CA DHS Director Bettenhausen reunion with SALF President Spizzirri at DHS Consortium

August 22, 2005

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Tap CA DHS Dir. Matt Bettenhausen –
SALF Pres. Carol J. Spizzirri

Welcoming remarks was presented by, California’s Homeland Security Director Matthew Bettenhausen.  Prior to Bettenhausen’s appointment by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, he served as the Director of State and Territorial Coordination for the U.S. Department

of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for coordinating the efforts of the Department as they relate to state, territorial and tribal governments. Bettenhausen has served on a number of Senior Policy Coordinating Committees and working groups concerning Homeland Security issues, policies, and program development, including work on implementing Homeland Security Presidential Directives. He was also a member of the Department’s Emergency Response Group (ERG) and the Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG).

From January 2000 to January 2003, Bettenhausen served as the Deputy Governor of Illinois and soon after September 11, it’s Homeland Security Director. As Deputy Governor, Matt was responsible for coordinating the law enforcement and public safety functions and agencies of the State of Illinois. Agencies reporting to him during that time included the Illinois State Police, the Department of Corrections, Fire Marshal’s Office, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Department of Nuclear Safety and the Department of Military Affairs.

Illinois being one of the first states to develop a Department of Homeland Security, Bettenhausen faced many challenges in developing this state agency with few templates to follow.  One of his first initiatives was to form the “Illinois Terrorism Task Force” and appoint Save A Life Foundation (SALF) as it’s first member with support from both than Governor Ryan and Lt. Governor Woods.

Earlier in his career, Bettenhausen spent 12 years as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he investigated and prosecuted federal offenses ranging from simple theft and drug cases to complex financial fraud and public corruption matters. He held various supervisory positions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, including Chief of Appeals and Associate Chief of the entire criminal division. Bettenhausen graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Accountancy, and continued his education at the University’s Law School, where he received his law degree with honors.