Daniel J. Kaniewski is Deputy Director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) at The George Washington University. Mr. Kaniewski's previous homeland security experience in the executive and legislative branches, as well as at the local level, makes him uniquely qualified to analyze the homeland security policymaking process.

At GW Mr. Kaniewski manages HSPI programs, interacts with federal officials from the executive and legislative branches and coordinates homeland security initiatives throughout the university. In addition to his HSPI role, he is also the Executive Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness at the GW Medical Center and Program Officer for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Weapons of Mass Destruction Infrastructure Experts Team.

He previously served as a Congressional Liaison for Terrorism Preparedness and Consequence Management at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). At FEMA Mr. Kaniewski worked closely with members of the House of Representatives on the FEMA portion of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Prior to 9/11 Mr. Kaniewski served as Homeland Security Fellow to Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He subsequently served in the same capacity to Congressman J.C. Watts (R-OK), Chairman of the House Republican Conference. During his fellowships he conducted research on congressional coordination for homeland security, ultimately proposing the House Select Committee on Homeland Security in June 2001. Mr. Kaniewski published his research and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert subsequently created the Select Committee on Homeland Security for the 108th Congress. He continues to write on the need for congressional coordination for homeland security, 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. Mr. Kaniewski currently serves as a member of the CFSI National Advisory Committee.

Mr. 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.