Donald H. Kent, Jr. is a vice president at Navigators Global based out of the Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Kent heads up Navigators Global's Homeland Security practice.  In this role, Mr. Kent provides strategic, policy, and communication counsel to corporations, associations and other clients as they work with the Department of Homeland Security on issues relating to transportation, security, immigration, cyber and emergency management, among others.

Prior to joining Navigators Global, Mr. Kent served as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.  Mr. Kent first joined the Department in January 2004 in the Office of Legislative Affairs as the Deputy Assistant Secretary.

Mr. Kent served as a principal advisor to Secretary Chertoff and his spokesman to the 86 Congressional committees that oversee the Department of Homeland Security.    

Since 2006, Mr. Kent was responsible for all interaction with Congress during the Department’s numerous operations and response activities.

Mr. Kent was responsible for legislative coordination among the Department’s seven operating components including the Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Emergency Management Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Mr. Kent started his career on Capitol Hill over 10 years ago working in a variety of positions including policy advisor, and transportation policy director for the Assistant Majority Leader, Senator Don Nickels.  Mr. Kent also worked for Representative Frank Lucas (OK). 

While working for Senator Nickles, Mr. Kent contributed to a number of Homeland Security issues including the Homeland Security Act of 2003, the reauthorization of FEMA, aviation security, Coast Guard, and surface transportation. 

A native Virginian, Mr. Kent graduated from Roanoke University in 1995 with a double major in criminal justice and sociology.