Kathy Kraninger currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy (Screening Coordination) at the Department of Homeland Security, managing the Screening Coordination Office (SCO). The SCO mission is to strengthen homeland security by enhancing screening processes and technologies, in order to facilitate legitimate travel and trade, ensure individual privacy and redress opportunities, and deter, detect, and deny access to and withhold benefits from those who pose a threat to the U.S. As such, the SCO is responsible for establishing an overarching business architecture for DHS people screening and credentialing programs and for supporting delivery of key Secretarial priorities within that portfolio. As the first SCO employee, Ms. Kraninger successfully established the office, hired its staff and introduced the SCO mission to its stakeholders both internal and external. Under Ms. Kraninger’s leadership, the department launched the one-stop redress process for travelers through DHS TRIP, integrated its approach to passenger pre-screening, and has made progress toward implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Previously, Ms. Kraninger was a Professional Staff member for Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Her portfolio with the Committee included transportation security, port security, screening programs, privacy and science and technology. She has worked as a Policy Advisor to both Secretary Ridge at the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Mineta at the Department of Transportation. Ms. Kraninger graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University and received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine.

Immigration, Center for immigration studies, Center for Immigration Studies (CIS.org),