Posted by Alejandro Mayorkas, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

This morning, against the backdrop of the original Star-Spangled Banner, I had the privilege of participating in a naturalization ceremony at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.

Posted by Warren Stern, Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

The fire service is a major provider of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in America. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is committed to supporting EMS through the many training programs of the National Fire Academy (NFA) and the research and data collection activities of the National Fire Data Center. The 2012 National EMS Week – EMS: More Than A Job. A Calling – is May 20 thru May 26.

I would like to share with you some of USFA’s initiatives that will help ensure vibrant and effective EMS systems throughout the nation:

• In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Affairs (OHA), USFA recently completed several project initiatives to support the EMS community including:

  Funding Alternatives for Emergency Medical and Fire Services (PDF, 3.7 Mb). This revised manual provides the most up to date information regarding funding for local level EMS and fire departments. The document includes sources of federal funding as well as other new and innovative funding sources not discussed in previous editions.

  Handbook for EMS Medical Directors. Produced with the assistance of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) EMS Section, this handbook provides an overview of key roles and responsibilities to assist current and prospective medical directors in performing their important missions.

• Also with DHS OHA, USFA is working on an EMS Responder Safety Study in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), as well as a soon to be completed project documenting model polices and protocols for EMS mass care incident deployment with the National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA).
• In response to USFA’s Reauthorization Act of 2008, which authorized the NFA to provide advanced EMS training, four new courses have been developed: EMS Quality Management, EMS Functions in the Incident Command System, EMS Incident Operations, and Hot Topics Research for EMS. EMS examples, references, and activities are also included in all other appropriate NFA courses. In addition, NFA’s new Leadership Strategies in Community Risk Reduction course is a combined effort for fire prevention and illness/injury prevention through all-risk, all-discipline community risk reduction. 
• USFA is a key partner on the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS). This committee seeks to ensure coordination across all Federal agencies with EMS mission responsibilities. FICEMS also coordinates the liaison efforts of Federal agencies with the Nation’s input to the National EMS Advisory Council. 
• With the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)/National Institute of Justice (NIJ), USFA has begun a study of emergent topics in emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety to assist in the development and demonstration of best practices for the emergency services, including EMS.

USFA recognizes the critical importance of EMS provided by fire departments and other agencies and is dedicated to meeting your needs. For additional information regarding USFA’s training and research efforts which support EMS, visit the EMS section of our website.

-Posted by Douglas A. Smith, Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector

I am pleased to release the newest update of the Private Sector Resources Catalog.  Originally created two years ago, this document centralizes resources from the 23 different DHS Components into one location and categorizes them for easy access. The Catalog has information on the training, publications, guidance, alerts, newsletters, programs, and services available to the private sector from across the department.

This comprehensive document provides access to all the Department’s resources to make your organization – and our country – more secure. As Secretary Napolitano has said, homeland security begins with hometown security.

Appropriate for all audiences in the private sector from emergency managers at academic institutions to critical infrastructure owners and operators, the Private Sector Resources Catalog (PSRC) also includes a comprehensive index organizing resources by issue (such as Protection) and by type (such as Risk Assessment).

As we continue to improve the document over time, we welcome your comments and feedback – please email private.sector@dhs.gov with any suggestions.

-Posted by Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alexander Garza

This week we celebrate and honor the federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal Emergency Medical Service (EMS) practitioners serving communities all across the country. Operating at the crossroads of health care, public health, and public safety, EMS plays a vital role in ensuring that we are prepared for the health consequences from any potential threats facing our nation. As a former paramedic, I know firsthand the dedication, commitment, and selfless sacrifice of our medical first responders.

EMS providers have demanding jobs. They are asked to be first responders in a wide range of circumstances. In addition to daily medical response, the EMS community must be prepared to respond with care and efficiency at a moment’s notice to natural disasters and other threats. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes the critical response functions performed by pre-hospital providers across the country. Here at the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), we work every day to enhance medical first responder capabilities.

Over the past year, a number of OHA initiatives have been launched to integrate the EMS community into the broader spectrum of preparedness activities including: developing human trafficking awareness training as part of the DHS Blue Campaign; developing an integrated strategy to collaborate with Canadian EMS, emergency management and others as part of the Beyond the Border Initiative; and partnering with the U.S. Fire Administration to publish Funding Alternatives for Emergency Medical and Fire Services and a Handbook for EMS Medical Directors. 

Within DHS, we continue to operate a robust EMS System comprised of over 3,500 medical first responders. This week, I encourage everyone to acknowledge the service and hard work of their local EMS provider to make our nation a safer place.

Posted by Lars Anderson, Director of Public Affairs, FEMA

Extreme (and not so extreme) swings in the weather occur all the time. We often experience warm days in the winter and cold days in the summer.  So I guess we shouldn’t be all that surprised when Mother Nature decides to launch her first tropical storm thirteen days in advance of the scheduled start of hurricane season (June 1).

Yesterday gave up the first tropical system for the Atlantic season with the formation of Tropical Storm Alberto off the South Carolina Coast.

As of this afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center, the center of the storm is located 90 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina and is moving toward the west-southwest at near 6 mph.  Alberto is expected to slow down and move little through Monday, and after that it is expected to make a northeastward acceleration Monday night and Tuesday. On this track, the center of Alberto is forecast to remain offshore of the Carolina and Georgia coasts.

This early storm formation should encourage coastal residents in Georgia and the Carolinas to monitor weather conditions and take steps now to get prepared for potential severe weather.  Tropical waves or tropical storms can bring heavy rains and high winds, so it’s important that you take steps to prepare your property and family.

In fact, all those who live in hurricane prone areas should heed this early storm as a sign to be prepared for the season. Visit Ready.gov/hurricanes (Listo.gov para español) to learn how to prepare your home and family for a hurricane or tropical storm.

Tropical Storm and Hurricane Preparedness and Safety Tips:

• Now is the time to be prepared if you live in a coastal area or could be affected by severe weather.  Build your own emergency supply kit—personalized with the non-perishable foods you like, your medications, personal documents.
• Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov for tips on creating your family emergency plan and putting together an emergency supply kit.
• Monitor local radio and television news outlets or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments. Your local National Weather Service forecast office is the best place to find information about the weather that may affect your area, so check your local forecast at www.weather.gov or on your phone at mobile.weather.gov.

As we continue to closely monitor Tropical Storm Alberto, everyone should get familiar with the terms that are used to identify a severe weather hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a tropical storm watch or warning is issued. Terms used to describe severe tropical weather include the following:

• A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible, in this case within 24 hours.
• A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.
• A Hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.
• A Hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours.

With this early development of the first tropical system, FEMA is taking our part seriously as we monitor developments through our regional office in Atlanta, Ga.  We encourage residents to do the same.  After all, as she has proven once again, and as the saying goes…”It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.”

Posted by the Office of Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano and White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Heidi Avery lay a wreath and observe a moment of silence in remembrance of those who were imprisoned, tortured or killed at Dachau Concentration Camp. May 19, 2012. Photo: U.S. State Department

More on the Secretary's Trip to Germany

• Secretary Napolitano's Visit to Germany
• Secretary Napolitano's Visit to Germany: Day 2

Cross-posted from the Coast Guard Compass


Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano speaks at the Coast Guard Academy's 131st commencement exercise May 16, 2012, in New London , Conn. In all, 233 cadets received their diplomas and commissions as new ensigns in the Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

Written by Chief Warrant Officer Kimberly R. Smith, Coast Guard Academy Public Affairs.

With the graduation of the class of 2012, another year passes at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. But with this class and institution, as with the Coast Guard itself, the year has been anything but routine. Many firsts and new beginnings were seeded at these cultivated grounds and now germinate into our fleet.

Before this final year for the class of 2012 even kicked-off, the campus celebrated the appointment of the first female superintendent of any U.S. federal service academy, Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz. Stosz, a 1982 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, is the first female Coast Guard Academy graduate to achieve the rank of flag officer and is a surface operations officer with 12 years at sea.


The Coast Guard's newest ensigns await their diplomas during the 131st commencement exercise May 16, 2012, in New London , Conn. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

 The very same institution that graduated and later celebrated this historic milestone for women also saw the formation of one of the country’s first gay-straight alliances at a federal service academy. Ensign Chip Hall was one of the founders of this inaugural group and used his experiences to assist other service academies, like the West Point Spectrum club, set up similar organizations.

As with every aspect of cadet life, the academy strives to provide opportunities to broaden each cadet’s experience on their path to become a leader of character and ensure their success when using these lessons in the fleet.

Just in time for four members of the class of 2012 reporting to Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf after graduation, the academy hosted the very first Arctic Conference where those charged with exercising leadership on Arctic policy formulation and implementation discussed emerging issues for the Arctic region.

“I was excited to get on the Bertholf, but even more excited when I found out we were going to the Arctic,” said Ensign Jamie Kim, an Irvine, Calif. native. “It’s a patrol that very few people get to experience, and I feel very fortunate that it will be my first real underway experience.”

“I am always open to seeing and trying out new things,” said Ensign Khiem Nagy, a Tarriffville, Conn. native. “This northern patrol will be one of the many unique opportunities that I will get to experience while I am with the U.S. Coast Guard.”


The Coast Guard's first National Security Cutter is accompanied by the newly re-engined MH-65C helicopter in the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas M. Blue.

 This summer the Bertholf will fulfill its role as a national asset uniquely equipped to respond support the mission in the Arctic protect America’s national interests as human activity continues to increase and navigable waterways in the region continue to expand.

“Today we face a world of evolving threats, and the qualities you have developed over the last four years at the United States Coast Guard Academy are exactly what our nation needs,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “I am confident that all of you are well prepared to excel at whatever comes next, ready to join a long line of leaders in an organization with a rich history.”

This year’s graduating class by the numbers: 233 total graduates
➢ 68 female graduates
➢ 165 male graduates
➢ 197 ensigns will report to cutters
➢ 24 ensigns will report to flight school
➢ 9 ensigns will report to sectors

Congratulations to the Class of 2012, you are now part of the distinguished “Long Blue Line.”

-Posted by Public Affairs
 
Earlier this month, Secretary Napolitano traveled to Australia where she led the Presidential delegation at the 70th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of the Coral Sea. While the Secretary was there, she met bilaterally with Australian counterparts to discuss a variety of issues including information sharing, trusted traveler programs, cybersecurity, countering violent extremism, combating transnational crime, and global supply chain security.

Following up on these recent discussions, Australian Attorney-General Nicola Roxon yesterday traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Secretary Napolitano and sign a Statement of Cybersecurity Intent to enhance global cybersecurity and cyber incident response capabilities.

This statement of intent will help enhance situational awareness and information sharing on cybersecurity issues, increase collaboration and sharing of cybersecurity best practices, and create opportunities for training and cooperation in cyber exercises.

Yesterday’s statement follows four other joint statements signed between the United States and the Australian Governments, during Secretary Napolitano’s visit, that will increase and strengthen intelligence sharing to combat transnational crime and terrorism, facilitate travel between Australia and the United States and ensure a more safe, secure and resilient global supply chain.



FLETC Director Connie Patrick participates on Women in Law Enforcement Leadership panel at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo courtesy of FLETC PAO.



U.S. Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand Kristie Kenney addresses the more than 40 women who attended the Women in Law Enforcement Leadership Training Program. Photo courtesy of FLETC PAO.

Publicado por la Directora Ejecutiva de Asuntos Académicos Lauren Kielsmeier

En su esfuerzo por continuar atrayendo los mejores y más inteligentes estudiantes internacionales para estudiar en los Estados Unidos, en el día de hoy DHS agregó más programas de licenciatura designados dentro de las áreas de ciencias, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM, por sus siglas en inglés) a la lista de prórrogas calificadas a las visas de estudiantes.

Estos nuevos programas de licenciatura designados dentro de STEM, que incluyen las ciencias farmacéuticas, la econometría y la economía cuantitativa, califican a los graduados elegibles que tengan visas de estudiante para una prórroga opcional de capacitación práctica (OPT, por sus siglas en inglés). OPT les permite a los estudiantes internacionales que sean elegibles permanecer en los Estados Unidos hasta 12 meses mientras adquieren experiencia de trabajo y reciben capacitación relacionada con sus programas de estudio.

Los estudiantes que se gradúen con un título designado dentro de STEM pueden permanecer durante otros 17 meses con una prórroga OPT STEM . Uno puede ser elegible para la prórroga OPT STEM de 17 meses bajo las siguientes circunstancias:

• Su título para su período actual de OPT posterior a obtenerlo es una licenciatura, una maestría o un doctorado en un programa incluido dentro de STEM 
• El empleador del que pretende obtener empleo usa el Programa E-Verify
• No ha recibido anteriormente una prórroga de OPT por 17 meses

Para más información sobre la lista más extensa de programas de licenciatura designados dentro de STEM, visite aquí.

-Posted by Executive Director for Academic Engagement Lauren Kielsmeier

In an effort to continue to attract the best and brightest international students to study in the United States, today DHS added more science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) designated-degree programs to the list of qualifying student visa extensions.

These newly added STEM designated-degree programs, including pharmaceutical sciences, econometrics and quantitative economics, qualify eligible graduates on student visas for an optional practical training (OPT) extension.  OPT allows eligible international students to remain in the United States for up to 12 months while they gain work experience and receive training related to their programs of study.

Students who graduate with a STEM designated degree can remain for an additional 17 months on an OPT STEM extension. You may be eligible for the 17-Month OPT STEM extension under the following circumstances:

• Your degree for your current period of post-completion OPT is a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM program listed
• The employer from which you are seeking work uses the E-Verify Program
• You have not already received a 17-month extension of OPT

For more information about the expanded list of STEM designated-degree program, please visit here.

Posted by Rand Beers, Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD)

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and each of us has a role to play. Emerging cyber threats require the engagement of our entire society—from government and law enforcement to the private sector and most importantly, members of the public. Increasingly, we are seeing sophisticated and fast-paced cyber criminal activity, but in many cases, prevention of cyber crime starts at home. 

Recently, a cybercrime ring initiated a massive, sophisticated Internet fraud scheme in which it launched malicious software, or “malware,” known as DNSChanger (short for Domain Name System Changer). This malware infected more than four million computers in 100 countries and may have prevented users’ anti-virus software from working correctly, allowing the malware to take control of the computers’ domain name systems, resulting in interference with Web browsing. 

As of April 10, there were still more than 84,000 infected computers inside the United States, and it’s possible that many users may not even know they were infected.  At DHS, our computer forensics specialists and electronic crimes task forces regularly work with partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  to create a safe, secure, and resilient cyber environment.  In this case, we have reached out to enable a private sector nonprofit – the Internet Services Corporation – to assist users whose computers have been infected by the DNSChanger malware by maintaining “clean” DNS servers that support safer Web browsing. These servers will allow those affected by the malware to clean their affected computers and restore their normal DNS settings. 

I encourage everyone to keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.  And, you can assess your own computer’s susceptibility for the DNSChanger malware at the industry-wide DNSChanger Working Group website.  In fact, I just tested my computer at home – the process was simple, straight-forward, and only took a few minutes.

Please act now. The clean servers maintained by the private sector in coordination with the FBI will expire on July 9, 2012.  Internet users who have the DNSChanger malware and whose Internet Service Provider (ISP) has moved them to one of the clean servers, may not have access to the Internet after this date.  In order to maintain proper cyber hygiene, we should all take advantage of the DNSChanger Working Group website to redirect this malware before the July 9 deadline to avoid any disruption of services or the loss of your Internet connectivity.  

DHS is committed to ensuring cyberspace supports a secure and resilient infrastructure, enables innovation and prosperity, and protects privacy and other civil liberties by design, but we need everyone, including our industry partners and the general public to do their part. 

For additional information on DNSChanger, please visit www.dhs.gov/nccic.

Posted by LT Stephanie Young, USCG


A sinking self-propelled, semi-submersible was interdicted in the Western Caribbean Sea March 30, 2012, by the crews of Coast Guard Cutter Decisive, Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island, Joint Interagency Task Force South and the Honduran Navy. The SPSS sank during the interdiction in thousands of feet of water. U.S. Coast Guard photo.


Coast Guard crews have been hard at work disrupting a rising threat as drug smugglers use increasingly sophisticated and evolving methods to evade authorities in the Caribbean.

First, there was the $180 million cocaine seizure by Coast Guard Cutter Seneca. Then there was Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk and their 24-hour pursuit followed by a double bust resulting in a total cocaine seizure of seven tons. And we can’t forget the latest interdiction from Coast Guard Cutters Decisive and Pea Island. While these cases involved different crews and different circumstances, they all had one thing in common – drug subs.

The typical self-propelled, semi-submersible – commonly referred to as a drug sub – can travel up to 5,000 miles, bringing illicit cargo, whether it be narcotics, goods or people, to the shores of our nation.

A Coast Guard HC-144 in flight. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Dave Silva.

With every drug sub interdiction, we have shared with Compass readers the stories of the men and women who made the missions a success. But in each of these stories one vital asset is mentioned far too briefly – air support.

Aircrews are a fundamental part of the drug interdiction mission but their work mostly goes untold. Perhaps no crew better exemplifies just how key air support is than the crew of the Aviation Training Center Mobile airplane involved in the latest drug sub interdiction.

While our original story only mentioned them in one sentence, they were instrumental in the mission. How instrumental? This aircrew was responsible for the first interdiction of a self-propelled, semi-submersible by an HC-144, on the first day downrange on their first deployment with Joint Interagency Task Force South.

That’s a lot of “firsts” for this aircrew and their success is an indication of what the HC-144 brings to the fight.

The phrase “needle in a haystack” is time and again used to describe the difficulty of spotting something in the vast expanse of the ocean. For an aircrew trying to spot a drug sub, this phrase just isn’t enough. Built in the jungles and remote areas of South America, the typical drug sub is less than 100 feet in length and is specifically designed to be difficult to spot.

In the latest interdiction case, the crewmembers – two observers, two mission system operators and two pilots – were aided by the asset’s unique capabilities.

“Our aircraft has surface search radar, a day/night camera and a mission system pallet that connects both to the rest of the Coast Guard,” said Lt. Justin Hunt, the crew’s aircraft commander. “Our mission system operators are trained to use this equipment to search for objects of interest well beyond what a person aboard the aircraft can see with their eyes.”

Petty Officer 1st Class Rommel Fox, one of the aircrew’s mission system operators, found two targets using the mission system pallet, the plane’s on board sensor control station. This high-tech system allows the crew to operate the aircraft’s sensors and send information – both classified and unclassified – off the aircraft to others who can analyze the data.

The HC-144’s increased endurance gives the Coast Guard a multi-mission aircraft capable of performing such missions as maritime patrol, law enforcement, search and rescue, disaster response and cargo and personnel transport. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Sarah B. Foster.

After finding nothing suspect at their first target, the aircrew flew towards their second. Just as the pilots flew into the position Fox vectored them to, Petty Officer 1st Class Casey Maynard, the crew’s observer, spoke up over the radio: “I see an SPSS! It’s right below us!”

“This was truly a full crew evolution, using the aircraft equipment coupled with diligent searching from the observers in the back,” said Hunt. “Definitely a good day for our crew.”

And with the success of their first deployment with Joint Interagency Task Force South, Hunt looks to the future as he and his crew continue their work with partner agencies to fight transnational organized crime.

“It was great that we were able to use the HC-144 to its full potential on this deployment,” said Hunt. “I had an awesome crew that made this a highly successful deployment. As the first HC-144 crew to deploy in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South, we had the opportunity to establish new relationships with both the Colombian navy and coast guard and the Colombian air force.