President of Civil Support International, LLC

Program:
Aspen Homeland Security Group

Biography

Paul McHale is the President of Civil Support International LLC, a consulting firm offering advisory services to government agencies and private contractors related to military sales, homeland defense, disaster preparedness and crisis response.  From 2003 - 2009, former Congressman McHale served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, where he supervised all homeland defense activities for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The first to hold that position, he was responsible for homeland preparedness, DoD Critical Infrastructure Protection, civilian oversight of the two combatant commands that cover North and South America, and the transfer of technologies to homeland security use pursuant to Section 1401 of the 2003 DoD Authorization Act.  Prior to his appointment at DoD, Mr. McHale was elected to represent the15th Congressional district of Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives where he served for three terms (1992-1998). Throughout that period, he was an active member of the House Armed Services Committee which has oversight responsibility for all U.S. military operations and training. Additionally, while serving as Congressman, Mr. McHale co-founded the National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus which advocates the interests of reservists and guardsmen worldwide. He was previously elected to five terms in the Pennsylvania General Assembly (1982-1991).

For his service as Congressman and Assistant Secretary of Defense, Mr. McHale was awarded the DoD Distinguished Public Service Medal - the department’s highest civilian honor - by each of the past three Secretaries of Defense. A retired colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, Mr. McHale served combat tours in Saudi Arabia (1990), Kuwait (1991) and Afghanistan (2007). For his service in Afghanistan, he received the Baryal Medal, Afghanistan’s highest award for public service. His personal military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal (2nd award).

Former Assistant Secretary McHale received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. with highest honors from Lehigh University. He is a member of the Aspen Homeland Security Group.