Dr. Theresa R. Horne

Director of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)

Dr. Theresa R. Horne is the Director of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).

In this capacity, Dr. Horne exercises leadership of the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) and equal employment opportunity (EEO) teams supporting approximately 14,000 federal employees and contractors. Dr. Horne manages, directs, and coordinates the day-to-day operations and strategic vision of the office. She is responsible for interpreting EEO policy and regulations to implement higher level actions that directly shape the culture at DCSA and improve operations throughout the agency. 

Prior to this role, Dr. Horne served as the Chief Diversity Officer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) where she created and managed the implementation of the DEIA Strategic Plan, advised the Executive Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council on key opportunities to bolster women and underserved groups through sourcing, recruitment, retention and upward mobility for a 21,000+ employee organization. Dr. Horne successfully led the reasonable accommodations team, Anti-Harassment program, organizational climate assessments team, special emphasis programming team, diversity training, and the agency-wide vaccine exemption planning process, building policy and processes that were utilized across the Department of Homeland Security. 

Additionally, Dr. Horne led award-winning culture efforts internationally in Yokosuka, Japan with Defense Logistics Agency before returning to Washington, DC to continue her work as a Senior Program Manager at the National Labor Relations Board. Her culture work has been recognized by federal and private industry earning her many awards like the Meritorious Service Award as well as being recognized as one of Mogul’s Top 100 DEI Leaders in 2021 and Washington Exec’s 2022 DEI Executive to Watch due to her extensive inclusion work for women and people of color across the federal government. Dr. Horne is a sought after speaker and trusted thought leader on the intersection of DEIA, leadership development and human capital. 

Dr. Horne earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Masters of Education, emphasis in Assessment, Testing and Measurement from Ashford University (now University of Arizona Global Campus) and a Doctorate of Education Leadership and Learning, emphasis in Education Administration from Aspen University. She is a proud Army war veteran and stalwart advocate for civil, human, and veteran rights.