Ms. Jennifer L. Ward is the Suspension and Debarment Official (SDO) for the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As the DHS SDO, she takes Suspension and Debarment action pursuant to 48 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R) § 9, subpart 9.4 (FAR 9.4) and 2 C.F.R. § 180. Prior to becoming the DHS SDO, Ms. Ward served as the Suspension and Debarment Director in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Ms. Ward is also the Acting Chair of the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee, and a guest lecturer for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s National Suspension and Debarment Training Program. Previously, Ms. Ward served as the Senior Appellate Law Clerk for the Honorable James S. Casebolt, Colorado Court of Appeals, worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office (criminal division/appellate section), and worked in private practice. While practicing in Colorado, Ms. Ward authored American Bar Association Legal Professional Liability/Ethics case digests for the 10th Circuit and Colorado. Ms. Ward earned her Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, her Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University, and her Bachelor of Arts, from the State University of New York at Albany. She is licensed in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Colorado. Prior to attending law school and earning her JD, Ms. Ward worked for the National Security Agency, United States Army, United States Navy, and Lockheed Martin Corporation. Ms. Ward is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP).