In January 2008, Kelley Coyner began her work as the new Chief of Staff of the Senior Policy Group of the National Capital Region (NCR). In that capacity, she has helped NCR’s emergency planning leadership implement its strategic priorities including major new investments in building medical surge capacity, better integrated applications of technology, and high impact law enforcement and detection and prevention efforts with respect to improvised explosive devises. Ms. Coyner serves the principal as a liaison for the Senior Policy Group (SPG) to other entities in the NCR and coordinates the SPG’s efforts to enhance homeland security through policy and programmatic initiatives. SPG is comprised of the Homeland Security Advisors and senior Emergency Management Administrations of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as the director of FEMA’s Office of National Capital Region Coordination.
Ms. Coyner joined CHHS as a Senior Researcher in July 2007 and served as a Senior Advisor to the Director. A writer, lawyer, and advisor to nonprofits, Ms. Coyner brings 25 years experience in nonprofits as board member or advisor to more than 60 non-profits in the United States and South America. As a lawyer in private practice, as a congressional staffer, director of a public affairs office, staff to a county board member, and a federal state liaison for the state of Texas, Ms. Coyner advocated for legislative and regulatory action on transportation, community development, and environmental issues at federal, state, and local levels. She has served as an advocate for disabled persons and their families and victims of domestic violence. For her leadership of the Garrett A. Morgan Transportation and Technology Program, she was awarded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) gold medal award. Her previous work in emergency preparedness and response includes serving as the senior official in charge of emergency preparation and response at DOT during the Clinton Administration; civilian advisor to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on coordinated disaster response (2001); visiting researcher at MIT's Center for Transportation Research (2001-2002); and observer, Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (2001-2003). Ms. Coyner’s six years as a senior official at DOT included service as the Senate Confirmed Administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration. From 2001 to 2006, Ms. Coyner lived in Bolivia and Paraguay where she served as an advisor to local and international nonprofits on the issues of institutional development, disaster relief, and risk mitigation. During her tenure in South America, she traveled extensively in the region and is the author of numerous articles and a book on the natural history, culture, and ecotravel in the region. Ms. Coyner clerked for Federal District Judge George P. Kazen, Southern District of Texas. She holds a JD from University of Virginia and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and has authored various articles on legal issues both for professional and general audiences.
