Dr. Richard D. Amburgey serves as the Department of Justice Chair and a faculty member at the National War College, National Defense University. He brings 31 years of private-sector, military, and federal experience in homeland defense, national resilience, continuity of government, critical infrastructure protection, and interagency operations.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Amburgey served six years as a Master-at-Arms and Special Agent in Charge in CONUS and OCONUS assignments, completing 92 dignitary protection operations supporting flag officers, Members of Congress, Cabinet officials, and President George W. Bush. Following military service, he was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow and served across the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Labor. His experience includes international law enforcement capacity building with DOJ's International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program and homeland defense analysis addressing border and cyber security, transnational criminal organizations, critical infrastructure, strategic deterrence, and U.S. defense capabilities. He later served eight years as FEMA Region V Chief Regional Security Officer, became the Bureau of Labor Statistics' first Chief Security Officer, and currently serves as Chief Security Officer for the
DOJ Antitrust Division.
Dr. Amburgey's research focuses on governance resilience, leadership, continuity, institutional knowledge, and federal mission continuity during crisis and disruption. He has taught and advised federal executives, military officers, and international officials since 2012. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of Arizona Global Campus, a master's degree in criminology from Valparaiso University, and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Excelsior College. His executive education includes Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the Harvard Kennedy School, and he is a DHS Fellow.
Dr. Amburgey and his wife, Christy, have four children and two grandchildren. They enjoy traveling and exploring new restaurants together.
FUNCTIONAL EXPERTISE: Homeland Defense, National Resilience, Continuity of Government, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Interagency Operations, Leadership
Continuity
REGIONAL EXPERTISE: North America, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe