Day 1 Keynote: Richard “Kris” Cline

Kris Cline was appointed director of the Federal Protective Service (FPS), an operational office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Management Directorate, in January 2023. In this role, he leads FPS, the national law enforcement agency charged with the safety, security and protection of more than 1.4 million employees and visitors to more than 8,500 facilities nationwide.

Cline has been with FPS since March 2003, holding numerous leadership positions within the agency, most recently serving as the principal deputy director. He is the recipient of the DHS Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the secretary of homeland security to recognize exceptional and transformational public service. He also received the secretary’s Silver Medal award, the second highest award presented by the secretary of homeland security, which recognized him for his outstanding leadership, superior public service and unusually significant contributions to strengthening homeland security. He most recently received the Military Police Regimental Association’s Order of the Marechaussee  Award in Bronze, for exceptional dedication, competence, high standards of integrity and morality and esprit de corps consistent with the long-standing history of the Military Police Corps Regiment.

Prior to joining DHS,  Cline served 20 years with the U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regiment. He served with distinction in numerous assignments during his career, including operations sergeant, military police operations, army operations center, Pentagon, sergeant-of-the-guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, platoon sergeant at the 534th Military Policy Company, Republic of Panama, squad leader at the 142nd Military Policy Company, Republic of Korea and team leader of the Military Security Force, National Military Command Center, Office of the Chairman-Joint Chiefs of Staff.

During his U.S. Army career, Cline participated in numerous operational deployments including Joint Task Force-Distant Haven in Suriname, South America and Operation Safe Haven/Safe Passage in the Republic of Panama. Throughout his distinguished U.S. Army career, he received numerous awards and decorations for exceptional service and sustained performance.

Cline is proud of his legacy of service and remains an active member of the Society of the Honor Guard – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where membership is reserved for prior Arlington National Cemetery tomb guards. He is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute and the Harvard University National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, a joint program of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Center for Public Leadership.