Naureen Rahman is an accomplished strategic leader with 25+ years advancing justice, trustworthy technology, humanitarian impact, and organizational growth across nonprofit, federal, and international sectors.
Expert in trustworthy technology solutions (AI/ML), philanthropy, public policy, and cross-sector partnerships.
As Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (joined 2007), she shaped and implemented pioneering policies for ethical technology adoption spanning AI/ML, multi-modal biometrics, and identity management. She is a true champion for civil rights, privacy, and cross-Agency reform. Naureen’s leadership has driven transformative reforms in immigration law, refugee protections, and humanitarian standards in partnership with U.S. and global bodies including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, State Department, and the United Nations.
Naureen is a trusted leader in high-visibility stakeholder engagement and large-scale organizational change. She brings deep expertise in cross-border legal immigration, IT modernization, digital transformation, and impartial adjudication for vulnerable populations.
Awards * Recognitions * Certifications
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Awards * Recognitions * Certifications *
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2024 Meritorious Service for Cross-Collaboration: Face Recognition/ Face Capture Directive
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2024 Champion of Equity
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2024 Artificial Intelligence Policy Award
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AFCEA: Federal Identity Forum 2024
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2023 Strategic Plan
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2023 OPEN, Washington, DC Annual Conference
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ACT/IAC Government Member 2022
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2019 Mason Harriman Group
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2020 Immigration & Customs Enforcement
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2010 Kukuma Refugee Camp, Kenya
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2007 U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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2006 Shimelba
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2006 University of Oxford
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Good Standing: 2000
KEY CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
Led the DHS AI Policy Working Group, authored and implemented government-wide policies on AI, face recognition, biometrics, and privacy safeguards, aligning technology adoption with civil rights objectives for 30+ executives.
Orchestrated the development and execution of two comprehensive 5-year DHS IT Strategic Plans and initiated major CIO and CTO organizational restructurings to optimize workforce and digital transformation.
Key contributor to USCIS immigration reform, advancing innovative policy changes that streamlined operations, strengthened national security, and enhanced service delivery for stakeholders.
Built robust cross-enterprise coalitions for acquisitions of $7B IT solutions as Vice Chair of the DHS Enterprise Architecture Board and ensured strategic alignment of IT and non-IT programs overseeing acquisition and integration of technology to advance organizational mission and goals.
Adjudicated complex asylum and refugee claims of persecution across 20+ countries, protecting vulnerable populations and upholding legal and humanitarian standards within international and federal sectors.
Senior Advisor
Office of the Chief Information Officer
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
2018 – 2025
Directed day-to-day operations for complex federal organization of 200+ employees and 4,000+ contractors, overseeing internal priorities relating to policy, programs, budget, finance, audits, acquisition and grants, and aligning executive team actions with strategic mission objectives and Presidential priorities.
Served as advisor to senior leadership, facilitating decision-making and implementation of groundbreaking organizational reforms to maximize impact and efficiency, introducing the DHS AI Corps of 50 officers.
Led and supervised senior executive working groups and cross-functional councils, including a 30-person AI Policy group; drove collaborative goal-setting and strategic planning across 26 DHS components.
Managed and streamlined the multimodal biometrics program as part of the Southwest Border Tiger Team, removing operational bottlenecks and driving innovation in identity management systems, while directly advising the DHS CIO.
Managed talent development, strategic multi-office gaps and requirements, performance measurement, and continuous institutional improvement initiatives, nurturing a high-integrity and accountable agency, implementing policies for Best Practices to Cloud Migration, Transfer to IPv6, and DHS Use of Open Source.
Chief
Enterprise Strategy & Alignment
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2017 – 2018
Built robust cross-enterprise coalitions by serving as Vice Chair of the DHS Enterprise Architecture Board, revitalizing and publishing the Enterprise Architecture Management Directive, and ensuring consistent alignment of IT and non-IT programs up to $7B with organizational mission and strategic goals.
Planned, directed, and evaluated technical risk, enterprise roadmap, operational landscapes, and synergy across the DHS Enterprise, while establishing rigorous standards to assess effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity for all major DHS projects, programs, and portfolios.
Led key governance functions as Principal Management Gatekeeper for the Joint Requirements Council; identified strategic gaps, initiated the creation of the Chief Data Officer position, and advanced DHS-wide program engagement through participation in Acquisition and Procurement Strategy Review Boards and Capital Planning (CPIC).
Spearheaded rebranding of the Chief Technology Officer Division to reinforce strategic alignment with DHS mission, proactively identified and mitigated risks, and developed compliance-focused policies and processes for effective HQ oversight and enterprise operations, and led the first-ever DHS CTO Council.
Championed performance management by delivering tools such as the first enterprise CONOPS, Strategic Plan, staffing models, and annual performance plans, enhancing transparency via a real-time performance dashboard and PowerBI scorecard reporting.
Special Assistant
Office of the Director
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
2013–2017
Provided counsel to the USCIS and Executive-level leadership, ensuring timely awareness and stakeholder engagement for critical organizational initiatives and reforms.
Collaborated on the development and implementation of groundbreaking immigration reform policies at USCIS, contributing strategic insights to streamline immigration processes, enhance national security, and strengthen organizational effectiveness through policy strategy and stakeholder engagement.
Launched the organization’s first USCIS performance management directorate, establishing institutional priorities and metrics for measuring program outcomes and operational effectiveness.
Orchestrated policy advocacy, stakeholder communication, and cross-departmental change management to advance human rights and equity-driven program goals.