James F Powers, Jr.

James F. Powers, Jr. was appointed as Pennsylvania’s Director of Homeland Security on June 5, 2006. As Director, Powers serves as the Commonwealth’s primary point-of-contact on homeland security issues and the Governor’s senior advisor on homeland security issues for the nation’s 6th most populous state comprising 67 counties and over 2500 municipalities.

From 2001 through mid 2006, Director Powers served as a special operations consultant with KWG Consulting of Waterford, Virginia; an adjunct Faculty Instructor with the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA; and a Senior Fellow with the Joint Special Operations University, United States Special Operations Command. Before serving as a consultant and Senior Fellow, Mr. Powers served 30 years as a career U.S. Army Special Forces officer attaining the rank of Colonel. Prior to retiring Mr. Powers served as the Director of Special Operations, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA.

The Director is a graduate of the University of Alabama (B.A., 1969) and Shippensburg University (Masters, Public Administration, 1996). He was born on January 4, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Director and his wife, Katherin K. Powers, have two children, Lauren and James. They celebrated their 23^rd wedding anniversary on January 28, 2007.