Jonathan “Joe” Owen is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD), Western Hemisphere Affairs.  In this role, DASD Owen is leveraging his experience as an innovator and thought leader in the private sector, a civilian in the U.S. government, and a U.S. Marine.  Most recently, Mr. Owen served in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence while detailed from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).  At CISA, he served leading roles in operational planning, readiness, and continuity.  Mr. Owen also worked in the private sector as the Vice President for a national data center company.  Mr. Owen is a published author on counterinsurgency (COIN) and the war in Afghanistan. 

During his time at the Department of State, Mr. Owen served as a Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent, specializing in high threat security operations, and served in Pakistan, Afghanistan and across the Middle East and North Africa.  Mr. Owen also served as an operational team member and medic with the Department of State’s elite counter terrorism unit, MSD, deploying globally. In this capacity, Mr. Owen provided specialized protective security services for U.S. Diplomatic missions and facilities, the President, the Secretary of State, ambassadors, foreign dignitaries, and members of Congress.  Mr. Owen’s last role at State was lead case agent for the Russia/Europe Counterintelligence Desk where he investigated, identified, and disrupted global spy networks.  His many Department of State recognitions include the Secretary’s Award, recognizing Mr. Owen for his service and heroism.  

Earlier in his career, Mr. Owen was a lead associate at Booz Allen Hamilton where he conducted advanced analytical studies that included capabilities analysis and development for the Marine Corps, Navy, the Intelligence Community, among others.  He contributed to the development of new weapons systems and autonomous drone technology and facilitated the reorganization of the Marine Corps’ Scout Sniper and Reconnaissance communities.  Concurrently, Mr. Owen graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service Summa Cum Laude with an MA in Security Studies with concentrations in COIN and international security policy.

Mr. Owen is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran.  He began as a radar specialist with the fighter attack squadron VMFA 321.  After receiving the Marine of the Year award, he earned an NROTC scholarship and graduated from the George Washington University with a BA Summa Cum laude in Archaeology.  He then completed Officer Candidate School, graduating top in his class, and served in Afghanistan and Iraq as an infantry officer and was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon for operations in both theaters.  After leaving active duty, Mr. Owen was a Marine Corps intelligence officer reservist, specializing in Eastern Europe and security cooperation.