The George Washington University today made two announcements related to its safety and security team. Daniel J. Kaniewski, deputy director of The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute (HPSI), has been named interim associate vice president of safety and security, a position previously held on an interim basis by Erik Gaull, while the University continues an ongoing search for a candidate to fill the position on a permanent basis. In addition, GW Police Chief Dolores Stafford has announced plans to retire from law enforcement this academic year.
“After 25 years of distinguished service in law enforcement, Chief of the GW Police Department Dolores Stafford has informed the University of her intent to retire from active law enforcement,” said GW President Steven Knapp. “For some time, Chief Stafford had been contemplating retiring to pursue her consulting practice and her work with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. She has made clear her commitment to helping the University in the transition. The University has been well served by her professional and dedicated leadership of the GW Police Department and her nationally recognized expertise in campus law enforcement and the Clery Act. I thank her for her service to the George Washington community.”
Mr. Kaniewski brings to his interim position experience at the highest levels of disaster management, combined with operational experience as a firefighter and paramedic. A co-founder of the GW Homeland Security Policy Institute, Mr. Kaniewski spent three years serving in the White House under President George W. Bush, most recently as special assistant to the president for homeland security and senior director for response policy. He chaired the Domestic Readiness Group at the White House; managed the Presidential Disaster Declaration process; oversaw the development and approval of the National Response Framework and National Incident Management System; and traveled with the president aboard Air Force One to disaster sites around the country.
Following his White House service, Mr. Kaniewski re-joined HSPI in August 2008 and has focused on research and policy on incident management, emergency management and the homeland security policymaking process. He previously served as a congressional liaison for terrorism preparedness and consequence management at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and served as a homeland security fellow to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, where he conducted research on congressional coordination for homeland security. Mr. Kaniewski holds a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in emergency medical services from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, a Master of Arts degree with distinction in national security studies from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and is certified as a nationally registered emergency medical technician-paramedic.
“The George Washington University has already benefited greatly from the increased profile and strong reputation Dan has helped build for our Homeland Security Policy Institute. The GW community will now be able to benefit firsthand from Dan’s operational crisis management and emergency response skills and experience,” says John Williams, GW’s provost and vice president for health affairs.
Ms. Stafford has served the University as GW Chief of Police since 1992. At GW, she has been responsible for managing police and security services, including patrol, crime prevention, physical security, investigations and special operations. One of her biggest accomplishments while at GW was starting the Sexual Assault Crisis Consultation Team in 1992, and she has built a national reputation as an expert on campus law enforcement and the Clery Act.