Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology Department of Homeland Security
Daniel Tamburello is the Department of Homeland Security Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology (SOPDUSST). Mr. Tamburello brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his role, having previously served as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis (SOPD-USIA) from February-August 2025. Prior to that, he served as a Senior Advisor to both the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) from 2020 to 2021. In his current role as SOPDUSST, Mr. Tamburello provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Department of Homeland Security's science and technology initiatives, focusing on driving innovation, addressing operational challenges, and delivering solutions that enhance national security.
Before joining the Department, Mr. Tamburello served as a Principal Systems Engineer for the MITRE Corporation, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). During his 16 years at MITRE, he skillfully leveraged his engineering education and extensive knowledge of intelligence and military operations to lead critical projects across multiple U.S. Government and IC agencies and the Department of Defense (DoD). He recently attained a certification in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and helped to develop and employ Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) technologies.
Mr. Tamburello was first elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2010 and served as a State Representative for 6 years. He was elected as the Freshman Class Chair from 2011-12 and was a member of the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee.
Mr. Tamburello began his career serving both as Enlisted and Officer in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), where he trained and served as a Combat Engineer, a Naval Aviator, and an Intelligence Officer excelling in targeting and analysis. His time in the USMC included a deployment to Iraq from 2004-05, participating in Operation Al Fajr (battle of Fallujah) as an Assistant Intelligence Officer (S2A) for the Regimental Combat Team (RCT-1). During his military career, Mr. Tamburello served as a Company Commander for the 3rd Intelligence Battalion in Okinawa, Japan, providing intelligence support to the Pacific Command (PACOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). He also toured at the Joint Staff; and served in both Active duty and Reserve capacities during his 21-year career. Mr. Tamburello retired from the USMC Reserves in 2016.
Mr. Tamburello holds a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and undergraduate degrees in both Government and Psychology.
Mr. Tamburello is a native of Morris County, NJ. He currently lives in Maryland with his wife, three sons, and their Belgian Malinois. He is passionate about alpine skiing and lacrosse, and enjoys spending his free time off-roading in his Jeep Wrangler when he doesn’t have it torn apart.