Peter Boynton is CEO of KRI, LLC and a Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University. KRI provides a co-located research model bringing together university, industry and government labs to accelerate technology transition, a venture creation center for early-stage companies, and a clinical COVID testing lab.
Boynton was previously Commissioner of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for the state of Connecticut, appointed by both Democratic and Republican governors and twice confirmed by the General Assembly. As commissioner, he oversaw three presidential disaster declarations, co-led the H1N1 pandemic response with the Commissioner of Public Health, and established the state intelligence fusion center and statewide emergency response framework.
While serving as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, Boynton commanded three Coast Guard cutters, was captain of the port, and a Director for Global Affairs on the White House National Security Council. Following his Coast Guard service, he was appointed Federal Security Director for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Bradley International Airport, the second largest airport in New England, where he led the airport from the lowest TSA rating to the top ten. He was appointed by the Department of Homeland Security as Deputy Principal Federal Official for Pandemic Preparedness for New England.
Boynton holds a master’s degree from Harvard University and an engineering degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on emergency management and homeland security, and holds an unlimited master’s license for ocean-going vessels of any tonnage.