Homeland Security Watch

The House will consider a bill tomorrow that would establish a Science
and Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office. The bill (HR 884) reflects a logical, albeit piecemeal (and wordy), progression to empower the Department of Homeland Security with the organizational and legislative capability to pursue Homeland Security objectives overseas.

Collaborating with allies and partners, even reluctant ones, is a valuable step toward communicating our national interests as the shared interest. A report by the Center for the Study of the Presidency made a contribution to the discussion of how DHS could engage internationally with better success. Another paper, by James Carafano, Rich Weitz, and me weighed in on the role of S&T in this effort. These documents, along with DHS 2.0 and others, highlight the potential for engaging such organizations as NATO, the European Union, OSCE, and others to both build counter- and anti-terrorism capabilities and develop a shared understanding of the nature of the threat.

HR 884 is unclear if the Director of the proposed S&T Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office reports to the Under Secretary of S&T or the U/S Policy at DHS. There’s an argument that could be made for either, but the real value is the strong interagency coordination required of its Director – and the $25 million budget. In a climate when DHS S&T appears to be suffering budget blow after blow, this one may fare better if attached to the Policy Directorate, which does have an Office of International Affairs. Of course, reconciling OIA with the new S&T Office would be a first step.

(Updated 2/21/2007)
The week ahead according to DHS:

February 19 – 23, 2007 

Tuesday, February 20 
11:45 AM MST
Secretary Michael Chertoff will participate in a press availability at the Operation Jump Start border fence construction site.
Border Road
San Luis, AZ
OPEN PRESS
*Directions: From Juan Sanchez Blvd. Turn Right. Once you see Avenue E, turn Left (south).Continue south until the end of the paved road and stage there.

Wednesday, February 21
9:45 AM EST
Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE, and other ICE officials will participate in the Virtual Global Task Force (VGT) conference.
Mayflower Renaissance Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS 

Thursday, February 22
8:30 AM EST
Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Telecommunications Greg Garcia will deliver remarks at the Maryland Cyber Security Forum
3501 University Boulevard, East
Adelphi, MD

2:00 PM CST
Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director for Gulf Coast Recovery Gil Jamieson will testify before the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development Field Hearing on Louisiana Post-Katrina Housing
Dillard University
1555 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA
OPEN PRESS

2:00 PM EST
Secretary Michael Chertoff will deliver remarks at the Detroit Economic Club Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
400 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI
OPEN PRESS

3:55 PM EST
Secretary Chertoff will participate in a press availability following a tour of passenger operations at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel
Detroit Windsor Tunnel
E Jefferson Avenue at Randolph Street
Detroit, MI

4:00 PM EST
Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Julie L. Myers will participate in the Virtual Global Task Force Conference
Mayflower Renaissance Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

Friday, February 23
10:45 AM EST
Under Secretary for Science and Technology Jay M. Cohen will deliver remarks on the ThinkTEC Homeland Security Innovation Conference
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command
Charleston, SC
OPEN PRESS

12:00 PM EST
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Emilio Gonzalez will deliver the keynote address at the 28th Annual Immigration Law Update hosted by the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Hyatt Regency
400 SE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL
OPEN PRESS

2:00 PM CST
Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director for Gulf Coast
Recovery Gil Jamieson will testify before the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development Field Hearing on Mississippi Post Katrina Housing
Gulfport City Hall
2309 15th Street
Gulfport, MS
OPEN PRESS

2:10 PM GMT
Acting Chief Privacy Officer Kenneth Mortensen will deliver remarks at the Aviation Security Conference on frameworks to ensure privacy while permitting the exchange of appropriate biometric information
Copthorne Tara Hotel
Scarsdale Place Wrights Lane, Kensington, W8 5SL
London, England
OPEN PRESS

4:00 PM EST
Secretary Michael Chertoff will participate in the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America joint media availability with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, and their Canadian and Mexican counterparts
Lester B. Pearson Building
Main Lobby
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
OPEN PRESS

This was released tonight by DHS. 

Press Office

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

 

Press Release

February 16, 2007

Contact: DHS Press Office (202) 282-8010

NSF Press Office (703) 292-7730

DHS FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH NSF FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE ON DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently issued a potential $58 million, over five years, in grant opportunities for colleges and universities that will focus on detection systems, individual sensors or other research relevant to the detection of nuclear weapons, special nuclear material, radiation dispersal devices and related threats.  The program is called the Academic Research Initiative and will foster frontier research and build the nation’s intellectual capital in nuclear sciences.

“This Academic Research Initiative is a critical element in building the Nation’s intellectual capital in nuclear detection capability,” said DNDO Director, Vayl S. Oxford.  “Continued advances in science and technology are a key element in the long-term effort to protect the Nation against nuclear attacks.”

Proposals submitted to NSF through the Fastlane electronic system, or through Grants.gov, will be reviewed through NSF’s merit-based process using panels of peer reviewers and experts recruited jointly by NSF and DNDO.  Seven NSF units will be participating in the effort including five directorates and two additional offices.  Spanning multiple academic disciplines, this broad expertise will form a comprehensive platform for fundamental research on domestic nuclear detection.”

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense. With an annual budget of about $5.58 billion, NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 1,700 universities and institutions.

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office is a jointly staffed office established to improve the nation’s capability to detect and report unauthorized attempts to import, possess, store, develop, or transport nuclear or radiological material for use against the Nation, and to further enhance this capability over time.

###

The House Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation holds a hearing March 8 at 10:00 a.m. on the Department’s R&D efforts related to nuc and bio terrorism.  Look for more about outreach to the academic community then.

The new GAO study, rolled out in testimony this week by Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues Cathleen Berrick, suggested that DHS and the Transportation Security Administration should improve their risk-based decision making methods, planning and program evaluations, and the ways in which TSA collaborates with relevant stakeholders.

GAO cites Secure Flight – the domestic passenger prescreening system – as an example of disjointed or insufficient management attributes that have kept this program off schedule.  It’s worth reading the sections of this critique that make the case for better coordination across TSA and the international passenger screening efforts under the auspices of Customs and Border Protection.  This dimension of the report forces a more interesting discussion about how the different, but closely related, mission areas of the DHS components (TSA, CBP, S&T) could better reinforce one another and reduce duplication where similar objectives could be pursued with shared methods, data, technology, etc.  Screening of passengers lends itself perfectly to this ongoing challenge.

The new study also takes a look at how TSA and others could better partner with relevant private sector stakeholders.  Primary opportunities for better collaboration include:

• Reducing the time it takes to screen air cargo in order to diminish the disruption to delivery time for air carriers;
• Training individual cargo inspectors on more effective inspection technology;·       
• Supporting the development and deployment of improved inspection technologies; and
• Determining the best approach to implementing a “risk-based management approach to securing air cargo.”

The GAO report, entitled Aviation Security: Progress Made in Systematic Planning to Guide Key Investment Decisions, but More Work Remains, is found here.  A one-page summary also is available.

Updated DHS Schedule:

Thursday, February 15

Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on the department’s 2007 goals: 9:00 AM EST/311 Cannon House Office Building/Washington, DC/OPEN PRESS

Friday, February 16

Secretary Michael Chertoff will deliver remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce: 7:45 AM CST/ Intercontinental Presidente Hotel/ Campos Eliseos 218/ Col Polanco Mexico City, Mexico/ OPEN PRESS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Chief of Citizenship Alfonso Aguilar will deliver the keynote address on citizenship and immigration issues at the Puebla State Forum on U.S.-Mexico Immigration Reform Puebla: 8:30 AM CST/ State Congress/ Puebla, Mexico/ OPEN PRESS

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen will provide remarks on recreational boating safety and maritime security at the annual meeting of Boating Writers International:  8:30 AM EST/ Miami Beach Convention Center:/ 1901 Convention Center Drive/ Miami Beach, FL/ OPEN PRESS

US-VISIT Acting Director Robert Mocny will testify before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security on the fiscal year 2008 budget request for US-VISIT: 10:00 AM EST/ 2362 Rayburn House Office Building/ Washington, DC/ OPEN PRESS 

This month the Congressional Research Service issued a new report on the concept of “risk” in Homeland Security.  The importance of assessing, mitigating, and otherwise calculating risk in the effort to protect the homeland is easy to appreciate.  But claw back the terminology and talking points, and it becomes less clear just how risk can be assessed – much less calculated – when it comes to the evolving threats of terrorism.  Terrorism offers neither the trend lines nor the depth of historical data (thank goodness) needed to design a reliable methodology that risk assessment demands in other cases, such as hurricanes or car accidents.   

Does that mean it’s a useless tool?  Secretary Chertoff brought a welcomed new rationale to homeland security investments when he was nominated by suggesting that politics needn’t drive the way we protect vulnerable components of the country.  He argued that HLS leadership should “base its work on priorities driven by risk.”  Eventually adopting a phrase coined by the HSAC WME Task Force, he began suggesting that DHS efforts should “buy down the risk:”  Investments, in other words, should be targeted in ways that bring about the greatest possible return by gauging the likelihood and potential severity of terrorist threats to the homeland.  According to CRS, that’s easier said than done.  While this may have occurred to many of us during the years since Secretary Chertoff first committed the Department to this rationale, few have been able to bring this kind of clarity to the real challenges of applying risk to protecting against (or actively combating) terrorism.

While this new study draws attention to the important issue of how to apply the nearly $12 billion spent under the federal Homeland Security Grant Program, its worth considering how risk assessments may be used (or eventually required) for determining other HLS investments.  For example, look for renewed attention by Congress on WMD-related initiatives.  Long-lead items such as research and development for better defenses against bio- or nuclear terrorism involve significant uncertainty because scientific research may lead to dead-ends before arriving at a new solution.  It will be important for Congress to consider how risk assessments could determine if WMD attacks are deemed sufficiently likely to warrant the level of commitment called for in some of these areas (see post from 2/6/07).  I’ll dedicate another post soon to this important question.  In the meantime, the CRS study is entitled “The Department of Homeland Security’s Risk Assessment Methodology: Evolution, Issues, and Options for Congress,” and can be found here. 

Consider this a placeholder post today.   I’ll take on a piece at a time of the newly released DHS budget in an effort to highlight selected sections and provide background details.  Some of the budget lines will face very little scrutiny in the Congress and the press.  Areas likely to get a lot of attention include the S&T budgets and technology acquisitions, monies directed toward mass transit security, and funds for some newly created offices or initiatives, among other things, that we can discuss here soon. 

Naturally, the budget calls for steep increases for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, reflecting a sense of urgency, demonstrated progress, and distance to the goal line.  The following is a selection of highlights from this fact sheet about the FY08 DHS budget focused on combating the threat of smuggled nuclear weapons: 

FINAL NOTE: I’m slated to testify before a subcommittee of the House Science Committee in March on the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.  More details to come about that and other related Congressional oversight efforts.  I’ll be sure to post the testimony here.

Last month DHS released the report of a taskforce created under the Homeland Security Advisory Council charged with recommending ways the Secretary could develop a more effective culture throughout the Department. Originally called the Common Culture Task Force, it kicked off with an initial meeting September 13, 2006, with the following mission:

In June 2006, the Secretary directed the HSAC to establish a Common Culture Task Force to provide suggestions and recommendations on achieving and maintaining an energetic, dedicated, unified operational mission-focused culture within the Department. The Task Force will provide organizationally independent findings, suggestions, and recommendations in a brief written report, which shall include identification and consideration of technologies, concepts, and ideas from all sources and across the spectrum of Homeland Security Operations.

In addition to briefings from various component agencies that seem to have a common culture of their own (Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan gave the first talk), Taskforce members were given a peek at the worst indicator. Dr. Leslie Pollack, Manager of HR Research & Studies Group at the Office of Personnel Management gave a rundown of the 2004 and 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey findings on DHS. Needless to say, it was not an upper.

After only about five months of work, the Taskforce agreed to a final draft for approval on January 8. The report hit at just the same time the 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey was released publicly with discouraging assessments of DHS. (The Department ranked 36 out of 36 agencies surveyed on results-oriented performance culture, among other things.) The Culture Taskforce report made six primary recommendations. I’ll highlight two.

It’s rare that an advisory group offers a set of recommendations without attempting organizational reform or the creation of positions and titles. The CTF report includes rationale for creating a second Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, this one for Operations. I was able to help write the final language for this recommendation, but I’m still unsure it would work. Here’s the gist:

This [Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for Operations] would also be in a position of continuity to help drive organizational maturation and to reinforce the culture required for the long-term success of DHS and its components. The DSO would be selected from candidates with a strong National Security operations background similar to a Chief Operations Officer…. The DSO would also maintain close coordination with the Under Secretary for Management, whose ultimate role would be reinforced by the DSO’s seniority and Department-wide jurisdiction.… The DSO would be responsible for creating and/or championing strategic initiatives that reinforce the assumption that all efforts should be about “the Security of the Homeland” – not about the Department of Homeland Security….

The most valuable part of this particular recommendation is the clear-eyed assessment made by the report about the unintended consequences that can flow from an over dependence on political appointees:

Historically and for reasons of urgency it would appear that much of the decision making within the Department’s headquarters has been made by a core group of trusted appointees. … we recommend immediate efforts be undertaken to … identify, select, formally train and empower Government Service personnel throughout the Headquarters to assume positions for a leadership transition period that should be in effect for at least six months on either side of the November 2008 presidential election.

At some point, Taskforce co-chairs agreed that no organization like DHS should realistically aspire to a “common” culture, and so in addition to dropping the word from their Taskforce title, members crafted language for what they called a “Blended Culture.” Here is the thrust of their reasoning:

• No single Homeland Security culture is possible or – for that matter – wise.

• DHS must leverage its Components’ unique cultures to create organizational and operational capacities greater than is the sum of their parts.

• Under Senior Homeland Security leadership – preferably a career employee – DHS should consider outsourcing the continuous development and sustainment of a mission-focused culture within the spectrum of Homeland Security activities.

• Address the appointee imbalance now. Start supplementing appointee personnel throughout the Headquarters with Government personnel to prevent an organizational vacuum and possible Homeland Security “meltdown” that could result with a change in Administrations.

FINAL NOTE: Another post will appear soon about an HSAC report on layered defense that, after becoming bogged down in internal reviews for almost a year, recently surfaced on a DHS webpage.

FINAL FINAL NOTE: Go Bears.

Update (2/5/07): Go Colts.

And, of course, an HLSWatch standard ingredient:

THE WEEK AHEAD FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

February 5 – FEBRUARY 9, 2007

Monday, February 5

11:30 AM EST
U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen will deliver the keynote address at the Passenger Vessel Association Annual Convention
Charleston Area Convention Center Complex
5001 Coliseum Drive
North Charleston, SC
OPEN PRESS

1:30 PM EST
Secretary Michael Chertoff will participate in a press conference on the President’s fiscal year 2008 Budget Report for the Department of Homeland Security
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Amphitheater
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

Tuesday, February 6

10:00 AM EST
Transportation Security Administrator Kip Hawley will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on Rail Security and Public Transit Security
311 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

10:00 AM CST
Federal Emergency Management Agency Acting Director of Recovery Division Dave Garrett will testify before the House Financial Services Committee Field Hearing
Louisiana Supreme Court
400 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA
OPEN PRESS

1:45 PM EST
Director of the Office of National Capital Region Coordination Tom Lockwood will participate on a panel during the Homeland Security: The Ripple Effect Symposium
National Press Club
13th Floor
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

3:00 PM EST
Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Paulison will participate on a panel during the Homeland Security: The Ripple Effect Symposium
National Press Club
First Amendment Ballroom
13th Floor
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

Wednesday, February 7

11:30 AM EST
Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen will deliver remarks at the Reserve Officers Association Mid-Winter Conference’s Coast Guard Affairs Committee Meeting
Washington Hilton Hotel
1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

5:00 PM PST
Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson will deliver remarks at the Center for International Trade and Transportation 9th Annual Meeting
California State University, Long Beach
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 Atherton Street
Long Beach, CA
OPEN PRESS

Thursday, February 8

10:00 AM EST
Chief Procurement Officer Elaine Duke, Secure Border Initiative Executive Director Gregg Giddens, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen, and Inspector General Richard Skinner will testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on “Procurement Practices of DHS: Private Contractors as Systems Integrators”
2154 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

10:30 AM EST
Transportation Security Administration Federal Security Director Mike Young will host a media event unveiling a new in-line baggage system
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
North end of the ticketing level, adjacent to the American Eagle ticket counter
5300 Riverside Drive
Cleveland, OH
OPEN PRESS

12:00 PM PST
Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Telecommunications Greg Garcia will deliver a keynote address at the 2007 RSA Conference followed by a town hall meeting on safeguarding America’s cyber and telecommunications infrastructure
The Moscone Center
Green Room 103
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA
OPEN PRESS

Friday, February 9

8:00 AM EST
Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Paulison will deliver the keynote address at the International Disaster Management Conference
The Rosen Centre Hotel
9840 International Drive
Orlando, FL
OPEN PRESS

8:30 AM EST
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Gonzalez will deliver remarks at a Business/Employer Immigration Seminar
Ray Goode-Ryder Conference Center
1601 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL
OPEN PRESS

9:00 AM EST
Secretary Michael Chertoff will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on “An Examination of the President’s FY 2008 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security”
311 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC
OPEN PRESS

9:00 AM PST
Acting Chief of Staff for the Privacy Office Kenneth Mortensen will speak at the 2007 RSA Conference
The Moscone Center
Burgundy Room 130
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA
OPEN PRESS