Dr. Kaniewski leads the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute’s (HSSAI) mission area for resilience and emergency preparedness/response.

This mission area focuses on improving the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) ability to mitigate and enhance preparedness for disasters and other hazards, ensure effective emergency response and rapid recovery, protect cyber and physical infrastructure, and improve planning and policy development across DHS.

Prior to joining HSSAI, he was assistant vice president for homeland security and deputy director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) at George Washington University.

In August 2008, he re-joined HSPI after spending three years on the White House staff, most recently as special assistant to the president for homeland security and senior director for response policy. In July 2005, he witnessed firsthand the failed response to Hurricane Katrina and served as a co-author and editor of The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. Following the publication of this report, he worked to improve the nation's response capabilities and advised the president and senior staff during domestic incidents (including man-made and natural disasters).

He holds a bachelor of science (magna cum laude) in emergency medical services from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, a master of arts in national security studies from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and a doctorate in public policy and administration from George Washington University.