The Office of Law Enforcement and Security has changed its name to recognize the vital and growing role of emergency management programs. With the publication of a new chapter in the Departmental Manual (on June 14, 2006), the office was redesignated as the Office of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management (OLESEM).

Since the publication of the National Response Plan in December 2004, the department has played an increasingly important role in supporting the overall federal response during major disasters and “incidents of national significance.” Interior has identified individual bureaus and offices to lead the department’s support efforts in each of 15 functional areas under which the federal emergency response is organized.

“Improvements in the nation’s plans for responding to emergencies are being driven at the White House by the Homeland Security Council,” said Larry Parkinson, deputy assistant secretary for Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management. “Since Hurricane Katrina, we meet at the HSC weekly, if not more often, to provide direction for improving federal capability to respond to emergencies.”

Within OLESEM, the Emergency Management Division is managed by Laurence I. Broun, who serves as the departmental emergency coordinator. Broun also leads the DOI Emergency Management Council. The council consists of emergency coordinators from each bureau and from those offices within the Office of the Secretary that have significant responsibilities related to emergency management.

“Following Hurricane Katrina, extensive analysis took place to identify lessons learned and to formulate corrective actions to improve our capability to respond to future emergencies,” Broun said. “We now have established two branches within the Emergency Management Division.

One branch will continue to focus on Continuity of Operations programs to assure that the Department and its bureaus can coordinate essential services for the public when the nation is struck by a terrorist incident or catastrophic event. Our new Preparedness and Response Branch will concentrate on incident management preparedness and planning to effectively apply the Department’s resources in support of the National Response Plan.”

The Continuity of Operations Branch is lead by Estle Lewis, who most recently planned Interior’s participation in interagency Exercise TOPOFF-4, testing the ability of top officials throughout the government to relocate to alternate facilities and effectively organize response to several simultaneous emergencies. While permanent staff is being recruited, the Preparedness and Response Branch is now led by Roger Boykin, who is on detail from Fish and Wildlife Service.

Other permanent staff serving in the Emergency Management Division include Lisa Beverly, a continuity of operations planner who is completing an advanced degree in Homeland Security. Paul Marsden is on detail to the program from Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, to coordinate implementation of disaster management information technology “e-Gov” initiatives.

CDR Marta Guerra, a veterinarian with the U.S. Public Health Service, is on detail to lead planning for avian and pandemic influenza planning. For the coming year, Jeffrey Stern will also support the program. Stern is a doctoral candidate and White House Fellow with professional experience in structural firefighting, emergency medical services and emergency management.