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NCS Leadership - Biographies

Deputy Under Secretary, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Director, National Cybersecurity Center Manager, and NCS Manager - Philip R. Reitinger

NCS Director and Deputy Manager - James J. Madon
NCS Chief of Staff – Allen F. Woodhouse
NCS Branch Chief, Technology and Programs Branch – Richard Bourdon
NCS Branch Chief, Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch - Jeff Glick
NCS Branch Chief, Plans and Resources Branch - James G. Bittner, Jr.
NCS Branch Chief, Government-Industry Planning Management Branch - Michael Echols




Deputy Under Secretary, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Director, National Cybersecurity Center Manager, and NCS Manager - Philip R. Reitinger

Philip R. Reitinger was appointed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano to serve as the Deputy Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) on March 11, 2009. In this role, Reitinger leads the Department’s integrated efforts to reduce risks across physical and cyber infrastructures. He oversees the coordinated operational and policy functions of the Directorate’s subcomponents, which include Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C), Infrastructure Protection (IP), Risk Management and Analysis (RMA), and the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program.

On June 1, 2009 Reitinger became the Director of the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC), which is charged with enhancing the security of federal networks and systems by collecting, analyzing, integrating and sharing information among interagency partners. In this role, Reitinger is responsible for coordinating situational awareness and reporting for federal cybersecurity organizations and personnel.

On November 19, 2009, Reitinger became the 19th Manager of the National Communications System (NCS). The NCS is a consortium of 24 Federal Departments and Agencies responsible for the coordination of the planning for and provision of national security and emergency preparedness communications for the Federal government under all circumstances, including crisis or emergency, attack and recovery and reconstitution.
As Deputy Under Secretary for NPPD and Director of NCSC, Reitinger provides strategic direction to the Department’s cybersecurity efforts while ensuring preparedness and response capabilities across all federal computer systems.

Prior to joining DHS, Mr. Reitinger was the Chief Trustworthy Infrastructure Strategist at Microsoft Corporation. In that role, he worked with government agencies and private sector partners to enhance cybersecurity and infrastructure protection.

In November 2001, Mr. Reitinger became the Executive Director of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Cyber Crime Center, which provides electronic forensic services and supports cyber investigative functions at DOD. Before joining DOD, Mr. Reitinger was Deputy Chief of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section at the U.S. Department of Justice. At the Department of Justice, Mr. Reitinger chaired the G8 subgroup on High Tech Crime.

Reitinger has represented government and industry on critical information technology and security initiatives throughout his career, including the Industry Executive Subcommittee of the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), where he chaired the Next Generation Networks Task Force. He was the first Chairman of the Software Assurance Forum for Excellence in Code (SAFECode), the President of the Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC), and a member of the Executive Committee of the IT Sector Coordinating Council (IT SCC). Mr. Reitinger was a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Advisory Council and the Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He was also a member of the CSIS Commission on Cybersecurity, which developed recommendations for the 44th Presidency.

Reitinger holds a law degree from Yale Law School and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Vanderbilt University.


James J. MadonNCS Director and Deputy Manager - James J. Madon

James J. Madon is the Director and Deputy Manager of the National Communications System in the Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for the day-to-day policy, technical, and programmatic oversight in coordination of all Federal government-wide activities in national security and emergency preparedness communications. He became the NCS Director and Deputy Manager on April 28, 2008.

In addition, Mr. Madon was invited on October 2, 2009 to serve on the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), a federal advisory committee established to provide recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure optimal security, reliability and interoperability of communications systems. This includes public safety and media communications.

Mr. Madon’s experience includes development of force control applications and base level data processing for the Air Force Strategic Air Command. While at Bell Laboratories, he focused on telecommunications development, system engineering and governmental projects.

Mr. Madon received his first patent while at Bell Laboratories. He served as an Engineering Manager at Motorola, working a wide variety of areas ranging from wireless data, analog and digital trunking, cellular [time division multiple access (TDMA) and code division multiple access(CDMA)], and in wireless research on cognitive radio topics. He received his second patent for a self synchronizing wireless pilot-less protocol while at Motorola. He was a Director of Call Center Technology at Ameritech, and a product manager at Alcatel-Lucent for 3rd Generation wireless products. He received his third patent for a method and apparatus for detecting the reduction in capacity for CDMA cellular systems while at Lucent.

Mr. Madon was recalled to active duty in response to the September 11 events and retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves with over 30 years commission service. From March 2005 through April 2008, he served as the Program Executive for Regulatory and Domestic Affairs with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters in Washington.

Mr. Madon was born in a suburb of Chicago, entering the U.S. Air Force in 1973 after receiving his commission through the Reserve Officers Training. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., a Master of Arts from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.



Allen F. WoodhouseNCS Chief of Staff - Allen F. Woodhouse

Allen F. Woodhouse became the Chief of Staff, National Communications System (NCS) on October 1, 2007. He plays a critical role in assisting the NCS Director to develop and implement policies and procedures designed to secure and enhance the resiliency and restoration of the Nation’s critical communication infrastructures, networks, and systems against all hazards and threats.

Prior to joining the NCS, Mr. Woodhouse worked for the Department of the Army as a Senior Systems Analyst in the office of the Chief Information Officer/G6, where he was responsible for Information Portfolio Management for the Enterprise Information Environment Mission Area (EIEMA). In that position he was responsible for identifying redundant and stove-piped Information Systems, and making recommendations for their elimination where appropriate. Additionally, he provided guidance, oversight, and direction to four EIEMA Domain Managers to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of their efforts to register all IT investments in the Army Portfolio Management Solution system, and determine redundant capabilities.

From September 1979 until December 2006, Mr. Woodhouse served as a career military officer in the Army’s Signal Corps, retiring as a Colonel in December 2006. During that time he served in a variety of communications command and staff positions in the U.S., Germany and the Middle East. As a commander he provided tactical and strategic communications for combat operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and the Gulf War.

His last command was of the Brigade that is responsible for training all Army Signal Corps enlisted personnel including public affairs, journalists and combat camera specialists.

He also gained national security and emergency preparedness experience while serving in the Army. He served as the Deputy Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) for Pennsylvania from 1992 to 1994. While there he wrote the DCO plan to support Pennsylvania’s Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), and coordinated military and PEMA training exercises. In 1994, Mr. Woodhouse was assigned to the NCS as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Program Manager where he was responsible for the supervision, training, activation and deployment of 49 Army reserve officers who were geographically dispersed throughout the United States. From June 1996 until June 1997 he served as the Executive Officer of the NCS, responsible for implementing policy guidance of the Deputy Manager, NCS in direct support of national security and emergency preparedness communications for the Nation.

Mr. Woodhouse holds a B.A. degree in History from Norfolk State University; a Masters degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, and a Masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.



Richard Bourdon, Chief of Technology and Programs BranchNCS Branch Chief, Technology and Programs Branch– Richard Bourdon

Richard Bourdon became the Chief of Technology and Programs, National Communications System (NCS) on February 15, 2009. He plays a critical role in assisting the NCS Director to develop and implement policies and procedures designed to secure and enhance the resiliency and restoration of the Nation’s critical communication infrastructures, networks, and systems against all hazards and threats.

Prior to joining the NCS, Mr. Bourdon worked for the Defense Information Systems Agency as the Chief of the Commercial Satellite Services Branch, where he was responsible for leasing commercial satellite bandwidth for the Department of Defense and other government agencies.

He also gained national security and emergency preparedness experience while serving at the DISA, during Operation Enduring Freedom where he orchestrated the first satellite links to backhaul, some of the first Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) video to the Commander at Central Command for preparing battle plans, receiving the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his efforts. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation, for outstanding achievement in the acquisition fields.

From April 1969 until May 1992, Mr. Bourdon served as a career military enlisted communicator in the Navy, retiring as a Master Chief Radioman. During that time he served in a variety of communications positions both shipboard and ashore, worldwide. His last position being on the Navy Staff, Satellite Branch, where he wrote and staffed the mission need statement and drafted the first budget submittal for the Navy’s Commercial Satellite Program.

After retiring from the Navy, Mr. Bourdon worked at COMSAT, and other commercial companies prior to Joining the DISA in October 2000.

Mr. Bourdon graduated from the University of Southern California in 1985 in Computer Systems Applications.



Jeff GlickNCS Branch Chief, Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch - Jeff Glick

Jeffrey Glick is the Chief of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch in the National Communications System within the Department of Homeland Security managing operations for the NCS. Specifically, he oversees: The National Coordinating Center for communications – a government –communications industry coordination center and 24x7 Watch; The Operations Analysis Team providing communications analysis and assessments for response and special events; The Training and Exercise Team developing and implementing training and exercise activities for Federal emergency communications response teams; and, the Planning Team focusing on the development of planning documents and materials for emergency communications response and recovery. The Branch is also responsible under the National Response Framework for emergency communications response coordination (Emergency Support Function #2).

Before coming to the NCS, Mr. Glick worked at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security where he was Chief of the Policy and Plans Section in the Response and Recovery Directorate. He was responsible for revisions to the Federal Response Plan and for coordination between FEMA and the emergency response plans and operations maintained by other Federal Departments and Agencies. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Glick was Chief of the Assessment Branch, Preparedness, Training and Exercise Directorate. He supervised design, development and maintenance of a comprehensive emergency management assessment program in close coordination with Federal, state and local governments. He also directed the development and implementation of a comprehensive set of standards for all-hazard emergency preparedness, response and recovery. During his time at FEMA, Mr. Glick served on numerous emergency teams and as the Emergency Support Team Director for a number of nationally declared disasters.

Mr. Glick is currently a PhD student in Crisis, Emergency and Risk Management, Department of Engineering and Systems Management, George Washington University. He has received an MA in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University and an MA in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago.



James G. Bittner, JrNCS Branch Chief, Plans and Resources Branch - James G. Bittner, Jr.

Mr. James G. Bittner, Jr. is the Chief, Plans and Resources Branch for the National Communications System. He joined the National Communications System in 1993 as Chief, Financial Management Office (FMO), an office within the Plans and Resources Division. The NCS FMO is responsible for planning, programming and budgeting activities for the Office of the Manager, NCS. Activities include identifying resources required to accomplish the OMNCS mission and creating and coordinating documentation through the appropriate channels and ultimately to Congress for appropriation of funds.

Mr. Bittner was born and reared in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Gordon, Georgia; Nha Trang and Saigon, Vietnam; and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as a supervisory communications center specialist from 1965 to 1968, after which he attended George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in June 1972, and a Masters of Business Administration degree, also from George Mason University, in June 1976, with a concentration in accounting and financial management.

Mr. Bittner joined the Defense Communications Agency in the Resource Management Office, National Military Command System Support Center (NMCSSC) in June 1972. His career in the agency followed a path of increasing responsibility and expertise. He worked in the Plans Division, Command and Control Technical Center, translating Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense requirements and estimating costs required into plans for fulfilling the requirements. Next, he served as Contracting Officer’s Representative on the TRW general support contract, monitoring contractor performance to ensure fulfillment of agency mission needs.

Mr. Bittner then served as Program Element Monitor for Program Element. 32017K -- Worldwide Military Command and Control System (WWMCCS ADP). He moved to the WWMCCS System Engineering Organization (WSEO) as Chief, Programs Division to oversee planning, programming and budgeting for the WSEO budget. After consolidation of the financial management functions of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Mr. Bittner was moved to the Defense Communications Systems Organization Financial Management Organization (FMO).

After several years in that position, Mr. Bittner moved into the position as Accounting and Finance Officer at DISA, controlling day to day accounting of all DISA financial resources, and paying over $1.5 million of DISA accounts payable daily. In April 1993, Mr. Bittner moved into the NCS.

After consolidation of the NCS into the Department of Homeland Security in February 2003, Mr. Bittner was temporarily detailed into the Business Office, Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate (IAIP), Department of Homeland Security to help establish planning, programming and budget execution processes and procedures. He returned to the NCS in July 2004.



Michael Echols</span>NCS Branch Chief, Government-Industry Planning Management Branch - Michael Echols

Michael Echols became the Chief of the Government-Industry Planning and Management Branch, National Communications System (NCS) on May 11, 2009. He serves a critical function for the Office of the Manager, NCS in coordinating the broad array of Presidential advisory and sector partnerships, policy issuances, as well as the NCS’ public affairs and outreach components. In this role, he chairs the Communications Sector’s Communications Government Coordinating Council (CGCC), and the Network Security Information Exchange. Additionally, Mr. Echols manages overall support to the Committee of Principals (COP) and the President’s National Security Telecommunication Advisory Committee (NSTAC).

Mr. Echols has over 21 years of telecommunications security and engineering experience. Prior to joining the NCS as a Federal employee, Mr. Echols advised and served the NCS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on matters related to critical infrastructure protection and national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications. Most recently with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mr. Echols supported the NCS as a Special Assistant to the NCS Director and Chief of Staff. Previously, he served as the Communications Sector subject matter expert for ICF International. In this capacity, Mr. Echols focused on the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, acted as the facilitator for Federal, State and local pandemic exercises, and served as a subject matter expert on interoperable communications programs. Mr. Echols conducted research for the DHS Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), the Homeland Security Institute (HSI) from 2004-2005. At HSI, he engaged in research and analysis of the vulnerability of the Communications Sector, vulnerability of the global positioning system (GPS), and the low-altitude electromagnetic pulse threat.

Mr. Echols began his Federal career as a Program Analyst for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2002. At TSA, he developed solutions to help mitigate terrorist threats against transportation infrastructure and represented TSA in security preparations for National Security Special Events. Mr. Echols successfully designed, deployed, and managed terrorist mitigation strategies using wireless systems. His work focused on using smartphones to improve interoperability between Federal, State, and local security partners.

Mr. Echols is a former telecommunications business owner and telecommunications consultant with program management, central office engineering, and field engineering experience. He has managed initiatives for most major telecommunications carriers to include a national deployment of Dense Wavelength Divisional Multiplexing (DWDM) systems, National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) system upgrades, and Federal Telecommunications Service (FTS)-2000 vendor transition.

Mr. Echols is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where he earned multiple degrees, including a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters of Science in Biotechnology, a Graduate Certificate in Technology Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He also played football with the University of Maryland as a member of several Atlantic Coast Championship and “Bowl” teams. Mr. Echols brings a team approach into the management of Government-industry partnerships to efficiently engage stakeholders and work with partners to reduce risk across the Communications Sector. He came to Maryland from The Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware.


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