Additional Uses for Chemical Warfare Agent Detectors
Christopher Wrenn
December 26, 2012
Identifying and locating the source of noxious odors can be a difficult and time-consuming task.
However, first responders are finding that they can use the advanced “sniffing” capability of their
chemical warfare agent detectors for more than just terrorist attacks.
An Interview With the Honorable Paul McHale
Aaron Sean Poynton
December 26, 2012
The former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs
provides his own nonpartisan insights on the current state of U.S. homeland defense, comments on
progress made as well as gaps that still need to be filled, and recommendations for better protecting
the U.S. homeland in the future.
New WMD Concerns: Many Questions, But Few Answers
Glen Rudner
December 19, 2012
It is understandable that the end of the Cold War led not only to a relaxation of global tensions but also, to an alarming degree, to a less vigilant attitude about the major, complex, and increasingly dangerous threat posed by Syria, Iran, Libya, and other nations in various areas of the world. Here are some relevant questions already being asked – but not yet answered.
Resilience Principles: The Search for Optimum Combinations
Scott Jackson
December 19, 2012
Decision makers cannot use a one-size-fits-all solution to build their resilience plans. Before choosing a single solution, light must be shed on some of the more complex aspects of resilience analysis as well as several issues relevant to the implementation of resilience principles – and various combinations thereof.
From Risk to Resilience: A Social Enterprise Model
Timothy Tinker
December 19, 2012
Federal agencies are using lessons learned from past disasters to develop the holistic and dynamic
communications needed to improve behavioral changes and develop meaningful public dialogue and
engagement. Social motivation, social marketing, social media, social measures, and social models are
essential building blocks in the construction of a stronger, more resilient social enterprise.
DomPrep Action Plan Preview
William H. Austin
December 18, 2012
The DomPrep Action Plan report includes key talking points for building and sustaining a resilient
nation. On 13 November 2012, Admiral Thad Allen, USCG (Ret.) – a former Coast Guard Commandant – and
other practitioners from across the nation gathered to discuss ways of bolstering collaboration,
sustaining collaborative networks, supporting sub-state regionalization efforts, and enabling frameworks
to assist public-private initiatives. Discussions such as this DomPrep Executive Briefing are a
necessary step in building and sustaining regional resilience.
Emergency Management in 2013
James Lee Witt
December 12, 2012
Emergency management can be one of the most challenging but at the same time exceptionally rewarding fields of human endeavor. As unexpected crises and natural disasters become more numerous and more intense, the need for a strong, coordinated, and well-resourced emergency management infrastructure in place is absolutely imperative.
Integrating Support for Real-Time Response Success
Craig Crume
December 12, 2012
High-stress situations can lead to errors in judgment. For emergency responders, such errors can
mean the difference between life and death. By using government and private-sector support systems
already available, responders can gain renewed confidence in their own abilities and perform their
operations with greater proficiency and efficiency.
The Future of Data Clouds
Marko Bourne
December 11, 2012
In the current economy, there is a continuing need to find cost-effective solutions for responding to and dealing with future threats. Cloud computing provides an innovative and effective way to meet the information needs of decision makers by storing and analyzing vast amounts of real-time data when coping with major disasters and other emergencies.
Superstorm Amplifies Need for Power Grid Modernization
J. Michael Barrett
December 5, 2012
The cost of updating the U.S. electrical grid structure is high, but the cost of not updating it is even higher. When assessing risks and setting goals, leaders must make tough decisions in order to develop an efficient, cost-effective system with standardized and interchangeable parts that can be shared among and between jurisdictions.
