From 1999-2000, Kayyem served as former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt's appointee to the National Commission on Terrorism, a Congressionally mandated review of how the government could better prepare for the growing terrorist threat.
She was appointed as Massachusetts' first Undersecretary for Homeland Security by Governor Deval L. Patrick in January 2007,[REF] overseeing the National Guard, the commonwealth's strategic security planning, and the distribution of homeland security funds consistent with the Governor's priorities.