Matt Bettenhausen

Matt is Vice President and Chief Security Officer for AEG Worldwide. AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. They own or manage over 120 sports and entertainment venues such as STAPLES Center and the LA Live entertainment district in Los Angeles and the O2 arena and entertainment district in London, England. They own sports franchises in professional basketball, hockey, and soccer. AEG LIVE is the second largest promoter of concerts, live tours and special events in the United States. Matt has overall responsibility for security, public safety and preparedness for AEG’s domestic and global operations and facilities.

Previously, Matt was appointed in March 2005 as the Director of the California Office of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Effective January 1, 2009, the Office of Homeland Security (OHS) and Office of Emergency Services (OES) were combined to create California’s newest state agency–CalEMA, California Emergency Management Agency. Matt was appointed by the Governor to serve as the Secretary of this new Agency and as Homeland Security Advisor to Governor. There he was responsible for developing and implementing a statewide strategy to prevent terrorism and prepare for all potential hazards facing California. Administered an annual budget of over $1.4 billion and served as a member of Governor Schwarzenegger’s Cabinet and Chairman of California’s Emergency Operations Executive Council.

He has held a number of senior leadership positions with national and state organizations, such as the National Homeland Security Consortium (Chair), National Governors Association’s Homeland Security Advisors Council (Chair) and National Emergency Managers Association (VP). He is a board member of the Event Safety Alliance and served on the external advisory board to Sandia National Laboratory.