Kurt Johnson is the director the Center for Homeland Security at UCCS. UCCS selected Kurt as the Director in July 2009 to spearhead the Center for Homeland Security’s growing domestic and international homeland defense and homeland security programs at all levels of government and in the private sector. His projects included work as: facilitator and lecturer in the Seminar on Transatlantic Civil Security (STACS), College of International and Security Studies, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Germany; program evaluator and developer for future STACS; researcher and writer for the State of Colorado Governor’s Office of Homeland Security; and program developer of a partnership between UCCS and the University of Zagreb, Croatia through which the Center for Homeland Security will develop and deliver several courses in homeland security and assist the University of Zagreb in establishing a regional (Eastern Europe) Center of Excellence in Homeland Security.

Kurt earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from the University of Wisconsin, a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in international law from the University of Virginia. He retired from the U.S. Navy in late 2008 with the rank of Captain (O-6). During his twenty-three year career, he served worldwide primarily as an advisor to U.S. military commanders. His final assignment was as the senior legal advisor to the Commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM from 2005 to 2008, where he grappled with some of the most challenging legal and policy issues in the Department of Defense, particularly in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

From 2001 to 2003, he served as the senior U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps Legal Advisor to the top naval commander in the Middle East during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Other assignments included two command tours and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. Pacific Command. Following retirement, Kurt was employed as an independent consultant to the Center for Homeland Security.

Steve Peck is the Manager or Operations, Training and Educational Programs for the Center for Homeland Security (CHS) at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS).  CHS is one of four centers comprising the National Institute of Science, Space and Security Centers (NISSSC).  Mr. Peck was selected in 2010 by CHS to coordinate and facilitate delivery of a series of workshops to personnel of NORAD-USNORTHCOM developed around the Commander’s “Focus Areas” on Homeland Security and Defense as well as Defense in Support of Civil Authorities.  He was rehired to assume his current position in 2012.

Mr. Peck is a 28-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.  Currently a Sergeant Major in the reserve, he has served as the Senior Enlisted Leader at the Group, Regiment, Battalion, Company and Battery levels.  An Infantryman by trade, he has served at the command, operations and training levels in three of the Marine Corps’ four divisions; stateside, deployed and in combat.

In the private sector, Mr. Peck has served as an Observer/Controller for USNORTHCOM exercises and before relocating to Colorado Springs in 2006, was the Vice President and General Manager for his family’s commercial building maintenance business in the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years.

Danielle Glassner is a student assistant at the Center for Homeland Security at UCCS. Danielle is originally from Kent Ohio and now resides in Colorado Springs. She is a senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Pre-Law. Danielle is actively involved on campus and works part time at the Center.

Future aspirations for Danielle consist of studying law and getting involved on Capitol Hill. She aspires to contribute positive change to her country and believes that being well informed and involved within her community is essential.