Todd Levett

Last updated
Todd A. Levett
Born
Cleveland, Ohio
Occupation(s)Public Servant, Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor, Policy Strategist
Political party Democratic Party

Todd A. Levett (born April 19, 1983, in Cleveland, Ohio) was an American homeland security and foreign affairs advisor, public servant, and strategist based in Washington, DC. He died of brain cancer on October 30, 2014. [1]

Contents

Professional

Todd Levett served as a senior advisor at the U.S. State Department, working to reduce the impact of international crime on the United States and her citizens. Before joining the department in 2010, [2] Todd Levett served as a senior advisor to the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, led by the Committee Chairman, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS). The committee is one of two primary legislative bodies responsible for overseeing the development, management, and activities of the Department of Homeland Security and its resources. [3]

After his appointment to the Committee in October 2005, [4] Levett was tasked with carrying out a number of Congressional oversight responsibilities to review and enhance complex and sensitive national security policies shared by a number of Federal Departments and Agencies and their State counterparts.

He served as a policy advisor to Members of Congress on border security technology programs such as US-VISIT and SBInet, document and human authentication policies, and the biometric technologies that assure them. He was a foremost expert advising Committee Members on the shared responsibilities between the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security for domestic preparedness, response, and security—a policy space known as Homeland Defense and Defense Support for Civil Authorities. He was recognized by his peers as a thought leader on these issues in the Congress and worked closely with the National Guard Bureau, U.S. Northern Command, and State Guard Units to expand joint training opportunities and ensure a common operating picture with their civilian counterparts. Todd was responsible for initiating Congressional oversight hearings to examine preparedness and resourcing gaps plaguing military first responders and presenting solutions to fill them. [5] [6]

He also managed the committee's oversight portfolio for continuity of government matters, international security affairs, [7] and the protective operations of the United States Secret Service. [8] [9] Levett previously served as the committee's Deputy Communications Director responsible for the Chairman's strategic communication and press relations. [10] [11]

Before joining the committee, Todd worked as a leadership aide to U.S. House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO). He previously wrote for and helped to edit the NEXT feature section of the Cleveland Plain Dealer [12] and earlier still worked to develop media engagement and marketing strategies for musicians at TAL Entertainment [13] and for Elektra Records.

Todd was appointed to the advisory board of the Infragard National Member's Alliance, [14] [15] a public-private partnership between the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the private sector for infrastructure protection. He was also a member and Security Policy Fellow of the Truman National Security Project [16] [17] and served on its Board of Principals.

Education

Levett received his B.A. in Political Science from American University and completed graduate coursework in Homeland Security Leadership from the University of Connecticut. He was also selected to participate in the Fleet Seminar program for national security strategy operated by the U.S. Naval War College. Todd prepped at University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Todd Aaron Levett Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  2. ↑ Rogin, Josh (2010-01-07). "Names: House staffer moves to State's 'drugs and thugs' bureau". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  3. ↑ "About the Committee". The House Committee on Homeland Security. Archived from the original on 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  4. ↑ Reynolds, Matt (2006-04-17). "Thompson Adds to Homeland Security Staff". Roll Call. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-09-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ↑ "GAO Finds Insufficient Coordination and Synergy Between Northern Command and the Civilian Agencies it Supports". Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  6. ↑ "GAO: NORTHCOM Failing In Civil Support Mission". leahy.senate.gov. 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  7. ↑ "Congressional Delegation Reviewed International Security Cooperation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-12-14. Retrieved 2013-01-29.
  8. ↑ "Thompson Inquires on Candidate Protection". Committee on Homeland Security. 2013-02-22. Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  9. ↑ "Obama party crashers, the Salahis called to testify before House panel". Chicago Sun-Times. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  10. ↑ "Thompson Responds to Jackson Resignation". Committee on Homeland Security. 2007-09-24. Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  11. ↑ "Chairman Thompson Responds to Chertoff's "Gut Feeling"". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  12. ↑ "View TODD LEVETT's Obituary". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  13. ↑ "Executive Turntable: Todd Levett". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 23. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2001-06-09. p. 10. ISSN   0006-2510.
  14. ↑ "Advisory Board". InfraGard National Members Alliance. Archived from the original on 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  15. ↑ Alliance, InfraGard National Members. "InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA) Announces National Advisory Board". www.prnewswire.com.
  16. ↑ "In Memory of Todd Aaron Levett". Truman Center. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  17. ↑ "Inside Homeland Security – National Policy and Communications Briefing Call". Our Own Voices. 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
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