Press Releases

WASHINGTON – The Chertoff Group announced today five key additions to its leadership team. These individuals bring to the Chertoff Group vast expertise and decades of highly specialized experience in bio defense, cyber security, intelligence, border and transportation security, risk management, and emergency management.


Chertoff Group additions include:

• Dr. Jeffrey Runge, former Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Mr. Larry Castro, former National Security Agency (NSA) Representative to DHS and the agency’s Coordinator for Homeland Security Support

• Dr. Gary M. Shiffman, Professor of Security Studies at Georgetown University and former Chief of Staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• Dr. J. Bennet Waters, former Deputy Assistant Administrator at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Chief of Staff at DHS’ Office of Health Affairs

• Mr. Nathaniel T. G. Fogg, former Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Counselor to the Administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

“This is an exciting time for the Chertoff Group, and I’m thrilled about the latest additions to our team,” said former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. “The reality is that global economic conditions can impact the ability of businesses and governments to prepare for and respond to myriad modern hazards, ranging from cyber threats and terrorism to natural disasters and pandemics. By expanding the depth and breadth of the intellect and resources available to our clients, we will be uniquely positioned to assist them at a time when they need it most.”

These individuals join a highly seasoned leadership team that includes General Michael V. Hayden, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency; Paul A. Schneider, former DHS Deputy Secretary; Charles E. Allen, former DHS Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis; Rear Admiral Jay M. Cohen, former DHS Undersecretary for Science & Technology; and Chad C. Sweet, former DHS Chief of Staff.

Complete bios and additional information is available at: www.chertoffgroup.com.





Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Principal, was the first Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, where he led the reorganization of bio defense operations into a then newly established Office of Health Affairs, and was responsible for coordinating medical preparedness efforts across the federal government and with the private sector.

Prior to joining DHS in 2005, Dr. Runge served for four years as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Until 2001 he practiced and taught in North Carolina’s busiest emergency department and trauma center, while performing research in injury prevention, trauma care, and emergency service delivery.

Dr. Runge is a graduate of the University of the South and holds a medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He is board certified in emergency medicine and has published over 60 articles in various medical literature publications.

Areas of Focus:

• Bio defense strategy and countermeasures

• Medical preparedness and emergency medical care

• Road transportation safety

• Injury prevention and control

Mr. Larry Castro, Managing Director, brings to the Chertoff Group more than four decades of experience at the National Security Agency and with the Army Security Agency. Most recently, Mr. Castro served concurrently as the NSA's Central Security Service Representative to DHS and the agency's coordinator for Homeland Security Support. In those capacities, he was responsible for providing Signals Intelligence Information, Information Assurance and Computer Network Operations advice to DHS leadership, along with the delivery of NSA products and services, such as cryptologic support.

During his NSA career, Mr. Castro served in Research and Engineering, Signals Intelligence and Information Assurance organizations. His assignments included Chief of Research and Development in the National Computer Security Center, leading the Defensive Information Operations Groups, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Communications, Command and Control, and Intelligence.

Mr. Castro earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also holds an Engineering degree from George Washington University. Mr. Castro is a graduate of the Infantry Basic Officers Course, the Army Security Agency Basic Officers Course, the National War College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Seminar XXI Program in Foreign Politics and National Interest. He was appointed as an Adjunct Faculty Member of the U.S. Army War College in 2008.

Areas of Focus:

• Information assurance and cyber security

• Federal, state and local government information sharing

• Intelligence support for crisis and special event management

• General intelligence community matters

Dr. Gary M. Shiffman, Managing Director, is a decorated combat veteran and director of the Homeland Security Program at Georgetown University’s Center for Peace and Security Studies. He is a former Senior Vice President and General Manager at L-3 Communications, where he developed diversification strategies that turned around a $100 million business unit. In addition, he has considerable experience in venture capital and successfully growing start-up companies.

Dr. Shiffman served as Chief of Staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where he led several border security and trade facilitation initiatives, including the Secure Border Initiative working group. He also served as a National Security Advisor for the U.S. Senate, assisting with Defense Department policy, planning and operations.

Dr. Shiffman is a highly-regarded and published economist known for his perceptive application of economics in relation to homeland security. He holds both a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from George Mason University, an M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Areas of Focus:

• Terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime

• Border security and facilitation

• Emergency/incident management and institutional resiliency

• Business growth in challenging markets

• Global economic trends and national/homeland security

Dr. J. Bennet Waters, Director and Chief Operating Officer, joins the Chertoff Group after more than three years at DHS, where his responsibilities included intelligence and operations support of border and transportation security activities, emergency management efforts, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Secret Service. During his tenure, Dr. Waters served as Counselor to the Deputy Secretary, Deputy Assistant Administrator of TSA, and Chief of Staff for the Office of Health Affairs.

Prior to joining DHS, Dr. Waters spent more than a decade in the private sector, holding various strategic, financial and operational roles. He was President and Chief Operating Officer of Piedmont Healthcare Management Group, Inc., Vice President of Business Operations for the Metrolina Health Initiative, and Administrative Director of the Carolinas Medical Center Emergency Department. In addition to his role at Chertoff Group, Dr. Waters is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management of the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina

Dr. Waters earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with Honors, in Medical Ethics from Davidson College; a Master of Public Health, with a concentration in Health Law, from the Boston University School of Public Health; and a Doctorate in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. He has published extensively on bio security, emergency preparedness and disaster management.

Areas of Focus:

• Bio security and chemical/biological terrorism

• Global security, crisis and risk management strategy, implementation and execution

• Strategic advice on mergers, acquisitions and private equity investments

• Health informatics and information security, healthcare reform, and medical and public health preparedness and response

Mr. Nathaniel T. G. Fogg, Director and Chief Financial Officer, joins the Chertoff Group after serving at FEMA as Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Counselor to the Administrator. In those roles, Mr. Fogg was instrumental in restructuring the agency and improving response and recovery capabilities in the wake of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Fogg was deeply involved in the development and execution of successful evacuation and sheltering plans for Louisiana and Texas during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008, as well as numerous other effective responses to natural disasters and emergencies around the country.

Mr. Fogg was a management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, prior to his tenure at FEMA, where he provided corporate and government clients with advice on IT security, enterprise risk management and business continuity planning. He also served as a Homeland Security Policy Analyst for the U.S. Senate.

Mr. Fogg is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served as a Damage Control Assistant aboard the USS Cole, where he helped train the crew that saved the ship from sinking following the terrorist attack in Aden, Yemen. In addition, Mr. Fogg was an Operations Officer onboard a destroyer in the Arabian Gulf after the 9/11 attacks.

He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Yale University.

Areas of Focus:

• Emergency preparedness, response and recovery

• IT security, supply chain resilience and enterprise risk management

• Strategic advice on mergers, acquisitions and private equity investments

• Business continuity and pandemic planning