Join WashingtonExec For An Invitation-Only Breakfast Roundtable Discussion With Dr. Cedric Sims of DHS

Dr. Cedric Sims is the Executive Director of the Program Acountability and Risk Management Office (PARM) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Under Secretary for Management

Biography: As Executive Director, Dr. Sims leads efforts to promote better accountability of DHS acquisition investments and to mature the acquisition risk management process. This focus supports the enhancement of the DHS acquisition process through enhanced operational governance and vigilance over the department's tolerance for risk in the execution of $18 billion of acquisition investment programs. Dr. Sims's portfolio includes policy, governance, support services, program management certification and training, and risk management strategies related to program execution.

Since December 2010, Dr. Sims has been responsible for transforming the DHS Headquarters' acquisition program management roles and functions of the Acquisition and Program Management Division (APMD) and the Cost Analysis Division (CAD). In this role, Dr. Sims has led the merger of APMD and CAD's roles and functions to promote better accountability of DHS acquisition investments and to mature the acquisition risk process.

Dr. Sims was selected in May 2009 to serve as Executive Director of the Enterprise Business Management Office (EBMO) within the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). As Executive Director, Dr. Sims oversaw enterprise strategies for governance of $6.8 billion of IT investments across DHS. He developed and executed portfolio and program management strategies aligned with the DHS Enterprise Architecture and business processes for Capital Planning and Investment Control, departmental budget formulation and acquisition reviews.

Before joining DHS Headquarters, Dr. Sims served at the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) from 2001 until 2009. His Secret Service leadership experience includes assignments as Branch Chief of Network Management, DHS Senior Infrastructure Officer, and interagency communication coordination roles at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, G8 Summit in Sea Island, and various United Nations General Assemblies. In his last assignment, Dr. Sims was the key Secret Service leader responsible for defining, developing, and implementing a concept of future operations to provide context for investment decisions. Additionally, he facilitated the development of the Secret Service's first, portfolio-based, five-year budget that aligned with agency, departmental, and presidential objectives.

Driven by strong dedication to public service, Dr. Sims has more than 19 years of experience in systems engineering applied to law enforcement, transportation, and homeland defense pursuits. He has privately consulted with the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Federal Aviation Administration on data standards and real-time systems. From 1990 to 2000, Dr. Sims served in various management and research roles for the Texas A&M University System, including modernizing a Department of Defense command simulation system; promoting federal, state, and local interoperability through the Advanced Law Enforcement and Response Technology (ALERT) program; and developing algorithms for real-time systems.

Dr. Sims received a bachelor of science in Computer Science and a bachelor of science in Journalism from Texas A&M University. He also holds a doctorate in Engineering from Texas A&M University. Dr. Sims is a member of the Office of Personnel Management's Qualifications Review Board (QRB).