DHS seeking Callahan replacement

The Homeland Security Department has started advertising for a person to fill Laura Callahan's position, but an agency spokeswoman said that Callahan has not been fired and remains on administrative leave.

Callahan has been on leave since June 5 after Washington Technology and Government Computer News reported that she had obtained her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from Hamilton University, an alleged diploma mill.

DHS listed Callahan's position of deputy chief information officer on USAJobs.opm.gov July 7. The position closes July 21. According to the posting, the Senior Executive Service position has a salary range of $131,342 to $142,500 per year.

The deputy CIO's job listing does not require any specific level of academic achievement, but does require that applicants identify all educational information including the name, city and state of all colleges or universities attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received.

The Office of Personnel Management only recognizes degrees from accredited institutions and does not allow federal employees to obtain promotions or tuition reimbursements based on degrees from unaccredited schools.

Reached at home, Callahan declined to comment and referred questions to her attorney, Ralph Lotkin, who did not return phone calls.