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Nuala O'Connor Kelly

Dept of Homeland Security

Nuala O'Connor Kelly was appointed Chief Privacy Officer of the Department of Homeland Security by Secretary Tom Ridge on April 16, 2003.

In this capacity, O'Connor Kelly is responsible for privacy compliance across the Department. Her responsibilities encompass assuring that the technologies used by the Department to protect the United States sustain, and do not erode, privacy protections relating to the use, collection, and disclosure of personal and Department information. The Privacy Office also has oversight of all privacy policy matters, including compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Freedom of Information Act of 1966 (as amended) , and the completion of Privacy Impact Assessments on all new programs, as required by the E-Government Act of 2002 and Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act. The Privacy Office also evaluates legislative and regulatory proposals involving collection, use, and disclosure of personal and Department information by the Federal Government.

Before joining the Department of Homeland Security, O'Connor Kelly served as Chief Privacy Officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce. While at Commerce, O'Connor Kelly also served as Chief Counsel for Technology, and as Deputy Director of the Office of Policy and Strategic Planning.

Prior to her beginning her government career, O'Connor Kelly served as Vice President-Data Protection and Chief Privacy Officer for Emerging Technologies for the online media services company, DoubleClick. O'Connor Kelly helped found the company's first data protection department and was responsible for the creation of privacy and data protection policies and procedures throughout the company and for the company's clients and partners. O'Connor Kelly also served as the company's first deputy general counsel for privacy.

O'Connor Kelly received her A.B. from Princeton University, a master's of education from Harvard University, and J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. She has practiced law with the firms of Sidley & Austin, Hudson Cook, and Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti in Washington, D.C. She is a member of the bar in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

Appearances

Biography last updated August 1, 2005