Karen Huey
Senior Homeland Security Advisor, Ohio Department of Public Safety
2024
Karen Huey currently serves as the Senior Homeland Security Advisor at the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS). Huey previously served as the Assistant Director at DPS from January 2019 to August, 2024. Her responsibilities included day-to-day management of the Department’s divisions, including Ohio Emergency Management, Ohio Emergency Medical Services, Office of Criminal Justice Services, Ohio Homeland Security, as well as, the agency administrative divisions. Huey serves as the Homeland Security Advisor for Governor Mike DeWine.
Huey was previously at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) for four years serving as the Assistant Superintendent. As the Assistant Superintendent, she was responsible for the day-to-day management of the statewide law enforcement agency, management of BCI personnel, policy initiatives, legislative and operations while supervising the directors and special agents in charge of the major divisions, including the Forensic Crime Laboratories, OHLEG and the Criminal Identification Unit.
Huey has over 40 years of experience in state and local government. Throughout her career, she has served in Governor Bob Taft’s cabinet as the Director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services, as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Chief of Staff/Chief Legal Counsel for the Ohio Auditor of State, Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Commerce and Director of Enforcement for the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Before joining state government, Huey began her career in public service at the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office and served as bailiff to the Honorable David Cain, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, while completing law school.
Huey received her Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from The Ohio State University and her Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School.
Huey resides in Upper Arlington with her husband Tim of 35 years; they are the proud parents of Madeleine and Joseph.
My network of professionals working on countering hate in all its forms grew exponentially after attending Eradicate Hate in 2021. The myriad voices represented at Eradicate Hate, from big tech companies to academic researchers to those with lived experience, reinforced to me the importance of cross-cutting and collaborative approaches to counter hate and its devastating impacts on society. I’ve been fortunate to sustain and build those networks with many of those I met at Eradicate Hate in 2021.
