Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Peter Thomas Drennan of Australia

 

Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Peter Thomas Drennan of Australia as Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security in the Department of Safety and Security, replacing Kevin Kennedy ofthe United States, to whom the Secretary-General is deeply grateful for having served as Acting Head of Department with dedication and able leadership.

Mr. Drennan, Deputy Commissioner for National Security with the Australian Federal Police since 2009, brings to the position an extensive career in policing and law enforcement at the community, national and international levels.  His safety and security experience spans more than 35 years of developing strong strategic collaborative partnerships covering national and international law-enforcement and counter-terrorism activities, peacekeeping and post-conflict capacity-building missions with both the United Nations and bilateral and multilateral regional missions, notably in North Africa, the Middle East, South-West and South-East Asia.

Having begun his police career in 1979, Mr. Drennan served in key leadership and management roles within the Federal Police since 2002, notably as Assistant Commissioner for Counter-Terrorism, Economic and Special Operations, Border and International Network, as well as for the Eastern Region.  He has further experience as the Federal Police Director of Operations for the Eastern Region and Regional Liaison Coordinator for East and South-East Asia, based in Hong Kong.

Mr. Drennan has represented Australia in national and international policing forums, including the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the ASEAN Association of Heads of Police (ASEANAPOL), leading international liaison relationships.  He has undertaken post-graduate studies in human-resource management and police executive leadership programmes with the Australian Institute of Police Management, as well as external programmes with the Australian Graduate School of Management and the Institute of Company Directors.  He graduated from the FBI National Executive Institute programme in 2011.

Born in 1957, Mr. Drennan is married and has two children.

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