Mr. John Boyd

Assistant Director
Office of Biometric Identity Management, DHS

Profile

John M. Boyd serves as the Assistant Director of the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). OBIM is the lead entity within DHS for biometric identity management services. Leading the Futures Identity team, Mr. Boyd’s responsibilities include overseeing science and technology activities related to biometrics and identity services, standards development, and executing special projects with interagency and international partners, industry, and academia. He brings to DHS the skills, knowledge, and experience accumulated over 40 years of continuous service across five careers.
As OBIM’s Chief Science Officer and Scientific Integrity Officer, he is the principal advisor on scientific issues overseeing the implementation and improvement of scientific integrity policies and processes.
As a civilian, Mr. Boyd has held varied roles, including line manager for ECS Federal, LLC, leading an Agile software development team focused on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Combined DNA Index System software. He also served as a program manager for Battelle Memorial Institute, supporting both Joint Staff J-8 and then Navy Headquarters Staff in the field of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense as well as anti-terrorism and force protection. Additionally, Mr. Boyd managed highly hazardous chemical plants for several companies across the United States.
Prior to OBIM, Mr. Boyd served as the Director, Defense Biometrics and Forensics, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics/Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Department of Defense. Mr. Boyd conducted Secretary of Defense Principal Staff Assistant-level responsibilities for oversight of all aspects of the defense biometric and forensic enterprise.
As a Captain in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Boyd served on active duty as the Director, Naval Identity Management, on the Secretary of the Navy staff. He collaborated with numerous Government departments in advancing technologies, policies, and human factors to improve the application of digital identities. Captain Boyd drove development of a handheld biometric device supporting Navy, Marine Corps, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service operational needs. Previously, he commanded two Naval Reserve units, including the Navy Headquarters Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education.
Mr. Boyd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Virginia Military Institute, Master of Science degree in Operations Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force from 1982 to 1994 and in the U.S. Navy Reserve until 2012.

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