Senior Counselors

John W. Magaw
Senior Counselor

John W. Magaw is a domestic and international security consultant and a former director of the U.S. Secret Service, having been appointed to the position in 1992 after 26 years of experience with the agency. The Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the President of the United States and other U.S. officials and diplomats.

Mr. Magaw was formerly the special agent in charge of the presidential protective division of the Service, coordinating and managing all aspects of presidential security in the U.S. and abroad.

He most recently served as undersecretary for transportation, where he designed and launched the new Transportation Security Administration created by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001. He was also responsible for securing all modes of transportation, including rebuilding the public’s post-September 11 confidences in the nation’s air travel.

Prior to this, Mr. Magaw was director of terrorism preparedness for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) between 1999 and 2001 and director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms between 1993 and 1999. Mr. Magaw’s appointment to the agency came in the wake of incidents in Waco, Texas which saw the departure of the agency’s top executives and while there he overhauled personnel, policy, procedure and training.

He also led efforts contributing to the arrest and prosecution of the Oklahoma City bombers, and secured interagency leadership of federal efforts to counter national threat posed by dissident militia.

Mr. Magaw’s early career encompasses high school teaching and coaching. He was an Ohio State trooper for over six years before joining the Secret Service. Prior to his appointment as director of the Secret Service, Mr. Magaw undertook 14 varied assignments with the Service.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Otterbein College in 1957.  Mr. Magaw was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from Otterbein in July 2000 and currently serves on the College Board of Trustees.  He is a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Mr. Magaw has been the recipient of both the Presidential Rank Meritorious Award and President Distinguished Award. He currently serves on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council.