Joseph Cuddihy was an executive with over 31 years of U.S. federal government service, including six years in the Senior Executive Service (SES). An expert in international border management, immigration law, and international migration policy, has routinely advised high-level leaders, including the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and officials on the National Security Council.

 

From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Cuddihy served as District Director in Rome, Italy, for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Serving in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps as immigration attaché to the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, he directed immigration operations and policy across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. He oversaw 100 personnel across 13 sub-offices, managed complex detainee repatriation movements, arranged for various programs involving the interview of refugees for resettlement in the United States, and represented the United States in multilateral venues including the European Union and the Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees (IGC).

 

From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Cuddihy served as initial Director of the Office of Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations (RAIO) at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Operating as chief operating officer of this key division, he managed operational, policy, budgetary, and technology strategies for global migration issues. His purview included the U.S. Asylum Program's 400 officers across eight domestic offices, the implementation of the U.S. Refugee Corps, Caribbean interdiction operations, mass migration emergency planning, and operations at Guantanamo Bay.

 

Upon his retirement from USCIS, Mr. Cuddihy began working as an executive consultant, advising government agencies and industry partners on homeland security and migration initiatives. He was employed by McConnell International Consulting, a firm headed by Bruce McConnell, a highly respected former official of OMB and DHS.  He continues his work as an independent consultant.

 

Mr. Cuddihy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Canisius College and a Master of Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.