Juliette N. Kayyem
Encyclopedia
Juliette N. Kayyem is a columnist at The Boston Globe
, writing about issues of national security and foreign affairs for the op-ed page. She is also a lecturer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard.
Prior to this, Kayyem was the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Homeland Security
. Kayyem has an extensive background in terrorism
and national security affairs. Prior to her federal position, she served as Massachusetts' first Undersecretary for Homeland Security, where she was responsible for developing statewide policy on homeland security, with a focus on preventing, protecting, responding to, and recovering from any and all critical incidents.
to Lebanese-Christian
parents, Kayyem graduated from Harvard University
with her Bachelor's degree in 1991 and later from Harvard Law School
with a Juris Doctor
degree in 1995.
litigating cases as a trial attorney. Eventually, she became a Special Assistant, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and then a legal advisor to the Attorney General
Janet Reno
. From 1999-2000, Kayyem served as former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt's appointee to the National Commission on Terrorism
, a Congressionally mandated review of how the government could better prepare for the growing terrorist threat. Chaired by L. Paul Bremer
, that Commission's recommendations in the year 2000 urged the nation to recognize and adapt to the growing tide of terrorist activity against the United States.
board of directors, and Faculty Co-Chair, Dubai Initiative
.
Since 2001, Kayyem has been a resident scholar at the Belfer Center, serving both as Executive Director of the Kennedy Schools Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness, a terrorism and homeland security research program, and as co-Director of Harvard's Long-Term Legal Strategy for Combating Terrorism. She also taught courses on law and national security.
appointed Juliette N. Kayyem Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Kayyem has been directed by Secretary Napolitano to integrate the interactions between various Department of Homeland Security components and state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) government entities to ensure that these entities receive more effective assistance in meeting homeland security missions.
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
, writing about issues of national security and foreign affairs for the op-ed page. She is also a lecturer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard.
Prior to this, Kayyem was the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
. Kayyem has an extensive background in terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and national security affairs. Prior to her federal position, she served as Massachusetts' first Undersecretary for Homeland Security, where she was responsible for developing statewide policy on homeland security, with a focus on preventing, protecting, responding to, and recovering from any and all critical incidents.
Early life and education
Born in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to Lebanese-Christian
Christianity in Lebanon
Christianity in Lebanon has a long and continuous history beginning with the visits of Jesus to the southern territories, where he is said to have performed many miraculous healings. Biblical Scriptures reveal that Peter and Paul evangelized the Phoenicians, whom they affiliated to the ancient...
parents, Kayyem graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
with her Bachelor's degree in 1991 and later from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1995.
Legal career
Kayyem began her legal career as a civil rights attorney at the United States Department of JusticeUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
litigating cases as a trial attorney. Eventually, she became a Special Assistant, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and then a legal advisor to the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
. From 1999-2000, Kayyem served as former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt's appointee to the National Commission on Terrorism
National Commission on Terrorism
The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century , also known as the Hart-Rudman Commission or Hart-Rudman Task Force on Homeland Security, was chartered by Secretary of Defense William Cohen in 1998 to provide a comprehensive review of US national security requirements in the 21st century...
, a Congressionally mandated review of how the government could better prepare for the growing terrorist threat. Chaired by L. Paul Bremer
L. Paul Bremer
Lewis Paul "Jerry" Bremer III is an American diplomat. He is most notable for being the U.S. Administrator to Iraq charged with overseeing the country's occupation after the 2003 invasion. In his role as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, he reported primarily to the U.S. Secretary of...
, that Commission's recommendations in the year 2000 urged the nation to recognize and adapt to the growing tide of terrorist activity against the United States.
Kennedy School of Government
As of fall 2011, Kayyem has returned to the Kennedy School as a lecturer in Public Policy. She is a former member of the Belfer Center for Science and International AffairsBelfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is a permanent research center located within the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The center's current director is political scientist Graham T. Allison....
board of directors, and Faculty Co-Chair, Dubai Initiative
Dubai initiative
The Dubai Initiative is a joint venture between the Dubai School of Government and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University...
.
Since 2001, Kayyem has been a resident scholar at the Belfer Center, serving both as Executive Director of the Kennedy Schools Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness, a terrorism and homeland security research program, and as co-Director of Harvard's Long-Term Legal Strategy for Combating Terrorism. She also taught courses on law and national security.
Department of Homeland Security
On March 5, 2009 United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet NapolitanoJanet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano is the third and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She is the fourth person to hold the position, which was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the 21st...
appointed Juliette N. Kayyem Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Kayyem has been directed by Secretary Napolitano to integrate the interactions between various Department of Homeland Security components and state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) government entities to ensure that these entities receive more effective assistance in meeting homeland security missions.
Personal
Kayyem is married to David Barron, a Harvard University law professor and formerly Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel. They have one daughter and two sons.Nonfiction
- First to Arrive: State and Local Responses to Terrorism (with Robyn L. Pangi). The MIT Press, September, 2003 ISBN 0-262-11281-7
- Protecting Liberty in an Age of Terror (with Philip Benjamin Heymann). The MIT Press, September 2005. ISBN 0-262-08343-4