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NCS Names New Chief of Staff

Arlington, VA. October 1, 2007 - The National Communications System announced today that it is naming Allen F. Woodhouse as the organization’s Chief of Staff.

Allen F. Woodhouse,
Chief of Staff of the NCS

In this role, Mr. Woodhouse will assist the NCS Director in developing and implementing policies and procedures designed to secure and enhance the resiliency and restorability of the Nation’s critical communication infrastructures, networks, and systems against all hazards and threats.

For Mr. Woodhouse, the assignment marks the second time he’s served with the NCS, but the first time since the NCS moved to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In 1994, Mr. Woodhouse – then an Army signal officer – served as the NCS Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Program Manager where he was responsible for the supervision, training, activation and deployment of 49 Reserve officers geographically dispersed throughout the United States to handle national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications issues.

Following a year as a Team Chief in the Defense Information Systems Agency/Manager, NCS Director’s Group, Mr. Woodhouse moved to the NCS front office in June 1996, where he served for a year as the Executive Officer, responsible for implementing policy guidance of the NCS Deputy Manager in direct support of NS/EP communications for the Federal Government.

Prior to his return to the NCS, Mr. Woodhouse worked for the Department of the Army as a Senior Systems Analyst in the office of the Chief Information Officer. While there, Mr. Woodhouse was responsible for Information Portfolio Management for the Enterprise Information Environment Mission Area (EIEMA). He was responsible for identifying redundant and stove-piped information systems, and making recommendations for their elimination where appropriate.

Additionally, Mr. Woodhouse provided guidance, oversight, and direction to four EIEMA domain managers to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of their efforts to register all information technology investments in the Army Portfolio Management Solution system, and determine redundant capabilities.

A career military officer in the Army’s Signal Corps, Mr. Woodhouse served his country from September 1979 until December 2006, retiring as a Colonel. During that time, he served in a variety of communications command and staff positions in the United States, 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 military command was of the brigade responsible for training all Army Signal Corps enlisted personnel including public affairs, journalists and combat camera specialists.

Mr. Woodhouse also gained national security and emergency preparedness experience while serving in the Army. He served as the Deputy Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) for the Commonwealth of 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.

Mr. Woodhouse holds a bachelor of arts degree in History from Norfolk State University; a masters degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg (Pa.) University, and a masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, located in Carlisle, Pa.

The National Communications System coordinates the planning for and provision of national security and emergency preparedness communications for the Federal government under all emergency circumstances. The NCS administratively falls under DHS’ Office of Cyber Security and Communications – part of the National Preparedness and Programs Directorate.

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