A few months ago, the DHS Private Sector Office started a project to gather all the training, publications, guidance, alerts, newsletters, programs, and services available to the private sector from across the department.  The idea was to centralize all this information and publish it in a catalog for our private sector partners, providing them direct lines of access to critical resources at DHS - whether they need a contact in the Intelligence and Analysis Private Sector Partnership Program, or if they just want to read the latest on this blog - the Private Sector Resources Catalog was to be a "white pages" of sorts where our partners in academia, the non-profit world, NGOs, and the business sector could find at-a-glance information on any topic or office within DHS.

The resulting product turned out to be a fantastic resource we think has value both for the intended private sector audience and for the public alike.  The catalog provides information, contact numbers and email addresses, and websites for almost every program, office, and component within DHS.  Need the 4-1-1 on the 3-1-1 liquid restrictions for passenger travel on commercial airlines, or information about TSA's Security Grant Programs?  Just visit the TSA Programs and Services section.  Want a run down of all the DHS Centers of Excellence?  Check out the Science and Technology Directorate section.  There is also an A-Z appendix of key program office and component contacts from around the department. 

We hope that our partners in the private sector and indeed the public will find this a useful resource.  President Obama and Secretary Napolitano are committed to increased transparency and public access to those serving in the public trust; the catalog is another tool that serves that purpose.

Check out the new Private Sector Resources Catalog, and leave your feedback in the comments section of the blog.

Today, in support of the President's Open Government Directive, the department is proud to unveil its Open Government Plan. We've worked over the past several months to draft a document that would not simply check a box or fulfill a requirement, but that would chart a clear course forward as we mature the department and work with our stakeholders and state, local, and tribal partners to develop the homeland security enterprise. The Open Government Initiative is critical as we work toward these goals, establishing a culture of transparency, public engagement, and active outreach on homeland security issues that directly affect the systems, infrastructure, and people we work to protect.

We focused on the four core principles behind the Open Government Initiative in drafting the plan:

In recent days, the Department of Homeland Security has taken a major step toward its priority to create a more open, transparent, efficient, and effective government. As part of President Obama's Open Government Directive, we have now launched the DHS Open Government Initiative.

The Administration has set four goals for its Open Government effort, calling them the "cornerstone of an open government." The goals DHS will seek are:

1. improving transparency by providing more information and data about the Department's activities in a timely and accessible manner;
2. increasing participation by utilizing new tools and strategies to encourage input and feedback from the public;
3. expanding collaboration with our many partners, both inside and outside government; and
4. encouraging innovation to find new ways to make the government more open and efficient and save taxpayers money.

The Department of Homeland Security wants your input on our Open Government Plan. How should we increase our transparency to the public? What is the best way to foster a culture of participation? Do you have ideas to help increase collaboration? We want to hear your thoughts and ideas.

The online participation tool will be available until March 19, 2010. You can contribute your own ideas and rate idea others have submitted.

Chris Cummiskey
Chief of Staff, Management Directorate