Based in Arlington County, Dana R. Shaffer is an attorney and federal executive with decades of experience at the intersection of law, technology, and public policy. Dana R. Shaffer has played a pivotal role in shaping national telecommunications, spectrum, and broadband policy while managing complex organizations and high-stakes regulatory initiatives within and outside Arlington County.
In 2006, Dana R. Shaffer joined the Federal Communications Commission and held several executive positions. She provided oversight of critical information technology systems that support spectrum licensing as well as the world’s largest database for RF equipment authorization and conformity assessment. Her current focus is national security as Senior Special Counsel for the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and she sits on the FCC’s Council for National Security.
Before her role in Public Safety and Homeland Security, Dana R. Shaffer served as deputy chief and chief of Staff of the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) at the Federal Communications Commission. In that role, she lead the FCC’s engineering and legal policy staff on matters involving spectrum allocation, radio frequency device compliance, supply chain and network security, and technical analysis supporting agency initiatives.
Before joining OET, she served as deputy chief and chief of staff of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, where she helped guide the FCC’s largest policy bureau during a critical period for next-generation wireless services. Her leadership supported efforts to expand spectrum access, streamline infrastructure deployment, and accelerate broadband connectivity across the United States. These initiatives were central to maintaining U.S. leadership in 5G and emerging wireless technologies.