Patty Cogswell is a homeland and national security executive with more than 28 years of government and private sector experience.  Ms. Cogswell joined Guidehouse in September 2020, leading efforts in the areas of innovation, organization and mission transformation and redesign with a focus on travel, transportation, and national security. Ms. Cogswell currently leads Guidehouse’s $100 million Department of Justice account.

Ms. Cogswell led multiple organizations through strategy, policy, technology execution, and operations in support of national security missions, as well as how to construct and implement both business and technical architectures. She led complex initiatives across the federal government and with international partners. 

Prior to joining Guidehouse, Ms. Cogswell led programs at the National Security Council, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice, in transportation, intelligence, policy, border security, screening, information sharing, and the Arctic.  She possesses substantive expertise in: aviation, maritime, and surface transportation security; US government and foreign partner screening and vetting programs; counter terrorism; transnational organized crime; intelligence collection, analysis and production; information sharing and associated technology architectures; and immigration and border processes. 

Prior senior executive positions within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security include: serving as the Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, Assistant Director for Intelligence at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Acting Undersecretary within the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy Integration and Implementation, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Screening Coordination. She previously served at the National Security Council as Acting Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, and as Special Assistant to the President for Transborder Security. 

During her time in government, Ms. Cogswell received the DHS Outstanding Service Medal, the DHS Secretary’s Award, and the DHS Thought Leadership Award. She now also serves as a Strategic Advisor for Government Executives (SAGE) for the Partnership for Public Service, a Fellow with the National Academy of Public Administration, and is on the Editorial Board for HSToday. In 2024, Ms. Cogswell served on the U.S. Travel Association’s “Seamless and Secure Travel Commission,” formulating recommendations on the future of travel.

Ms. Cogswell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania with a minor in Economics and a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law.