Hume Seminar Series: The Quiet Unraveling of America’s CWMD Shield: When Left of Boom Weakens, Are we Ready for Right of Boom?

About the Event:

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) has served as one of the IC's core source of expertise for preventing, detecting, and deterring chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. It develops strategy, supports intelligence, trains/equips first responders, and expands detection capabilities across all states and territories. Recent staffing losses and structural changes affecting both CWMD and related preparedness functions at FEMA have reduced the nation’s specialized left of boom capacity. As these prevention and detection capabilities erode, the United States may face increased challenges in managing low probability, high impact CBRN risks at a time when threat pathways continue to evolve.

Join us for a fireside chat between former DHS Assistant Secretary of CWMD ('23-'25), Mary Ellen Callahan, and her former Senior Advisor, Chris Ramos, as we explore why sustaining these capabilities matter, and what’s at stake for our national security when they begin to fade.

About the Speaker:

Ms. Mary Ellen Callahan is a transformational legal leader with extensive experience in organizational management, strategic planning, and budget oversight. She has a strong ability to foster strategic partnerships and relationships across the spectrum, including senior executives, Boards of Directors, and stakeholders. 

Callahan started her law practice at Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) from 1997 to 2009, where she counseled corporations and trade associations on antitrust, privacy, consumer protection, and litigation matters, particularly relating to entertainment and technology. She's served as a Partner at Jenner & Block, Assistant General Counsel for The Walt Disney Company, and Presidentially-appointed Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

Callahan is a 1990 Bachelor of Philosophy graduate from the University of Pittsburgh Honors College and College of Arts and Sciences. She served as a Trustee on the Pitt Board of Trustees, including as Vice Chair and (Acting) Chair from 2021-2022; she is now an Emerita Trustee. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School.