Shonnie R. Lyon

Shonnie R. Lyon is the Acting Director of the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) within the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). OBIM, formerly the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Program, is the lead entity in the DHS for biometric identity management services across Government. Mr. Lyon is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the program and working closely with the Department to advance biometrics.

In February 2014, Mr. Lyon was appointed as NPPD’s Component Acquisition Executive (CAE) in addition to his role as the Acting Director of OBIM. As NPPD’s CAE, Mr. Lyon leads initiatives related to acquisition and investment management. Mr. Lyon is highly qualified to serve in this capacity having more than 20 years of experience in Acquisition Program Management; and more than six years of acquisition program experience as the US-VISIT level 1 program manager. He is also level 3 acquisition program manager certified.

Previously, Mr. Lyon served as Deputy Director of US-VISIT a provider of identity management services—collecting, analyzing, and storing biometric and associated biographic data—to decision makers in Federal, State, and local law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Mr. Lyon worked at US-VISIT since its inception in 2003, first serving as Implementation Manager of the program’s initial deployment to over 115 airports and 15 major seaports in 2004.

Mr. Lyon has over 25 years of management experience in the public sector. He served as Deputy Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Entry-Exit Program Office, and Chief of Program Development and Implementation Branch in the INS Office of Inspections. Mr. Lyon also served as the Deputy Director for the Inspections Unit in the INS Office of Field Operations, where he held a variety of staff positions.

Mr. Lyon is a former U.S. Army infantry officer. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Louisiana College and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Texas. He is also a graduate of the Executive Education program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Mr. Lyon holds a level III certification in acquisition from DHS.