Michael Chertoff

EXCLUSIVE
  • U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (2005-2009)
  • Founder, Data Equilibrium Project to address the gap between privacy and national security
  • Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, The Chertoff Group
  • Former Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division

Michael Chertoff is a renowned security expert whose extensive experience includes serving as the second Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  He founded the Data Equilibrium Project to explore data protectionism and the gap between privacy and national security.  He is also co-founder and executive chairman of The Chertoff Group, a security and risk management firm where he provides high-level strategic counsel to corporate and government leaders on issues from risk identification and prevention to preparedness, response and recovery.

 


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Past Hosts Include:
  • University of Idaho
  • Africa21
  • Louise Blouin Foundation
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
  • Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
  • Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center
  • CACI International Inc.
  • Center for National Policy
Rave Reviews About Michael Chertoff
It was a great success! CNP was pleased to welcome former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff for a wide-ranging off-the-record discussion on the major challenges he faced in office from 2001- 2008, as well as those that will be confronted by DHS in the future. Chertoff began by laying out what he feels is the core mission of the Department of Homeland Security: keeping dangerous people out of the country, keeping dangerous things out of the country, protecting and hardening our infrastructure and having plans for effective response in place in the event of a disaster occurring. He spoke about the efforts made towards achieving these goals while he was at DHS...He also spoke about three remaining and emerging threats that will be faced by the current administration...Chertoff also answered questions on effective organization and management of DHS, the Congressional oversight of DHS and how it could be improved, and the importance of information sharing between federal, state and local officials.

Virtual Keynote - A Perspective on Digital Privacy and Security | U. of Wisconsin-Madison [1:42:24] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Michael Chertoff
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Terror's Continuing Threat

Americans should be grateful that al-Qaida and other terrorist groups have not succeeded in attacking this country since Sept. 11, 2001. But gratitude should not lead to complacency. According to MICHAEL CHERTOFF, the threat of a terrorist attack "has not abated ... and we can't turn the page on it. ...

Americans should be grateful that al-Qaida and other terrorist groups have not succeeded in attacking this country since Sept. 11, 2001. But gratitude should not lead to complacency. According to MICHAEL CHERTOFF, the threat of a terrorist attack "has not abated ... and we can't turn the page on it." Terrorists will continue to try to damage the United States over the next five years in a number of ways. Secretary Chertoff assesses the threats facing our country and talks about what is being done to foil terrorist plots.

Data Protectionism and National Security

The balance between privacy and national security has been a major debate, most intensely since the attacks of 9/11.  Chertoff founded the Data Equilibrium project to explore legislation and policy to protect our nation and our privacy.  In this speech, MICHAEL CHERTOFF discusses the challenges the ...

The balance between privacy and national security has been a major debate, most intensely since the attacks of 9/11.  Chertoff founded the Data Equilibrium project to explore legislation and policy to protect our nation and our privacy.  In this speech, MICHAEL CHERTOFF discusses the challenges the need for one poses to the other and what we can do as a society and what we can expect from our government.

Cyber-Security and Our Economic Infrastructure

With respect to terrorism, the cyber-security threat could have a potentially serious impact on the safety and well-being of American citizens. The most publicized threats to U.S. cyber-security are from people hacking into systems, but Secretary MICHAEL CHERTOFF asserts the U.S. needs to be prepare ...

With respect to terrorism, the cyber-security threat could have a potentially serious impact on the safety and well-being of American citizens. The most publicized threats to U.S. cyber-security are from people hacking into systems, but Secretary MICHAEL CHERTOFF asserts the U.S. needs to be prepared to deal with a full spectrum of threats, including individuals compromising systems from within and the security of supply chains. While chemical, IT, and banking and finance sectors face a particular concern about the collateral consequences of a cyber-attack, Secretary Chertoff identifies a systematic strategy for dealing with reducing, if not eliminating cyber-security issues for business and industry.

Emerging Security Threats for the Next Decade

Based on the speaker’s extensive involvement in homeland security, this speech explores non-state security threats over the decade to come. The speech discusses dangers posed by: Al-Qaeda and allied organizations; Hezbollah and Iran; the problematic relationship between terror groups and anti-Americ ...

Based on the speaker’s extensive involvement in homeland security, this speech explores non-state security threats over the decade to come. The speech discusses dangers posed by: Al-Qaeda and allied organizations; Hezbollah and Iran; the problematic relationship between terror groups and anti-American governments in South America; transnational criminal groups such as MS-13; and the increasing threat of drug cartels in Mexico. MICHAEL CHERTOFF also covers current National Security and Homeland Security strategies, and addresses security challenges posed by foreign investment in sensitive domestic industries (based on the speaker’s experiences as a member of the U.S. Commission on Foreign Investment in the United States). Finally, the speech will focus on vulnerabilities in a global environment, including supply chain disruption and cyberwarfare.

Risk and Crisis Management in the Coming Decade

From the standpoint of a senior official involved in managing many of the major crises since 2001, this speech explores strategies for managing risk and addressing crises. The speech draws upon the speaker’s experiences as Head of the Department of Justice Criminal Division and as U.S. Secretary of ...

From the standpoint of a senior official involved in managing many of the major crises since 2001, this speech explores strategies for managing risk and addressing crises. The speech draws upon the speaker’s experiences as Head of the Department of Justice Criminal Division and as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security in managing the responses to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and subsequent plots (including the 2006 UK airline plot); the Enron and corporate accounting scandals; and natural disasters from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, as well as the California wildfires; and Midwestern flood and tornadoes. MICHAEL CHERTOFF describes lessons learned in terms of preparedness; resiliency and response in exceptionally high-profile media environments, covering questions such as: “How much preparation is enough? What is the role of the private sector? How do we decide when our information flow is disrupted? How do we maintain credibility with the government, stakeholders and the public?

Solving the Immigration Crisis

Legal and illegal migration is one of the most significant international issues in the 21st century, and certainly is a durable public issue in the United States. This speech explains the roots and effects of the current controversy over illegal immigration. Based on the speaker’s experiences as Sec ...

Legal and illegal migration is one of the most significant international issues in the 21st century, and certainly is a durable public issue in the United States. This speech explains the roots and effects of the current controversy over illegal immigration. Based on the speaker’s experiences as Secretary of Homeland Security in designing the currently successful Secure Border Initiative and in negotiating the 2007 bi-partisan Senate comprehensive immigration proposal, this speech provides an inside look at the policies, practicalities and politics of one of the salient public policy issues of the decade. The speech will analyze what worked and what didn’t in the 2007 comprehensive immigration bill and suggests a likely way forward. It analyzes likely trends in enforcement, and the prospects for increased legal immigration, especially for high-skilled workers. Based on MICHAEL CHERTOFF’s experiences with international counterparts, this speech will also put immigration in the larger context of global migration.

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Michael Chertoff is a foremost authority on security 

Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and Co-Founder of The Chertoff Group MICHAEL CHERTOFF is a renowned, trusted security expert. Frequently sought-out to provide high-level strategic counsel to corporations, governments and media on issues ranging from risk identification and preparedness, to the latest threats in cyber security, to effective response and recovery, Chertoff has addressed audiences around the world. His latest book, Exploding Data: Reclaiming Our Cyber Security in the Digital Age was an instant #1 Bestseller on Amazon, and offers a fascinating, informative and crucial exploration of today's cyber security threats. A compelling call for action on how we need to rethink the balance of privacy and security in the digital age, Chertoff's book received rave reviews as Chertoff has been in-demand to shed light on his research on CBS' This MorningNPRCNNYahoo Finance, and more. He shares his expertise in his HSToday column. Chertoff provides substantive and engaging commentary on today's top digital security threats and issues-- from Facebook's use of data collection, to recent high-profile hacks-- drawing on his extensive cyber-security expertise working for the government and at the helm The Chertoff Group. When he addresses audiences, Chertoff consistently receives stellar reviews such as: "Your keen insights and demonstrated understanding of the dangers we face and the adversaries we must guard against provided a sobering reminder of what must be done to protect our nation. Your participation in and support for the symposium was invaluable in furthering our understanding..." (CACI International Inc.), and "From reading the evaluations, you were a big hit and your message was exactly on point. I also want to thank you for being so courteous to my staff and our guests. Thanks again for your stellar performance" (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners). 

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Biography

Michael Chertoff is co- founder and executive chairman of The Chertoff Group, a security and risk management firm, where he provides high-level strategic counsel to corporate and government leaders on a broad range of security issues, from risk identification and prevention to preparedness, response and recovery. He contributes a column to HSToday, America’s source for homeland security news.

As the 2nd Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Chertoff strengthened our nation’s borders, provided intelligence analysis and infrastructure protection, increased the Department’s focus on preparedness ahead of disasters, and implemented enhanced security at airports and borders. Following Hurricane Katrina, Chertoff transformed FEMA into an effective organization.

Prior to his nomination by President George W. Bush, Mr. Chertoff served as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Earlier, during more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, he investigated and prosecuted cases of political corruption, organized crime, corporate fraud and terrorism – including the investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Chertoff also served as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1990-1994 and as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice Williams Brennan, Jr. from 1979-1980.

Mr. Chertoff has received numerous awards including the Department of Justice Henry E. Petersen Memorial Award (2006); the Department of Justice John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation (1987); NAACP Benjamin L. Hooks Award for Distinguished Service (2007); European Institute Transatlantic Leadership Award (2008); and two honorary doctorates.