The Year of the Railway Station
Steven Polunsky
December 21, 2016
The year 2017 should be a great year for mobility and infrastructure in the United States. All signs are pointing to a robust economy, and policymakers are looking favorably on transportation projects – road, rail, air, public, private, and in between. In particular, the upcoming year will see a number of passenger rail projects moving forward.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Emergency Management
Darren E. Price
December 21, 2016
Responding to disasters is a critical function for first responders and the emergency management community. Rotary and fixed-winged aircraft have traditionally performed disaster response missions, such as overhead damage assessments, reconnaissance, and missing person searches. However, with the advancement of unmanned aircraft systems, there is an opportunity to perform conventional aerial missions in a safer, expeditious, and cost-effective manner.
Authoritarianism & the American Response: 2017 Forecast
Christopher Milburn
December 21, 2016
The threats facing the United States in 2017 largely stem from the challenge and response cycle set
in motion by the global rise of authoritarianism and violent fascism. Authoritarian leaders frequently
promise to restore national pride and return people to their lost golden age: a mythical world in which
life was thought to be better for the particular group. Scapegoating quickly follows, and violence is
rarely far behind.
Bombing an Ideology: No One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Richard Schoeberl
December 20, 2016
Stretching from Belgium to France, the United States to Iraq, the world has been blemished with terror attacks ranging from active shooter scenarios at entertainment venues, to plowing vehicles into crowded streets. Over the past decade, the United States has joined the global community of those exposed to the consequences and carnage associated with acts of terrorism.
Tomorrow’s Emergency Management Capabilities
Jeffrey Kaliner
December 14, 2016
If someone were to walk into a high school classroom today and ask the students about their future professions, there may be one or possibly two students who wish to pursue emergency management. However, as much as the field has grown since 2001, emergency management is still not the dream career of the average high school student. It is much more likely that these students would consider more traditional fields in the business, health, or finance world.
Making the Grid Great Again
J. Michael Barrett
December 14, 2016
As the dust from the recent election settles, one of the first orders of business for the incoming Trump administration is a massive public infrastructure investment plan. Although the economic benefits associated with improved infrastructure are popular with many citizens and both sides of the political aisle, the real-world practicalities of ensuring positive economic return from such investments are nonetheless daunting.
Noncriminal Alien Self-Identification Program
Armin Cate
December 14, 2016
The removal of criminal illegal aliens is a top priority for President-Elect Donald Trump. However,
identifying, locating, processing, and deporting 3 million criminal aliens among the 20 million illegal
aliens in the United States would completely overwhelm the removal process currently in place. One
proposed program may help speed the processing of criminal aliens and prevent the deportation system
from imploding.
Preparing for a New Pandemic With an Old Plan
Robert C. Hutchinson
December 7, 2016
The measurable level of national planning and preparedness for a serious pandemic threat or
biological attack continues to be a subject of great discussion, debate, and concern in the United
States and around the world. This level of readiness continues to be a challenge as identified in
regular studies, reports, and articles.
