The Senate on Monday confirmed two Obama administration nominees for positions at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), further reducing the number of leadership vacancies at the department.

The Senate confirmed by voice vote Reggie Brothers to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology and Frank Taylor to be Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis.

Dr. Reggie Brothers, confirmed as DHS Under Secretary for S&T. Photo: DoD
Dr. Reggie Brothers, confirmed as DHS Under Secretary for S&T. Photo: DoD

“As I have consistently said, filling vacancies at DHS is essential to the continued success of this department, and today I thank the Senate for confirming President Obama’s nominees to two key leadership positions,” Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement. He noted that the Senate has confirmed seven senior positions at DHS since December.

Taylor, a former general in the Air Force, has served as chief security officer at General Electric [GE] and has also served in various positions in the State Department, including as Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and as Coordinator for Counterterrorism.

Brothers is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research since 2011 and has also worked at Britain’s BAE Systems in technology roles and at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as a program manager.