Innovative problem solving and science and technology have always been among Jay M. Cohen’s strong points:

Early in his naval career he mastered Nuclear Power Training and later commanded a nuclear submarine. He followed that with stints as a senior member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet; command of a major surface ship, Director of the Navy Y2K Project Office; and Chief of Naval Research. At DHS, Rear Admiral Cohen assumed responsibility for evaluating, procuring, and coordinating the department’s science and technology assets as well as responsibility across the 22 components of DHS for test and evaluation. He will provide the same kind of insightful scientific and technological expertise to clients of Chertoff Group – expertise that goes far beyond typical recommendations for the application of both proven technology and cutting-edge solutions. Starting in 2000, as Chief of Naval Research, Rear Admiral Cohen was the Department of the Navy’s Chief Technology Officer in wartime, responsible for the Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology Program to rapidly meet combat technology needs.

Rear Admiral Cohen received his commission as an ensign in 1968 after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. He holds a degree in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a Master of Science in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from MIT.

Expertise

• Science and technology research, development, testing, and evaluation
• Mission/customer-focused commercial, academic, laboratory, government and international defense and homeland technology transfer, application and government/private procurement including Safety Act Protection
• Explosives, Chem/Bio, Interoperability/Cybersecurity, Border/Maritime Security, Human factors/Psychology of terrorism, Infrastructure Protection/Geophysical Effects mission needs and solutions
• Risk-informed decision-making and interagency technology coordination

Previous Government and Military Service

• Under Secretary for Science and Technology, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2006 – 2009)
• Chief of Naval Research, Department of the Navy (2000 – 2006)
• Director, Navy Y2K Office (1999-2000)
• Deputy Chief of Navy Legislative Affairs (1993-1997)