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M
URIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
March 3, 2025
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Co lumbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to Article III.B of section 2 of the Washington
Metrorail Safety Commission Establishment Act of 2016, effective April 7, 2017 (D.C. Law 21- 250;
D.C. Official Code § 9-1109.11), and the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Board of Directors
Amendment Act of 2018, effective March 29, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-84, 65 DCR 1590) , I am pleased to
nominate the following individual:
Mr. Brad Belzak
T Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
(Ward 2)
for appointment as an alternate member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Metrorail Safety
Commission, filling a vacant seat formerly held by Victoria Wassmer, for the remainder of an
unexpired term to end February 9, 2029.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
~ ~~
3 at the request of the Mayor
4
5
6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
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8
9
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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15 To confirm the appointment of Brad Belzak to the Board of Directors of the Washington
16 Metrorail Safety Commission.
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18 RESOLVED , BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , That this
19 resolution may be cited as the "Board of Directors of the Washington Metrorail Safety
20 Commission Brad Belzak Confirmation Resolution of 2025".
21 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confinns the appointment of:
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23 Brad Belzak
24 T Street, NW
25 Washington, DC 20007
26 (Ward 2)
27
28 as an alternate member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Metrorail Safety
29 Commission, established by Article III.Bin section 2 of the Washington Metrorail Safety
30 Commission Establishment Act of 2016, effective April 7, 2017 (D .C . Law 21-250; D.C. Official
31 Code § 9-1109 .11 ), and the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Board of Directors
32 Amendment Act of 2018, effective March 29, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-84, 65 DCR 1590), filling a
33 vacant seat formerly held by Victoria Wassmer , for a term to end February 9, 2029.
34 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
35 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
36 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
BRAD BELZAK
Multi-disciplinary leader with 22-years of senior management overseeing diverse teams, managing change, driving
negotiations and strategic implementation, and critical issue navigation. Travel to 60 countries. TS/SCI clearance.
POLITICAL
BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT - Co-chair of COVID19 Task Force, Homeland Security Policy Group, Iowa GOTV - Sioux
City field operations and Precinct Captain (2018-2020)
HILLARY FOR AMERICA - Counterterrorism Policy Group on Presidential Campaign (2016)
OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2012 (OFA-PA) - Regional GOTV Director Southwest Pennsylvania (2012)
DNC Fundraising - Obama Victory Trustee: Middle East Chair – Fundraised for DNC (2012)
OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2008 - Homeland Security Policy Advisor (2007-2008)
THE WHITE HOUSE: Internship (1999)
EXPERIENCE
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES (EXIM), Washington, DC 12/2023-Present
Office of the Chair and President
Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff (Biden-Harris Admin. Schedule C - SES)
• Recruited by White House to serve as Chair’s deputy, overseeing EXIM’s day-to-day operations, to include
management of 550+ workforce, $140M operating budget, and a $135B treasury fund for loan disbursements.
• Revitalizing dormant workforce programs and unifying career staff and political appointees, driving enhanced
morale, collaboration, and alignment across leadership teams and White House and interagency stakeholders.
• Leading a comprehensive operational overhaul, integrating AI to streamline processes, optimize resources, and
improve efficiency across all functions. Executing infrastructure and physical security upgrades, enhancing both
building security and operational resilience.
US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Arlington, VA 2021 - 2023
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy - Office of Homeland Defense & Hemispheric Affairs
Director of Homeland Defense Integration (Biden-Harris Admin. Schedule C)
• Led Defense policy office for North American security crises, overseeing strategic planning, program output,
resource management, and interagency coordination, including representation at the NSC; authored briefings and
built interagency and foreign relationships.
• Foster inclusive, multidisciplinary team environment that attracts and retains talent, leverages diversity, grows
workforce skills, and responds to feedback.
Accomplishments:
• Dramatically improved organizationally health of office that enabled higher team productivity.
• Director-level lead for managing policy response to Chinese spy balloon - given DoD Team Award.
• Co-chair (and conceived) binational NORAD modernization working group to further continental defense.
• Co-led binational development of the NORAD Modernization Policy Joint Implementation Plan.
ERNST & YOUNG (EY), Washington, DC - Senior Manager 2017 – 2021
• Program Manager for US Government client: Led the development of risk management policies and plans,
managed project budgets, client relationships, and ensured quality control for deliverables. Managed 50 staff.
• Chief of Staff to Global Forensics Leader (2017-2018): Co-led worldwide operations of the practice. Managed key
performance indicators of global practice leadership; Led roll-out of new global policies to EY global leaders.
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN, New Haven, Connecticut - Senior Policy Advisor 2017 – 2017
• Supported creation of homeland security college program (e.g., drafted policies, plans and procedures).
US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS), Washington, DC 2016 – 2017
Director of Legislative Affairs, Office of Intelligence and Analysis (Obama Admin., Schedule C)
• Developed legislative strategies during national security crises that achieved favorable policy outcomes.
LATLONG ADVISORS LLC, Washington, DC - Founder 2015 - 2016
• Provided business development and workforce solutions for a technology company (Flashpoint).
•
BRAD BELZAK Page Two
Professional Experience Continued
CRUMPTON GROUP LLP, Arlington, VA - Manager 2013 - 2015
• Performed business intelligence and crafted legal strategies for global clients in U.S., Asia and LatAm.
DELOITTE CONSULTING LLP, Arlington, VA 2011 - 2013
Manager (Global Disaster Management Consulting Practice)
• US –Co-created and led emergency response operations center to respond to clients affected by Hurricane Sandy.
• Bangkok, Thailand – Developed business continuity solutions for Thai Government during 2011 floods.
• Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Implemented U.S. – KSA security treaty while at US Embassy Riyadh.
• Tripoli, Libya – Developed plan for United Nations to investigate stolen assets for Libyan Transitional Government.
UNITED STATES SENATE, Homeland Security Governmental Affairs Committee, Washington, DC 2009 - 2011
Professional Staff Member to U.S. Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE)
• Performed program and policy oversight over DHS and cowrote legislation: S.1092, Aviation Security Innovation
and Reform Act of 2011 (AIR Act). Traveled to sixteen international airports to troubleshoot aviation weaknesses.
US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, Washington, DC 2002 - 2009
• Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Policy (developed disaster response polices and Visa Waiver Program auditor)
• Deputy Regional Director, Office of Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding
• Deputy Chief of Staff & First Responder, FEMA (during Hurricane Katrina recovery operations)
• Intelligence Analyst, Office of Intelligence and Analysis (detailed to FBI’s Terrorism Screening Center)
• Aviation Analyst at Transportation Security Operations Center, Transportation Security Administration
BASE TECHNOLOGIES, VIENNA, VA 2002
• Anti-Money Laundering Analyst (contractor) at US Department of Treasury, FinCEN
EDUCATION
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, Boston, MA • Masters of Science in Security and Resiliency 2016
ELON UNIVERSITY, Burlington, NC • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science 2001
AFFILIATIONS
Commission
Homeland Security Commission, District of Columbia Government 2017-2021
• Chairman and Commissioner-Confirmed by City Council to lead Commission and advise Mayor on District’s
homeland security; co-authored cyber security https://bit.ly/3bCt8ra and mass care https://bit.ly/2MG2BBI reports.
Think Tanks
• Member, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) – ACTIVE
• Manfred Werner Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States (2005)
Certification
• Certified Fraud Examiner (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners) - ACTIVE
PUBLICATIO NS, SKILLS
Publications
1) The Hill: It’s Time for Some Tough Choices When Preparing for Natural Disasters. 28 Sept. 2017.
http://bit.ly/2hLEx09
2) The Hill: Countering Radicalization Crucial to Stopping ISIS from Recruiting Americans. 05 April 2017.
http://bit.ly/2nTroAJ
3) Homeland Security Today: How Our Leaders Should Be Protecting the Homeland. 06 Feb. 2017.
http://bit.ly/2oaVPF6
Language: Spanish (working level)
Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Brad Belzak
Mr. Brad Belzak is a multi-disciplinary leader with over 22 years of senior
management and operational experience in U.S. national security and
“Big Four ” management consulting with an emphasis on leading
organizations through change in the United States, Europe, Middle East,
and Asia. Mr. Belzak previously served the District as Chairman and
Commissioner of the Homeland Security Commission.
Mr. Belzak recently departed the Biden Administration as Senior Vice
President and Chief of Staff at the Export Import Bank of the United
States (EXIM), where he served as the number two leader overseeing a
550-person workforce, strategy, operations, and o rganizational
transformation initiatives. Prior to EXIM, Mr. Belzak worked at the U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD) in the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy office, where he was
the Director for Homeland Defense Integration, leading the development of critical North America
defense security policies.
Before DoD, Mr. Belzak was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young (EY) from 2017- 2021, where
he provided strategy and operations support to public and private sector clients. Concurrently
during this period, he served as Chair and Commissioner of the Washington, DC government’s
Homeland Security Commission, advising the District on homeland security issues. From 2016 -
2017, Mr. Belzak was appointed by the Obama Administration to serve as Director of Legislative
Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Office of Intelligence and
Analysis, where he developed legislative strategies for the Under Secretary for Intelligence and
Analysis. From 2011-2016, he worked in a variety of large and small management consulting firms
supplying Fortune 500 c ompanies, high-net worth clients, and allied governments in the United
States, Latin America, Middle East, and Asia with financial and risk advisory services. Mr. Belzak
started his career serving in both the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. government
from 2002-2011. He first worked as a contractor performing money laundering investigations at
the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network at the U.S. Department of Treasury, then at DHS in a
variety of intelligence, emergency response, and policy r oles, and in the U.S. Senate as a
Professional Staff Member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee advising U.S. Senator Tom Carper.
A Ward 2 resident, Mr. Belzak earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Elon
University and his Master of Science in Security and Resiliency from Northeastern University.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: February 7, 2025
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing Brad Belzak as an alternate
member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Metrorail Safety
Commission
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Order and found
it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate
to call Michael Porcello, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-727-
0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish