committee on Homeland Security for the 108th Congress. Kaniewski continues to speak about and write on the need for congressional coordination for homeland security, with multiple op-eds on the topic having been featured in such publications as Roll Call and The Washington Times.
From 1996-2000 he utilized his experience as a firefighter and paramedic to assist policymakers as Emergency Medical Services Advisor to the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating members of Congress on fire and EMS issues.
Prior to and following his White House service, Kaniewski has appeared live on national television networks including Fox News Channel and PBS, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Washington Times, Congressional Quarterly and Roll Call.Kaniewski holds a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in Emergency Medical Services from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, a Master of Arts degree with distinction in National Security Studies from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and is certified as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from The George Washington University.
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