Laura Callahan, the deputy chief information officer of
the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was placed on paid
administrative leave last week after questions surfaced about her
academic qualifications.
The move came after members of congress contacted department
officials demanding answers to questions about her academic
background, as well as about the department's policy on background
checks.
On her CV Callahan said she received her academic degrees,
including a doctorate in computer information systems, from
Hamilton University in Wyoming.
However, congressmen found that Hamilton is not licensed by that
state, nor is the school accredited by the US Department of
Education.
"What is troubling to me is that a senior official in the
Department of Homeland Security in the office of the chief
information officer would have a questionable degree in computer
information systems," said congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
"I would hope that checking credentials on a CV is a standard
procedure in any background check."
DHS spokeswoman Michelle Petrovich said the department is
investigating the allegations and declined to comment on the
department's procedures concerning background checks.
In 2001, Callahan was deputy chief information officer at the US
Department of Labor and, in 2002, she also became that department's
IT centre director. In April 2003 she was appointed to the position
of deputy chief information officer of the DHS.
Linda Rosencrance writes for IDG News Service