Kenneth Rapuano Named New Deputy Under Secretary for Counterterrorism

5/20/2003

From: Bryan Wilkes of the U.S. Department of Energy, 202-586-7371

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has named Kenneth Rapuano to be deputy under secretary of energy for counterterrorism. He will report to Linton Brooks, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Department of Energy (DOE) under secretary for nuclear security.

In the new position, Rapuano will coordinate counterterrorism policy in NNSA as well as the rest of DOE. He will also serve as the department's senior point of contact with the Department of Homeland Security.

Much of the focus of the department's counterterrorism efforts centers on the nuclear weapons complex, but this responsibility cuts across many organizations in DOE, including the offices of intelligence, counterintelligence and security. Rapuano's job will be to tie all together in an overall approach to terrorist threats.

Administrator Brooks said, "Ken has an excellent knowledge of national security issues and the experience to guide him well in this important position. The safety and security of our nuclear weapons, as well as the reliability of our emergency operations, is paramount in this world of new threats. We are fortunate he is taking on this new role."

Rapuano has more than 18 years of national security experience, and was previously the senior policy advisor for national security to Secretary Abraham, handling a wide range of programs and issues related to nonproliferation, intelligence, counterintelligence, homeland defense, and special access programs.

Prior to coming to DOE, Rapuano served as the director of the international affairs and nonproliferation department at Southern Research Institute, supporting the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense in the development of national security policies related to weapons of mass destruction. Rapuano has also served as special assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for international security policy, as a foreign affairs specialist in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as counter proliferation program manager for DynCorp. He served on active duty as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, and currently serves as an intelligence officer in the Marine Corps Reserve.