Daniel Cotter Email & Phone Number

Washington D.C.

Principal Director of the Office of Science and Technology (OSE), Science & Technology Directorate, DHS. OSE is responsible for a broad range of functions supporting homeland security innovation. This includes technology scouting and transition planning for S&T research and development programs, as well as subject matter expert support to research program managers, requirements validation, systems engineering, standards, and test and evaluation resources. OSE works closely with S&T research laboratories, Department of Energy and Department of Defense laboratories, Federal Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), a broad range of universities, and performers from the private sectors.

Washington, D.C.

Director of the First Responders Group (FRG) in the Science and Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Lead programs for first responder advanced personal protective equipment, communications interoperability, incident information sharing, situational awareness, and disaster resiliency. Coordination with international partners through bilateral and other agreements. Designed and oversee the Flood Apex research program and the Next Generation First Responder Apex Program, with the ultimate goal of creating technologies required to support a first responder of the future: PROTECTED, CONNECTED AND FULLY AWARE.

Washington, D.C.

As Director, Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC), First Responders Group (FRG), Science & Technology, lead research and development programs for public safety voice and data interoperability, incident management information sharing, and alerts warnings and notifications (AWN). Oversaw OIC programs for Project 25 Land Mobile Radio (LMR) governance and standards compliance testing. This included managing research programs to develop solutions for bridging LMR and Long Term Evolution (LTE) communications to support public safety interoperability needs and FirstNet. Worked with practitioner groups to improve video and audio quality in public safety through the Video Quality in Public Safety Working Group.Developed and implemented research programs to increase public safety capabilities for incident information sharing, including through use of advanced geospatial, visualization, situational awareness, knowledge management, location based services, context aware applications, and big data technologies and concepts. Managed the vUSA and the Next Generation Incident Command System (NICS) programs. Oversaw the Virtual Social Media Working Group, developing public safety research needs and guidance, including the Super Storm Sandy After Action Report. Conducted information sharing exercises, including with Canadian government partners, and prepared after action reports and lessons learned documentation. Oversaw AWN research programs focused on the delivery of relevant, timely, effective, and targeted alert messages to mobile devices. This included research into geo-targeted alerts. Developed the Geospatial Interoperability Reference Architecture with the FGDC, PM-ISE and other partners. Supported EXDL, CAP, and other standards activities.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Executive Director of the Office of Applied Technology (OAT). Managed a portfolio that included information sharing, enterprise architecture, enterprise data management, geospatial information technologies, identity, credentialing and access management, the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Program Management Office, the Homeland Security Information Network, and the DHS Common Operational Picture. Provided governance, coordination and mission support through key executive steering committees, boards, working groups, and program management offices. Designated as the DHS Senior Agency Official for Geospatial Information. Chairman of the CUI-SBU Working Group of the Program Manager – Information Sharing Environment. DHS Emergency Response Official. Executive Sponsor for the DHS Collaboration as a Service initiative. DHS Management representative to the Interagency Remote Sensing Coordination Cell. Accomplishments included delivery of a solution to the DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer for the issuance of HSPD-12 compliant personal identity verification badges to all DHS employees and contractors; deployment of that DHS Common Operating Picture 3.3 to the National Operations Center (winner of 2012 Government Computer News Top Ten Federal IT Projects Award); completion of National GeoCONOPS version 4.0, including validation through the 2011 National Level Exercise in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (GeoCONOPS recognized by AFCEA and GCN awards in 2012); implemented the use of remotely sensed land cover data to objectively and efficiently steer DHS investments in new mapping requirements, including the FEMA Risk Map program; establishment of the Patriot Watch program to detect and share information with law enforcement and intelligence communities for purposeful interference with GPS signals.

Washington, Dc

Directed the DHS Geospatial Management Office in supporting homeland security law enforcement, intelligence, emergency management, and critical infrastructure / key resources protection missions. Deployed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to direct the Hurricane Katrina / Rita Joint Field Office Geospatial Intelligence Unit in fall 2005. Lead internal and external coordination and governance of homeland security geospatial programs including representation of DHS to the Federal Geographic Data Committee and acting as Chair of the DHS Geospatial Working Group. :Established DHS Enterprise License Agreements for geospatial software. Stoodup the DHS Geospatial Information Infrastructure (GII) shared services environment. Developed the DHS Positioning, Navigation and Timing Interference Detection and Mitigation Plan, coordinated with Federal agencies, White House staff, and approved by the President of the United States. Initiated the Homeland Security Geospatial Concept of Operations.

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Lead the Geospatial Information Technologies (GIT) practice. Developed Integrated Emergency Management Plans for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deployment of Biological Detection Systems for the detection of anthrax in the mail stream. Program Manager for the USPS Postal Emergency Management System (PEMS). PEMS included a mobile solution for the role-based access to key emergency response information. Quality Assurance manager for work products prepared for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Hazard Mitigation Technical Assistance Program (HMTAP). Managed the development of state-wide all hazards mitigation plans. Supported automation of flood insurance study hydrologic and hydraulic analyses through applications of GIT.

The Woodlands, Texas

President and CEO of TerraPoint, LLC, a jointly owned business unit of Transamerica and the Houston Advanced Research Center, providing digital terrain mapping services using advanced airborne Light Detection and Ranging Systems (LIDAR). Developed corporate business plan for start-up, arranged financing, and managed all aspects of initial stand up. Deployed one of the first commercial airborne LIDAR units operating in the world. Operated in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Developed customized LIDAR products to support a wide range of applications, including for flood hazard studies, geologic studies, forestry, transportation, telecommunications, ortho-imaging, environmental studies, electric power line catenary mapping, building shape and footprint extraction, and tree canopy mass estimation. Mapped over 100,000 sq. km. Opened satellite office in Calgary, Canada. Managed company until divestiture by Transamerica and HARC in 2002.

Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey

Transamerica Flood Hazard Certification (TFHC) provided flood zone determination services, based on interpreting FEMA flood maps, for mortgage lenders, insurance companies and other customers. Created and implemented the vision to reengineer TFHC from primarily a manual, paper-based operation, to an automated environment based on leading edge GIS, database, and electronic records interchange technologies. Over a three year period raised automation rates to over 80%, increasing capacity by 400%, and reduced costs by 50%. Cut order fulfillment times from days to hours. Increased product quality and accuracy. Worked directly with leading banks and insurance companies to customize products to meet their unique requirements and assure service levels.

Washington, Dc

Initially joined FEMA as a Hydraulic Engineer, with primary responsibility to manage FEMA Flood Insurance Studies, appeals of Base Flood Elevations, and amendments / revisions to FEMA flood maps for regions 4, 5 and 7. Developed streamlined methods that reduced the time and cost to process flood map amendments and revisions. Piloted the use of airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems to collect digital terrain data required for flood insurance studies.As Senior Technical Advisor introduced the use of geospatial information systems (GIS) to automate flood insurance study and flood map production and maintenance. Implemented the first use of GIS technologies to support FEMA response and recovery operations. Stood up the FEMA Mapping and Analysis Center. As part of the Hurricane Andrew response, established first on-site geospatial operation at a Disaster Field Office. Implement the use of geospatial information technologies to support multiple disaster recovery, mitigation, individual assistance and public assistance programs, including for Hurricane Andrew, the Northridge Earthquake and the 1993 Midwest Floods.

Engineer Topographic Laboratories, Ft. Belvior, Virginia

Performed interdisciplinary military terrain studies. Developed methodologies and guidelines for the production of water resources terrain analyses to support military operations. Introduced use of Landsat MSS imagery to support terrain analysis studies.

Washington, Dc

Completed three year internship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Assignments at USACE headquarters, field and research units. Supported USACE response to Mt. St. Helens and Hurricane Frederick. Management team member for the 1980 Atlantic Remote Sensing Land-Ocean Experiment (ARSLOE 80). Supported USACE remote sensing research program, collected data for ice jam research and hydraulic modeling, performed flood insurance study hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, and water resource program management.

Miami,Florida

Performed water resources investigations and data collection throughout the south Florida area. Prepared groundwater surface elevation maps, constructed stream gages, and interpreted geology at drill sites.

Reston, Virginia

Part time student employment; digitized land use and land cover maps; air photo interpretation.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Hydrology

Graduate Certificate, Executive Certificate For Chief Information Officers

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Administration And Management, General

Associate Of Arts And Sciences (A.A.S.), Computer Information Systems

Master Of Science (M.S.), Geographic And Cartographic Sciences