Dr. Daniel Gerstein is a national security expert whose career has taken him from the battlefield to the halls of the Pentagon, government, industry, universities, and think tanks. He served as Acting Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary in the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate and later spent more than a decade at the RAND Corporation studying critical security challenges.

A retired U.S. Army officer, Dan’s service included roles in combat, peacekeeping, and international negotiations—from helping shape the Bosnia peace agreement to advancing arms control and bio-surveillance efforts. Today, he teaches at American University and George Mason University, sharing his experience on technology, national security, national security strategy and policy, and global health security. He’s also the author of several books and articles and often appears in national discussions on security and defense.

Dan is a graduate of West Point and holds advanced degrees from Georgia Tech, the National Defense University, and the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, along with a Ph.D. in Biodefense from George Mason University. He’s a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has received numerous honors, including the Department of State’s Distinguished Service Award and the U.S. Army Soldiers Medal.