Posted by Public Affairs
Secretary Napolitano is in Madrid today to meet with her counterparts from the G6+1 comprised of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK.

Secretary Napolitano at the G6+1 in Madrid (Photo by DHS)

During her meetings, Secretary Napolitano discussed the importance of working with global partners to strengthen border security, prevent the exploitation of international borders by terrorists and transnational criminals, and combat illicit trafficking. Through initiatives such as Operation Rubix Cube, operated by U.S., British and Nigerian authorities, information sharing has led to over 100 seizures of heroin and cocaine shipments across three continents since March 2010.

Secretary Napolitano also underscored the key roles of our partners in improving security cooperation and information sharing to better protect our global trade and travel systems.

The Department has continued to expand collaboration with our European partners through initiatives such as Operation Pacific Rim, a transnational criminal investigation, with Spain and other international partners, that, since 2009, has identified and dismantled the largest drug trafficking and bulk cash smuggling organization in U.S. law enforcement history.

Secretary Napolitano signing the U.S.-Spain Agreement on Science and Technology for Homeland Security Matters

While in Madrid, Secretary Napolitano joined Spanish First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalacaba to sign the U.S.-Spain Agreement on Science and Technology for Homeland Security Matters.

She also met bilaterally with French Interior Minister Claude Gueant, Polish Interior Minister Jerzy Miller, and UK Home Secretary Theresa May.

Check back for an update tomorrow as the Secretary travel to Vienna where she will deliver remarks to the Annual Security Review Conference at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and meet with Austrian and international officials.

Posted by the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign.
Social media presents both opportunities and dangers

More than half of all Americans have accounts on one or more social network  like Facebook, Twitter or MySpace. Even here at DHS we are using social media to share information and engage with the public.

While social media is a great way to communicate and share information with friends and family, there are real dangers from hackers and cyber criminals. A stranger online should be treated in the same way as a stranger in real life. Unfamiliar “friends” or connections on social networks are not likely your true friends. Worse, they could be ill-intentioned people who use social networking sites to target or collect personal information.

Whether on social networks or web connected video games, follow these simple security tips from the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team:

• Limit the amount of personal information you post: Do not post information that would make you vulnerable, such as your address or information about your schedule or routine. If your trusted friends post information about you, make sure the information is not more than you would be comfortable sharing with strangers.
• Be wary of strangers: The internet makes it easy for people to misrepresent their identities and motives. If you interact with people you do not know, be cautious about the amount of information you reveal.
• Be skeptical: Don't believe everything you read online. People may post false or misleading information about various topics, including their own identities.
• Evaluate your settings: Take advantage of a site's security and privacy settings and review them regularly to make sure that your choices are still appropriate.

Stop.Think.Connect. Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone.


For more information on the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign, please visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

Posted by Secretary Janet Napolitano
One of the most gratifying parts of my job is meeting DHS employees who are dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of communities across the country. People are often surprised to learn that almost 90 percent of the men and women of DHS are not located in the Washington, DC area, but work in all 50 states and in 75 countries around the world.

Today, as part of the Department’s commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, we are launching Faces of Homeland Security: Heroes on the Front Lines to tell the stories of some of the inspiring DHS employees who have gone above and beyond to prevent terrorism, secure our borders, enforce our immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace and prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.


The stories we are highlighting are just a few examples of the thousands of dedicated professionals working everyday to keep our communities safe and secure. Just as inspiring as their dedication is their spirit of cooperation with our many federal, state, local, and private sector partners. As we often say, DHS isn’t the team; we are part of the team. So over the next few months, we will be spotlighting examples of these essential partnerships as well.

I hope you will take a few minutes to read some of the stories behind the extraordinary men and women of DHS and our partners across the nation.

As citizens and businesspeople, families and communities, we all share the responsibility for our security. The dedication of these men and women to service exemplifies the very best of the American spirit. Together, we are making America safer, more resilient and stronger than ever.

Posted by Bobbie Stempfley, Acting Assistant Secretary, DHS Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C)

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in collaboration with the Mitre Corporation, released the Common Weakness Enumeration version 2.0 (or CWE v2) – a dictionary of software weaknesses and their associated mitigation practices developed by the experts from government, industry and academia from across the software security community.

The CWE was completed by DHS’s National Cybersecurity Division under the Software Assurance Program. In collaboration with the private sector, the Software Assurance Program spearheads the development of practical guidance and tools while promoting research and development of secure software engineering. The recent publication of known weaknesses is available for public use and will enable software developers to build secure software from the ground up while limiting software vulnerabilities that can be potentially exploited by malicious actors. It can be found here.

While CWE v2 represents a substantial improvement over the first iteration of CWE, it also serves as the foundation for emerging efforts by DHS, including the Common Weakness Risk Analysis Framework (CWRAF) and the Common Weakness Scoring System (CWSS).

• The CWRAF organizes the top priority exploitable weaknesses by business and mission domain, so that a given organization knows what mitigation practices are needed to best meet their specific needs.
• The CWSS provides organizations with a tool to develop their own list of most critical weaknesses based on their unique business or mission.

CWRAF and CWSS enable all stakeholders throughout the software life cycle to better mitigate risks associated with the kinds of exploitable software that are most applicable to their organization and the technologies they use.

Posted by the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign

In an event held today at the White House, Secretary Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard A. Schmidt recognized the winners of the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign’s Public Service Announcement (PSA) and also announced the launch of a new Stop.Think.Connect website.



The Campaign’s PSA Challenge, launched in November 2010 as part of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, called on individuals, non-profit organizations and corporations to create and submit short video PSAs encouraging their fellow citizens to be safe and secure online.

The three winning PSAs promote awareness among teens, young adults and parents on how to protect against cyber bullying, cyber predators, and other criminal activity online. They include submissions from students at Dakota State University, the non-profit organization Stop Child Predators, and Microsoft Corporation.

The Woes of Wifi by Paul Dockter, Devon Greene and Jared Mengenhausen, Dakota State University



Names Hurt by Stop Internet Predators


Stop. Think. Connect. by the Microsoft Corporation


Learn more about the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign

Posted by Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano delivers remarks to the World Customs Organization Council meeting in Brussels.

The Secretary today wrapped up her international trip in Brussels, where she met with her international counterparts to discuss a range of international security issues.  Throughout the day in Brussels she met with Vice President of the European Union Siim Kallas, European Union Commissioner Algirdas Semeta, and World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General Mikuriya.

Signing the U.S.-EU Joint Declaration.

While in Brussels, the Secretary and her European counterparts signed the U.S.-EU Joint Declaration on Supply Chain Security—reaffirming the shared commitment of the United States and European Union to enhance the security and resilience of the supply chain.

Later in the day, the Secretary delivered remarks at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council meeting—highlighting the importance of global supply chain security.  She joined WCO Secretary General Mikuriya to underscore their shared commitment to partnering on initiatives such as  Program Global Shield, which brings together more than 70 nations in an unprecedented multilateral law enforcement effort aimed at combating the illicit cross-border diversion and trafficking of explosive precursor chemicals.

Posted by Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano tours the facilities at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam

Secretary Napolitano is in the Netherlands today to meet with her international counterparts to discuss strengthening collaboration to secure the global supply chain, visit Schiphol airport, meet with U.S. Coast Guard personnel and tour operations at the Port of Rotterdam. As a major hub for passengers and cargo bound for America, the Netherlands is a key ally in the Department of Homeland Security’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety, security and resilience of our international transportation systems.

Secretary Napolitano tours the Port of Rotterdam

At the Port of Rotterdam – the largest European seaport – Secretary Napolitano met with customs and port officials and toured cargo security operations. This port processes more than 430 million tons of cargo every year and serves as the primary cargo gateway into and out of Europe.  In September 2002, the Port of Rotterdam became the first location for the Container Security Initiative (CSI), a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program at more than 50 overseas ports to prescreen and evaluate high-risk containers before they are shipped to the United States.


The Port of Rotterdam also serves as the home of the U.S. Coast Guard Activities Europe (ACTEUR), which is responsible for ensuring the safety, security and environmental stewardship of the U.S. marine transportation system with operations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Members of the Coast Guard conduct marine casualty and commercial vessel compliance inspections, work with the international maritime community, and ensure that our maritime partners meet anti-terrorism standards in their ports.

While in Amsterdam, Secretary Napolitano also met with the Netherlands’ State Secretary and Acting Minister of Security and Justice Fred Teeven to underscore the shared commitment of both nations to ensure the resilience of the global supply chain.

We will have another update from the Secretary’s trip tomorrow.

Posted by Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano was in London today as part of a trip to meet with international partners to discuss ongoing collaboration to enhance our collective security.  In London, she met with her counterparts from the United Kingdom to continue to bolster international collaboration between the two countries to ensure the security, efficiency, and resiliency of the global supply chains that are crucial to the safety, security and prosperity of citizens in both nations.

The United States and United Kingdom share a long history of working together to tackle issues of global concern.  The meetings today reaffirmed our continued commitment to enhancing the security of the global supply chain by strengthening international cargo screening standards and expanding risk-based targeting  to focus resources on the most dangerous shipments.


For example, in collaboration with our international partners, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) utilizes the Container Security Initiative to ensure that all U.S.-bound maritime containers that pose a potential risk are identified and inspected before they are placed on vessels destined for the U.S..

These efforts and our continued partnership with countries around the world help to prevent terrorists from exploiting the global supply chain to move weapons and dangerous materials through U.S. ports, while also facilitating the efficient flow of legitimate trade.

Also in London, Secretary Napolitano met with the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Efthimios Mitropoulos. The IMO is the United Nations' specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety.


The Secretary’s European trip will continue in the coming days with stops in the Netherlands and Brussels. Check back for more updates from the road.

The Department of Homeland Security launched a new partnership with the U.S. Golf Association to bring the “If You See Something, Say Something ™” public awareness campaign to the U.S. Open—an effort that will help ensure the safety and security of spectators, employees, volunteers, and athletes by identifying and reporting suspicious activity.

The “If You See Something, Say Something ™” campaign—originally implemented by New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and now licensed to DHS for a nationwide campaign—is a simple and effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism and crime to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.

In preparation for the U.S. Open this weekend at Congressional Golf Course in Bethesda, MD, the Department conducted briefings for volunteers and security personnel on suspicious activity reporting. Also, posters are up in employee and volunteer areas directing them where to report suspicious activity.

DHS has recently launched “If You See Something, Say Something™” partnerships with organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL), Indianapolis 500 as well as in several states including Colorado, Minnesota and New Jersey, more than 9,000 federal buildings nationwide, Walmart, Mall of America, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Amtrak, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the general aviation industry, and state and local fusion centers across the country.

In the coming months, DHS will continue to expand the “If You See Something, Say Something ™” campaign nationally to help America’s business, communities and citizens remain vigilant and play an active role in keeping the country safe. More information about the campaign is available on DHS.gov.

Today, DHS released a risk management strategy for the naming system used for technology and services connected to the Internet.  Referred to as Domain Name Resolution Services (DNS), this system translates an IP address - the physical location of a computer or online service – into an e-mail address or URL that is easy to remember, like http://www.dhs.gov/. Such operations are  critical to all online activities across the globe and make the Internet work in a user-friendly way.

This risk management strategy was developed in partnership with the Information Technology Sector Coordinating Council (IT-SCC), which is composed of key members of the IT industry, and it was designed with a wide range of stakeholders in mind, including:

• Standards-making organizations that establish and promote standards for Internet infrastructure services, either directly or indirectly;
• Government agencies that are large scale users of DNS
• Companies that are involved in operating DNS services or providing Internet security services
• Government and private organizations that develop and establish policies that govern the Internet

The Strategy describes how the IT sector and DNS communities can address risks to enhance the resiliency and safety of the Internet. It also offers several risk mitigation activities such as:

• Promoting education, training, outreach, and awareness that focuses on data file misuse (both intentional and unintentional) as well as international engagement to develop and disseminate best practices for secure and trusted naming and grouping of domain names;
• Enhancing information sharing and relationships through global forums that address issues impacting the Internet from technical and policy perspectives; and
• Building enhanced capabilities and programs to protect against large-scale attacks including the implementation of continuous real-time monitoring of production equipment by network operation centers to anticipate and protect DNS infrastructure from cyber attacks

The security of our national cyberspace is vital to our national and economic security. The strategy released today will help us protect this incredible engine of prosperity and innovation from new and evolving threats while ensuring that our cyber networks can bounce back quickly if an attack or disaster does strike.

Download the risk management strategy. 

Posted by the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign

Smartphones and other mobile devices have transformed our use of the Internet, which now touches nearly every aspect of our lives.  Nearly half of all Americans are expected to own a mobile device by the end of this year. While these tools provide users with convenient access to information and communications, they also carry risk.

Mobile users have recently captured the attention of cyber criminals who seek to take advantage of everyday citizens.  In fact, experts predict that within three years, smartphones and mobile devices will surpass computers as the primary target for cyber crime.  If a hacker can gain access to a mobile device, they can easily find e-mail addresses, stored passwords, banking information, social media accounts, and phone numbers – allowing them to steal your information, your money, and even your identity. That’s why practicing good cyber habits is so important.

You can protect yourself from cyber criminals by following the same safety rules you follow on your computer when using your smartphone.  These include:

• Access the Internet over a secure network: Only browse the web through your service provider’s network (e.g., 3G) or a secure Wi-Fi network.
• Be suspicious of unknown links or requests sent through email or text message: Do not click on unknown links or answer strange questions sent to your mobile device, regardless of who the sender appears to be.
• Download only trusted applications: Download “apps” from trusted sources or marketplaces that have positive reviews and feedback.
• Be vigilant about online security:  Keep anti-virus and malware software up to date, use varying and strong passwords, and never provide your personal or financial information without knowing who’s asking and why they need it.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone.  For more information on Stop.Think.Connect., please visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

At the Belmont Stakes, DNDO tested three prototype detection systems for potential future use over bigger areas surrounding large-scale events to prevent a dirty bomb from being smuggled into the vicinity. Two were Stand-Off Radiation Detection Systems (SORDS), which are designed to detect and identify radiation sources from a mobile platform at a long distance. The other was the Roadside Tracker (RST), which is designed to detect and identify sources of illicit materials in vehicles traveling at speed over multiple lanes of traffic.
  

The Roadside Tracker (RST) unit was set up to scan vehicles moving in several lanes of traffic for radiological and nuclear threats.

The Belmont Stakes demonstration builds on DNDO’s broader effort to actively engage federal, state, and local partners to utilize and assess the new radiological and nuclear detection systems.

Since the beginning of the Obama Administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made an unprecedented commitment to efficiency and fiscal discipline in order to best support our frontline operations.

In March 2009, Secretary Napolitano launched the Department-wide Efficiency Review to foster a culture of responsibility and fiscal discipline and make the Department a leaner, smarter agency better equipped to protect the nation.

To date, DHS has identified over $1 billion in cost avoidances and cuts as a result of these efforts. Additionally, the Department’s fiscal year 2012 budget request included more than $800 million in reductions associated with administrative savings and Efficiency Review initiatives currently underway, from efforts to reform acquisition, asset and real property management processes to administrative savings in professional services contracts, printing, supplies and materials, travel, and training.

And just last week, we began implementing an initiative from the 2010 President’s SAVE Award, submitted by Paul Behe, a DHS employee from Customs and Border Protection. This initiative changes current DHS practices by posting notices of seized property online instead of in print newspapers – avoiding approximately $1 million annually in advertising costs.

The Administration-wide Campaign to Cut Waste, announced yesterday by President Obama and Vice President Biden, brings this same spirit of efficiency and fiscal responsibility across the entire federal government.

The Campaign to Cut Waste will establish a new Government Accountability and Transparency Board that will bring together the nation’s top waste, fraud and abuse watchdogs to ensure we bring the kind of unprecedented transparency and accountability we saw in the Recovery Act to all federal spending, and will require Cabinet agencies like DHS to report regularly on their progress in cutting waste and improving effectiveness.

In the current economic environment, all agencies must continue to maximize the effectiveness of every taxpayer dollar we receive. DHS will work closely with our partners across the Federal government on the Campaign to Cut Waste, continuing our unprecedented work to increase the accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness of our services and programs.

For more information on DHS’s efforts to cut waste through the efficiency review, please visit the efficiency review page on DHS.gov

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


The DHS Private Sector Office engages individual businesses, trade associations, academia, and other non-governmental organizations that work with the Department as part of the broader homeland security enterprise. As a part of this engagement, we hosted the third DHS for a Day on June 2nd in Miami, Florida. The series continues to grow in popularity with private sector participation from academia, retail, finance, shipping, and a variety of other industries.

In Miami, we showcased more DHS components than ever before – including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The day began in the Coast Guard’s ‘Gator Den’ with briefings that provided an overview of DHS’ missions in the Miami area, while emphasizing the partnership between DHS components and their public and private sector partners.

After the presentations, the group boarded the 100 ft. USCG Cutter Kodiak Island for a brief tour of the harbor and cruise ship terminal. As part of the tour, USCG staged a live air-to-sea rescue demonstration, showcasing multiple rescue methods. These critical lifesaving capabilities are utilized daily in the Miami area for those who encounter trouble at sea.

After returning to USCG Base Miami Beach, ICE gave a brief presentation on their Tactical Dive Team, one of the many layers of security that DHS uses to prevent contraband from entering the country.

In the afternoon, the participants traveled to the sea port to see firsthand a variety of security procedures employed by CBP personnel – including radiological, canine and hands-on screening – to secure the more than 10,000 containers that travel through the port each month.

While visiting with CBP officials, the group also saw some of the innovative ways that smugglers attempt to bring illicit items into the country – including fake plantains, roofing tiles and an entire airplane engine that contained 244 pounds of cocaine, to name a few.

After experiencing CBP operations at the sea port, the group headed to the final stop of the day: Miami International Airport (MIA). There they toured a variety of facilities comprising the CBP Passenger Analysis Unit and the Customs Screening Area. These programs, targeting different aspects of a travelers entrance into the U.S., ensure that our borders continue to be secure while allowing legitimate travel to flow quickly through.

The group rounded out the day with a meeting with TSA officials at MIA to learn about explosive detection technology and TSA’s efforts to secure legitimate trade and travel while preventing terrorist attacks.

We hope participants left this third DHS for a Day with not just an inside look into DHS operations but a better understanding of our mission and the challenges we face. As we plan the next event, we will continue to strengthen partnerships with our public and private sector stakeholders as we all share responsibility to protect the homeland.

Learn more about the DHS for a Day program.

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs



Secretary Napolitano visited Joplin, Mo. yesterday, meeting with disaster survivors and touring the St. John’s medical facility that was severely damaged during the May 22 tornado. The entire emergency management team – federal, state, local governments; the private sector; voluntary, community, and faith-based groups; and especially the public – continue to support the recovery efforts in Joplin, as well as the other areas hit by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding this spring. 

For some more perspective on Secretary Napolitano’s visit, check out these stories from theJoplin Globe, Associated Press, and CNN. And as she said during her visit,

We will not leave until the job is finished...and we will continue to support our team of federal, state, local and community partners that are working tirelessly to help the people of Missouri rebuild their communities.

Visit the disaster page for the latest on the Joplin recovery efforts. 

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

The 2011 hurricane season began last week, so we’ve been blogging about ways you can get prepared for the hazards associated with severe tropical weather. While there hasn’t been a named tropical storm or hurricane yet this year, I wanted to share some resources you can bookmark or save that could be very helpful before, during and after disaster strikes.

So whether you are a parent, student, teacher, emergency responder or website manager, the resources below will keep you connected to the latest information on hurricanes and tropical storms. Take a look and share them with your friends and family – this isn’t an exhaustive list, so I encourage you to leave a comment and share other helpful resources out there. And be sure to visit Ready.gov/hurricanes to get prepared today.

National Hurricane Center – the official source for severe tropical weather (tropical cyclones, tropical storms, hurricanes) advisories and forecasts.

Full website / Mobile website
Facebook full site / Facebook mobile site
Atlantic Basin: Twitter full site / Twitter mobile site
Pacific Basin: Twitter full site / Twitter mobile site

And even if you don’t have a Twitter account, you can still get updates from the National Hurricane Center through your phone’s text capability: text "follow NHC_Atlantic" to 40404 (this is Twitter’s text message number and standard data rates apply).

National Weather Service – the official source for severe weather advisories, watches and warnings.

Full website / Mobile website
Facebook full site / Facebook mobile site

FEMA

Full website / Mobile website
Facebook full site / Facebook mobile site
Twitter full site / Twitter mobile site

You can also get Twitter updates from FEMA through your phone’s text capability: text "follow FEMA" to 40404 (this is Twitter’s text message number and standard data rates apply).

State Emergency Management Agencies – Find localized information on your state’s emergency management website or other digital channels. Many states also have Facebook or Twitter accounts, so be sure to check out our list of state Twitter accounts and “Favorite” Facebook pages.

Other Resources

Check out our RSS / data page, it has a data feed of hurricane evacuation routes, along with RSS feeds for current severe weather watches and warnings.

The American Red Cross maintains a map of open shelter locations, in addition to their mobile site and online disaster newsroom.

For Spanish speakers, you can visit fema.gov/esp for information from FEMA, or listo.gov to get prepared.

If you’re a web manager, you can embed our “Are you prepared for hurricanes” widget on your site, in either English or Spanish.

June is National Internet Safety Month.  With the school year ending, kids will be spending more time online. In fact, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance, children and teens aged 8-18 spend an average of 7 and a half hours each day during the summer with electronic devices – where they may be vulnerable to cyber bulling, cyber predators, and other criminal activity.

To ensure a safe cyber environment, each of us plays a part.  Parents can talk to their children and teens about cyber threats, and follow these easy steps:

• Only become friends on social media with people you actually know, and never share details like address, school, or even last name with strangers.
• Conduct Internet searches with specific search terms so that they don’t yield unwanted results.
• Install safety filters that limit what kids can see and do online.
• Before your child visits a new website, check it out yourself.

The Department of Homeland Security’s “Stop. Think. Connect.” Campaign encourages students, parents, and teachers to remain vigilant about their daily Internet use and offers the following advice to parents to keep their children safe online:

Stop: Before letting children use the Internet, set clear guidelines about which sites they are allowed to visit and what they should do if they see something questionable.
Think: Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs that may indicate your child is using the Internet unsafely.
Connect: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken steps to safeguard yourself and your family.

For more information on “Stop.Think.Connect.” programs and opportunities, visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect

Posted by Coast Guard Compass

Today is a significant waypoint not only in Coast Guard history, but in American history.  This morning Rear Admiral Sandra Stosz assumed command as the United States Coast Guard Academy’s first woman superintendent. This also makes her the first woman to command any U.S. service academy.

A 1982 Coast Guard Academy graduate and a surface operations officer with 12 years of sea duty, Admiral Stosz has plotted a course that includes many firsts for women in the military. Her performance in previous assignments as commanding officer for recruit training at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., the Director of Reserve and Leadership, and the commanding officer of two cutters, has demonstrated a commitment to building a diverse workforce without boundaries.

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz shakes hands with Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe following their change of command ceremony at the United States Coast Guard Academy June 3, 2011. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp presided over the ceremony, which installed Stosz as the first female superintendent at any of the U.S. service academies. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

With this appointment, Admiral Stosz opens what I hope is one of the few remaining doors to women in uniform.  This is a tribute not only to our country’s rich history of dynamic leaders and trailblazers but also our Service’s ongoing commitment to providing limitless opportunities for every man and woman who wears the uniform.

Admiral Stosz takes over a world class institution of higher learning and leadership development that continues to see increases in minority admissions.  On June 27, the class of 2015 reports aboard and will be the most diverse class in history.  Of the 290 offered appointments, 33 percent will be from underrepresented minority groups and 32 percent will be women.

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz salutes during the change of command ceremony at the United States Coast Guard Academy June 3, 2011. Stosz relieved Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe and became the first female superintendent at any of the U.S. service academies. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

I have every confidence that Admiral Stosz’s watch will continue in the finest traditions of Captain John Henriques—the first superintendent, and 38 others, including outgoing superintendent Rear Admiral Scott Burhoe.  She will increase the prestige, quality of education and, most importantly, the character of the leaders who as commissioned Coast Guard officers will ultimately lead our Service while protecting the Nation from threats on the sea, protecting people who use the sea, and protecting the sea itself.

Always Ready -- Semper Paratus,

Adm. Bob Papp
Commandant of the Coast Guard

Posted by Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano and other DHS officials visited India last week as part of the Administration efforts to strengthen the ongoing U.S. – Indian strategic partnership in order to ensure the safety and security of both nations. Today, the Secretary also spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) about building international partnerships.

 “The evolving threats we face are not limited by international borders,” said Secretary Napolitano. “We remain committed to working closely with India and our other international partners to continue our collaborative efforts to enhance the security of our global aviation and supply chain systems, cyber networks, and critical infrastructure.”

Watch the video on DHS.gov

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

It’s June 1, which means it is the official start of Hurricane season. With hurricane season officially here, we wanted to share a video from Administrator Fugate:



You can do your part by making sure you and your loved ones are prepared by having an emergency plan and kit. Talk with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to do the same. And you can also take steps to get prepared for a hurricane at your workplace, so talk with your human resources manager about steps you can take. 

Last week was Hurricane Awareness Week and we wrote a series of blog posts to illustrate the importance of being informed about the many hazards of severe tropical weather. Here there are again if you didn’t have a chance to read them:

• Day 1: What we're doing to prepare
• Day 2: Storm surge
• Day 3: Wind danger
• Day 4: Inland flooding
• Day 5: The team effort
• Day 6: Make a plan
• Day 7: Tips To Stay Safe

Visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes to get prepared and embed our widget on your website to help us get the word out: