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USCIS Director Joseph Edlow to Keynote 2025 Homeland Security Summit
Potomac Officers Club, the national capital region’s premier GovCon networking organization, is excited to announce that Joseph Edlow, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director, will give a keynote address at the 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia.
The 2025 Homeland Security Summit is POC’s premier venue for examining the rapidly evolving homeland security market. The Department of Homeland Security and its divisions were the biggest recipients of funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July–a whopping $190.6 billion that doubled DHS’ funding. This is in addition to DHS’ $64 billion budget request for FY 2026.
Why Is the 2025 Homeland Security Summit Timely and Relevant?
This event brings together top-ranking federal officials and leading industry executives to discuss critical ways to protect the nation from emerging threats in this challenging era of security. Edlow’s keynote is the must-attend event of the year for GovCon executives looking to win contracts from DHS’ massive funding boost. Tickets will sell out soon, get yours now!
As USCIS director, Edlow stars in President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. He has authority over many operational, policy- and enforcement-focused aspects of the agency. These include overseeing USCIS’ structure, direction and management of its divisions, such as adjudications, fraud detection and national security, among others.
Edlow also directs policy implementation by influencing how USCIS interprets and applies existing immigration laws and regulations, such as adjudication standards for visas, naturalization and employment authorizations. GovCons will learn of Edlow’s spending priorities, technology investment plans and the latest partnership opportunities during his keynote at the 2025 Homeland Security Summit.
Let’s dive into Edlow’s background.
Who Is Joseph Edlow?
Edlow has served in a variety of leadership roles within USCIS and in the federal government. Prior to being confirmed as USCIS director in July, he served as deputy director for policy in 2020 and as chief counsel in 2019.
Other career highlights include:
- Serving as deputy assistant attorney general within the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice, where he focused on immigration matters
- Working in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2018, first serving for Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho and then as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration and border security subcommittee, where he focused on criminal immigration and enforcement matters
- Running his own law firm, the Law Office of Joseph Edlow LLC, and founding the Edlow Group LLC
During his previous time at USCIS, Edlow developed an online registration system for the H-1B visa program heavily used by the technology sector, according to Bloomberg Law. This made it easier for firms to submit candidates for the annual lottery.
What Edlow Will Address in His Keynote
Edlow’s keynote at the 2025 Homeland Security Summit will provide GovCon executives with a unique opportunity to hear directly from the head of the nation’s nationalization and immigration system. Some possible topics include:
- Technology investments. Hear how Edlow plans to leverage cutting-edge technologies to reduce the massive caseload of immigration applications pending before USCIS, evaluate applicant eligibility for immigration benefits and combat economic espionage
- AI policy. Learn of Edlow’s strategy for using AI in immigration cases
- H-1B visa reform. H-1Bs are popular with technology companies, hear Edlow’s strategy for combating fraud and abuse in the system
Why Edlow’s Keynote Is Essential for GovCons
Edlow’s keynote at the 2025 Homeland Security Summit is a rare chance for GovCon executives to hear directly from the head of USCIS. Attendees can expect:
- Spending insights. Hear directly from Edlow about how he plans to spend the $6.7 billion in discretionary appropriations USCIS requested for FY 2026, plus the $171 billion provided in the OBBBA legislation for immigration- and border enforcement-related tasks for DHS and its subagencies
- Q&A session. Have your burning questions addressed by Edlow after his keynote
- Networking. Strike up collaborations with other GovCon titans and land that big contract in FY 2026
Why Attend the 2025 Homeland Security Summit?
The 2025 Homeland Security Summit is the preeminent GovCon forum for technology executives. It will bring together top ranking federal officials and GovCon executives to discuss the most important issues in homeland security contracting.
The agenda includes:
- Keynotes by Homeland Security Secretary and Wash100 Award winner Kristi Noem and a top official from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- Panels on cutting edge topics:
- Dive deep into AI at one of our five (!) panel discussions on how DHS is using the technology to transform its operations
- Discover the latest in logistics at “Contested Logistics on the Homefront: Securing Supply Chains for Homeland Resilience”
- Shore up on security at mega events at “Securing the Global Spotlight: Homeland Security, Justice and the Operational Blueprint for LA28”
The 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 at the Hyatt Regency Reston is the can’t-miss GovCon event for technology professionals interested in homeland security. Take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to discover new business opportunities before your competitors or branch into new markets. Secure your seat today!
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