Nitin Natarajan

Nitin Natarajan serves as the Deputy Director for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as of February 14, 2021. In this role, he supports the CISA Director overseeing the Cybersecurity Division, the Infrastructure Security Division, the National Risk Management Center, and the Emergency Communications Division. His operational support responsibilities are to ensure a holistic approach to critical infrastructure protection across physical and cyber risks activities.

Prior to joining CISA in February 2021, Natarajan was a Director at Avantus Federal in the Homeland Security and Federal Civilian markets. He led the development of partnerships and strategic expansion of Avantus’ federal civilian and homeland security efforts. He also served as an advisor on a variety of homeland security related issues including critical infrastructure resilience, countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD), health security, emergency management, and continuity of operations.

Previously, Natarajan led a practice at an international consulting firm focused on health security and provided subject matter expertise on continuity of operations, environmental emergency management, public health, and homeland security matters. Natarajan also held a number of roles in federal government including serving as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of Critical Infrastructure Policy at the White House/National Security Council, and as the Director at U.S. Health and Human Services overseeing their critical infrastructure, continuity of operations (COOP), and medical logistics programs.

Natarajan started his career spending 13 years as a first responder in New York including service as a flight paramedic. He was the Commander of a federal medical response team, based in New York, and has extensive experience deploying to natural and man-made disasters throughout the nation.

He holds an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York and a graduate degree from the United States Naval Postgraduate School.