Kate Nichols is the Region 4 Deputy Regional Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Region 4 is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. CISA works with partners to defend against today’s digital and physical threats and collaborating to build more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.

Ms. Nichols joined CISA in March 2020 as Deputy Chief of Staff from the Office of the Secretary, where she was a Counselor advising on enterprise-wide issues and activities of the Department, including budget, Departmental strategic planning, privacy, and crosscutting legislative efforts.

Previously at DHS, Ms. Nichols served 14 months as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary; developed strategic engagement strategies for DHS headquarters offices to improve communication with key stakeholders including Members of Congress and their staffs and other external and departmental partners; and provided policy expertise and legal guidance regarding issues having national implications on homeland security. In 2015, Ms. Nichols was detailed to the House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, where she led six hearings, coordinated three member briefings, and drafted seven bills, including one that led to the statutory reorganization of DHS CBRN activities.

Prior to joining DHS in 2007, Ms. Nichols served as Associate Counsel for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, providing policy and legal expertise on legislation and oversight pertaining to DHS grant funding, first responder issues, and science and technology. Ms. Nichols drafted and negotiated numerous pieces of legislation, including Titles I and II of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. She participated in the Senate’s bipartisan investigation of the government’s preparedness for and response to Hurricane Katrina. Prior to her work in the Senate, Ms. Nichols served as a law clerk for the U.S. House of Representatives both for the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Ways and Means.

Ms. Nichols earned her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law. She received her B.A. in political science from the University of Florida. She is an active member of the Florida Bar.