Catherine V. Emerson

Catherine V. Emerson was appointed Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Human Resources and Administration and Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Justice on August 1, 2021.  She oversees Human Resources, Security and Emergency Planning, the Justice Library, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Staff. In addition, she supervises the Departmental Executive Secretariat, and the Consolidated Executive Office, which provides administrative support to the Justice leadership and select JMD offices.

Prior to this role, she served Executive Officer for the Civil Division beginning January 2016. Ms. Emerson served as the Department of Homeland Security’s Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) from the time of her appointment in August 2011. Ms. Emerson also previously held the positions of Deputy and Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management at the Federal Aviation Administration from October 2009 until July 2011.

She served as the Director of Policy and Performance Management/Chief Human Capital Officer while employed at the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and as the Acting Executive Director.  From July 2008 to October 2008, she served as the FLRA’s administrative head in absence of a presidentially appointed Chairman. Prior to joining the FLRA, Ms. Emerson served as an Assistant Director in the Office of Human Resources, Justice Management Division.

Ms. Emerson holds a B.A. and J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. She is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bars.