DHS Leadership Overhaul: Key Appointments Across Homeland Security Agencies

Two months into her role as Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem and her staff are beginning to fill key leadership openings for the third-largest federal agency in the U.S.

As the next generation of DHS leaders take on their new roles, they will look to support the Trump administration’s goals for national security, which include an increased focus on immigration law enforcement and cybersecurity. This article will highlight the announcements of new DHS leaders over the last week.

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DHS

1. James Percival has been nominated as General Counsel for DHS, bringing significant legal and policy expertise from both state and federal government roles. If confirmed, he will be the top legal advisor for DHS, overseeing policies on immigration, cybersecurity, and homeland security operations. Percival previously served as Chief of Staff for Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and held positions as Deputy Attorney General of Legal Policy and Chief Deputy Solicitor General for Florida. His experience includes serving on the First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission and the State Retirement Commission, appointments made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Before his tenure in Florida, Percival worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he advised senior officials.

2. Matthew Kozma has been nominated to serve as the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A seasoned expert in intelligence and cybersecurity, he previously served as Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Intelligence Community during the Trump administration, where he led efforts to modernize IT infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity, and improve intelligence-sharing. In his new role, Kozma would oversee DHS’s intelligence operations, facilitating threat information sharing across federal, state, and local agencies to address domestic and international security risks. His career includes leadership positions in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, where he played a key role in cyber operations, including the DoD’s Unified Platform and Joint Cyber Command and Control.  

CISA

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) defense critical American infrastructure and works with industry partners to build more resilient cyber and physical infrastructure in the states.

Sean Plankey has been nominated as the new Director of CISA, bringing decades of experience in cybersecurity, national security, and government leadership. His career spans service in the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy, where he led cyber operations, including offensive missions in Afghanistan. He later held key cybersecurity roles at BP, the National Security Council, and the Department of Energy, where he co-authored the National Maritime Cyber Security Plan in 2020.

As CISA director, Plankey will be responsible for rebuilding trust with industry and Congress, refocusing the agency on risk reduction, and strengthening defenses against adversaries like China. With anticipated structural changes and potential workforce reductions, his leadership will be critical in defining CISA’s future. His nomination will be reviewed by the Senate Homeland Security Committee in the coming weeks. 

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USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the DHS arm for administering the country's naturalization and immigration system. The Trump administration has recently tapped Joseph Edlow to be USCIS Director. Edlow previously served as Deputy Director for Policy and later as Acting Director at USCIS during the last Trump administration, where he gained extensive experience in immigration adjudications and humanitarian efforts.

His background includes roles as Chief Counsel at USCIS, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the DOJ, and counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee. From 2022 to 2024, he was a Visiting Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, focusing on immigration policy. If confirmed, Edlow will be responsible for directing USCIS operations, including visa processing, naturalization, and asylum applications. 

ICE

On March 9, Secretary Noem announced key leadership changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with the goal of reinforcing accountability and operational effectiveness. Those include:  

1. Todd Lyons will serve as Acting ICE Director. A veteran of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Lyons brings decades of experience, including leadership roles overseeing ICE field offices and border operations.

2. Madison Sheahan has been appointed Deputy Director of ICE. Sheahan, previously Louisiana’s Secretary of Wildlife and Fisheries, has a background in law enforcement collaboration and policy leadership, including advisory roles for Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. 

CBP

Susan S. Thomas has been appointed Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner (aEAC) for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Trade. With 30 years of experience at CBP, she brings extensive expertise in cargo security, trade enforcement, and operational strategy.

Previously, Thomas served as Executive Director for Cargo and Conveyance Security, overseeing key programs like the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and cargo-related penalties enforcement. She has also held leadership roles at CBP’s Los Angeles Field Office, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and the National Targeting Center Cargo Division, where she played a crucial role in strengthening trade oversight and cargo security.

Thomas now leads CBP’s Office of Trade, focusing on enforcing U.S. trade laws and ensuring fair trade practices. 

FEMA

Colt Hagmaier has taken on the role of Chief Counsel (A) at FEMA, bringing nearly two decades of experience in federal disaster response and recovery law.

Before this, he served as FEMA’s Assistant Administrator for Recovery, overseeing a workforce of about 10,000 employees, managing a $150 million budget, and directing over $15 billion in annual grants. His leadership extended to major claims programs, including the $4 billion Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Claims Office. Over his 13 years at FEMA, he has held multiple senior leadership roles, such as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Recovery and Associate Chief Counsel for Response and Recovery, where he provided legal oversight on disaster operations and litigation. He also played a critical role in FEMA’s COVID-19 response and executive orders during the pandemic. In 2021, he served as Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, advising on emergency management issues, including the COVID-19 response, Operation Allies Welcome, and humanitarian efforts at the Southwest Border. Outside FEMA, he has been an ex officio member of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and previously led Harvard University’s Emergency Management Program.