Jose Cantu

Jose Cantu joined the DHS Program Executive Officer for UAS and C-UAS in March 2024, bringing extensive experience in UAS and C-UAS operations both domestically and abroad. In his current role, he recently led the coordination of Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and co-led the coordination of C-UAS equipment to support and secure operations for this summer's FIFA matches.

He began his career as an Intelligence Analyst with the United States Army, deploying to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011. Following his military service, Jose worked as a government contractor, supporting counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he was at the forefront of analyzing UAS proliferation in combat zones.

Domestically, he served as a Crime Analyst for the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, assisting various law enforcement agencies with counter-drug analysis and investigation support. Prior to his current position at DHS, Jose supported the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the development of advanced data infrastructures for the integration of UAS detections from diverse C-UAS equipment worldwide, enhancing DoD force protection and expanding community awareness of UAS activities through data analytics.

Jose holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is pursuing a graduate degree in Applied Intelligence at Georgetown University. Residing in Northern Virginia, he enjoys boxing, skiing, and traveling in his free time.