- Courtney directs DHS’ acquisition system, including its unique procurement policies
- He created a created “one way of doing business” approach while with the FBI
- Hear from Courtney firsthand at the 2026 Homeland Security Summit tomorrow!
Potomac Officers Club, the nation’s leading GovCon networking organization, is thrilled to announce that Paul Courtney, U.S. Department of Homeland Security chief procurement officer and 2024 Wash100 Award winner, will deliver a keynote address at the 2026 Homeland Security Summit tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in northern Virginia.
Courtney joins a distinguished lineup of top homeland security leaders at the 2026 Homeland Security Summit, POC’s elite forum for perspectives into the business opportunities and technologies advancing homeland security. Other keynotes include:
- Sean Curran, U.S. Secret Service director
- Bobby Thompson, U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency acting associate director for threat hunting
- Troy Edgar, Department of Homeland Security deputy secretary
- Sonny Bhagowalia, U.S. Customs and Border Protection chief information officer and Office of Information and Technology assistant commissioner
DHS requested $12 billion for technology spending in fiscal year 2027, according to FedScoop. This is highlighted by:
- CBP: $136 million for the Automated Commercial Environment trade processing system and $322 million for counter-drug technology
- Secret Service: $1.2 billion for enhanced protective operations and protective technology
- CISA: $420 million in acquisition funding, with more than 95 percent of it for cybersecurity
Who Is Paul Courtney?
Paul Courtney has served as chief procurement officer of DHS since Aug. 15, 2021. He leads DHS’ acquisition system, including the implementation of the department’s acquisition policies, regulations and standards. Courtney also oversees nine heads of contracting activity, who deliver operational procurement services to DHS components, directorates and offices.
Courtney has served in some of the most prestigious and critical roles in federal technology. He was a member of the Senior Executive Service from 2013 to 2019 with the FBI and served as head of contracting activity and procurement executive, where he led the agency’s contracting officers and the acquisition of roughly $4 billion in goods and services.
While at the FBI, Courtney directed an acquisition business transformation strategy that created a category management structure and numerous enterprise contracts. This eliminated the lowest price technically acceptable, or LPTA, contracting method for services, standardized business processes and created one way of doing business with the FBI.
Courtney also spent years enacting business transformation at the Pentagon. He served as the Defense Intelligence Agency’s senior expert for contracting and the deputy head of contracting activity from 2007 to 2013.
What Courtney Will Discuss in His Keynote
Paul Courtney’s keynote at the 2026 Homeland Security Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 10, will provide GovCon technologists with a unique chance to hear directly from one of the top experts in federal acquisition and procurement.
Some possible topics include:
- Strategies for successful contracting with DHS
- Acquisition reform
- How DHS plans to use AI responsibly
- Recruiting and retaining DHS acquisition talent
- How newcomers can enter the DHS market
- And more!
Why Is the 2026 Homeland Security Summit a Critical Conference for GovCon Professionals?
The 2026 Homeland Security Summit assembles top federal officials and the brightest minds in industry to unpack the strategies and emerging technologies defining the future of homeland security technology. Join the conversation with the leading officials and innovators from throughout DHS and its subagencies, including:
- CBP
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
- CISA
- U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
- Homeland Security Investigations
- U.S. Secret Service
Leverage this rare opportunity to engage with the leaders molding the future of homeland security at the 2026 Homeland Security Summit this coming Tuesday, Nov. 10. Few tickets remain for this essential GovCon forum. Secure yours today!
Why Should GovCons Attend the 2026 Homeland Security Summit?
The 2026 Homeland Security Summit, coming up fast tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10, is the definitive conference for GovCon technology professionals interested in growing their homeland security revenues. Attendees of the summit can expect:
Ten panels (!) on the defining homeland security technology topics, such as:
- Unlock insights into weaponized drones, swarms and autonomous threats and innovative detection, tracking and defeat strategies at Coordination for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Operations
- Dive into resilient communications in infrastructure-limited environments and securing the border and national security special events at Edge Capabilities for the Border and National Events
- Explore reducing operational blind spots and building learning organizations that adapt quickly at Protecting the Homeland from Complex Security Threats
- Candid question-and-answer sessions
- Face-to-face engagement with the top federal technology leaders
- High-level networking with integrators, technology leaders and program executives from across the homeland security community, all in one room
The 2026 Homeland Security Summit is the definitive GovCon forum for professionals tracking the future of homeland security technologies. Take advantage of this chance to bolster your GovCon technology revenues and separate your GovCon firm from the competition. Sign up now!
