Cathy Lanier

Cathy Lanier is the Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer at the National Football League (NFL), a position she has held since September 2016.1 Her role involves overseeing all operations and activities of the NFL Security Department, including:

Professional Background

• Law Enforcement Career: Prior to joining the NFL, Lanier had a distinguished 26-year career in law enforcement.2

  • She served as the Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia from January 2007 to September 2016.4
  • Lanier joined the D.C. police force in 1990 as a patrol officer and rose through the ranks.4

• Notable Achievements:

  • First female police chief of Washington, D.C.24
  • First commanding officer of Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism for D.C. Police2
  • Longest-serving chief in the history of the Metropolitan Police Department of D.C.4

Education

Lanier has an impressive educational background:

• Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Management from Johns Hopkins University2
• Master's degree in Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School2
• Graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Drug Enforcement Administration's Drug Unit Commanders Academy2

Current Role at NFL

As the NFL's Chief Security Officer, Lanier's responsibilities include:

• Coordinating with the Commissioner's office, executive staff, club ownership, and personnel
• Working with international, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies
• Overseeing investigative programs, event security (including the Super Bowl), and game integrity programs
• Managing security for all 32 NFL teams and their venues23

Lanier's expertise in large-scale event security, developed during her time as D.C. police chief, has been valuable in her NFL role, where she oversees security for major events like the Super Bowl.34

Personal Background

Born on July 22, 1967, Lanier overcame significant challenges early in life:

• She dropped out of high school after ninth grade and became a mother at 154
• Later earned her GED and pursued higher education, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination4

Lanier's journey from a teenage mother with a ninth-grade education to one of the most prominent security positions in professional sports is a testament to her perseverance and leadership abilities.3