Dev Jani, PhD, MPH

Dr. Dev Jani focuses on the operationalization of science and policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with emphasis on public health and medical, workforce health and safety, and health security mission space.

As the Chief of Staff for the DHS Chief Medical Officer and Office of Health Security (OHS), Dr. Jani leads the day-to-day operations of a multidisciplinary team and comprehensive programs that enable operational partners to prevent, protect against and respond to the health impacts of naturally occurring events and weapons of mass destruction. Previously at the Department’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, he served as the Executive Officer for the Medical Operations Directorate, and prior to that position, Program Manager for Chemical Defense, in which capacity he engaged directly with operational partners across all levels of government to enhance awareness and readiness for current, emerging and forecasted chemical threats. In 2019, Dr. Jani received the DHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence for these partnerships.

Prior to joining the federal government, Dr. Jani was the Deputy Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for the City of New Orleans, Louisiana. In this position, he led public safety enterprise efforts to strengthen security posture and whole-of-society resilience against dynamic threats ranging from terrorism to natural disasters. Dr. Jani has also previously held numerous positions in the fire services, emergency medical services, and institutional emergency management sector.

Dr. Jani holds a BS in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University, and both an MPH and PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the Tulane University – School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, with concentration in exposure science and environmental epidemiology.