Most recently published
Preparing the Next Generation for War on the Virtual Battlefront
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
February 25, 2014
A “cyber Pearl Harbor” is imminent, according to government and industry experts. Recognizing the threat and implementing programs and training to better guard against such threats is critical to protect the various U.S. infrastructure systems and networks.
Cyber Grand Strategies: Technology vs. Human Interaction
Bonnie Butlin
February 19, 2014
One lesson learned from the National Security Agency leaks in 2013 is that disrupting terrorist activities in cyberspace requires more than just the latest technology. Human interaction plays a critical role in thwarting criminal activity while protecting personal information and privacy. Canada offers one example of leveraging human networks and
Fusion Centers & the Public Health Advantage
Raphael M. Barishansky and Seth Komansky
February 19, 2014
Law enforcement as well as public health agencies could benefit from sharing interdisciplinary information through the state fusion centers. Four public health situations would particularly benefit from such partnerships: bioterrorism attacks; communicable disease outbreaks; suspicious activity reports; and the use of illicit drugs.
The Real NCIS: An Interview With Thomas Betro
Aaron Sean Poynton
February 19, 2014
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s (NCIS) former Director Thomas Betro provides insights on how to keep the U.S. homeland safe from both physical threats and cyberthreats. He shares information specific to NCIS’s responsibilities, technologies, and efforts to protect against cyber, piracy, and insider threats.
Information Systems – Advancing Capabilities & Increasing Risks
Craig DeAtley
February 12, 2014
When hospitals transition from paper documents to an electronic healthcare information system, patient records become easier to track and to link between clinicians and hospitals. However, these advanced capabilities and benefits involve certain risks – higher costs, program failures, staffing needs, and security concerns. Protecting sensitive information from potential threats
The Operational Imperative of Cybersecurity & Resilience
Tom Ridge
February 12, 2014
As technology advances, so do the interconnected relationships among various technologies, communities, and infrastructures. This interconnectedness creates greater efficiency, but also raises many concerns. The consequences of not making cybersecurity an integral part of risk management and strategic decision-making plans can be devastating.
CHEMPACK 2.0: A Policy Roadmap
Timothy Stephens
February 11, 2014
Since 2003, the CHEMPACK program has been in place to help protect U.S. emergency responders and receivers, as well as civilians, in the event of a nerve-agent attack. By pre-positioning medical countermeasures, antidotes are readily available as needed. It is now time to reevaluate and update the program to include
Bridging the Medical Ladders
Joseph Cahill
February 5, 2014
Paramedics acquire a wealth of skills and knowledge, but their tasks are physically demanding and the risk of injury is high. Rather than discarding their training and starting over, these skilled professionals instead could transition to higher-level, less-strenuous job positions. With a few changes, hospitals and communities can continue to
E0176 Hazus-MH for Floodplain Managers
Domestic Preparedness
February 5, 2014
The Emergency Management Institute is offering a course that provides in-depth instruction and hands-on exercises for certified floodplain managers and other emergency planners. Participants will develop the skills needed to effectively use the Hazus tools for modeling the impacts of riverine and coastal flooding on communities. This course uses highly
Virginia – Using Social Media the Right Way
Tanya Ferraro
February 5, 2014
A zombie apocalypse or sharknado attack may not be imminent, but the opportunities they present to emergency management professionals are compelling. In Virginia, emergency planners are showing the human side of emergency management, connecting with community members, and influencing personal and community preparedness.
Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty Incidents
Domestic Preparedness
February 4, 2014
The Center for Domestic Preparedness is offering a three-day training course for hospital responses to mass casualty incidents. This course provides medical operation guidance to hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), healthcare facility personnel, and others who may be involved in a mass casualty incident.
Call for Help – Defending the Food Supply
Amy Kircher
January 29, 2014
There are plots to use food as a delivery mechanism for weapons of mass destruction and plots to intentionally alter food products for economic gain. As such, food defense is everybody’s business. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently asking for comments that would help mitigate the intentional adulteration
Exercise Extent-of-Play Agreements
George Yantosik and Ken Lerner
February 26, 2014
Large-scale disasters require response efforts from multiple organizations that must plan and exercise well in advance. For a successful joint exercise, there must be points of agreement, including: scope of exercise, degree of participation by each organization, coordination of exercise activities, and evaluation process for lessons learned from the exercise.
Preparing the Next Generation for War on the Virtual Battlefront
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
February 25, 2014
A “cyber Pearl Harbor” is imminent, according to government and industry experts. Recognizing the threat and implementing programs and training to better guard against such threats is critical to protect the various U.S. infrastructure systems and networks.
Cyber Grand Strategies: Technology vs. Human Interaction
Bonnie Butlin
February 19, 2014
One lesson learned from the National Security Agency leaks in 2013 is that disrupting terrorist activities in cyberspace requires more than just the latest technology. Human interaction plays a critical role in thwarting criminal activity while protecting personal information and privacy. Canada offers one example of leveraging human networks and
Fusion Centers & the Public Health Advantage
Raphael M. Barishansky and Seth Komansky
February 19, 2014
Law enforcement as well as public health agencies could benefit from sharing interdisciplinary information through the state fusion centers. Four public health situations would particularly benefit from such partnerships: bioterrorism attacks; communicable disease outbreaks; suspicious activity reports; and the use of illicit drugs.
The Real NCIS: An Interview With Thomas Betro
Aaron Sean Poynton
February 19, 2014
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s (NCIS) former Director Thomas Betro provides insights on how to keep the U.S. homeland safe from both physical threats and cyberthreats. He shares information specific to NCIS’s responsibilities, technologies, and efforts to protect against cyber, piracy, and insider threats.
Information Systems – Advancing Capabilities & Increasing Risks
Craig DeAtley
February 12, 2014
When hospitals transition from paper documents to an electronic healthcare information system, patient records become easier to track and to link between clinicians and hospitals. However, these advanced capabilities and benefits involve certain risks – higher costs, program failures, staffing needs, and security concerns. Protecting sensitive information from potential threats
The Operational Imperative of Cybersecurity & Resilience
Tom Ridge
February 12, 2014
As technology advances, so do the interconnected relationships among various technologies, communities, and infrastructures. This interconnectedness creates greater efficiency, but also raises many concerns. The consequences of not making cybersecurity an integral part of risk management and strategic decision-making plans can be devastating.
CHEMPACK 2.0: A Policy Roadmap
Timothy Stephens
February 11, 2014
Since 2003, the CHEMPACK program has been in place to help protect U.S. emergency responders and receivers, as well as civilians, in the event of a nerve-agent attack. By pre-positioning medical countermeasures, antidotes are readily available as needed. It is now time to reevaluate and update the program to include
Bridging the Medical Ladders
Joseph Cahill
February 5, 2014
Paramedics acquire a wealth of skills and knowledge, but their tasks are physically demanding and the risk of injury is high. Rather than discarding their training and starting over, these skilled professionals instead could transition to higher-level, less-strenuous job positions. With a few changes, hospitals and communities can continue to
E0176 Hazus-MH for Floodplain Managers
Domestic Preparedness
February 5, 2014
The Emergency Management Institute is offering a course that provides in-depth instruction and hands-on exercises for certified floodplain managers and other emergency planners. Participants will develop the skills needed to effectively use the Hazus tools for modeling the impacts of riverine and coastal flooding on communities. This course uses highly
Virginia – Using Social Media the Right Way
Tanya Ferraro
February 5, 2014
A zombie apocalypse or sharknado attack may not be imminent, but the opportunities they present to emergency management professionals are compelling. In Virginia, emergency planners are showing the human side of emergency management, connecting with community members, and influencing personal and community preparedness.
Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty Incidents
Domestic Preparedness
February 4, 2014
The Center for Domestic Preparedness is offering a three-day training course for hospital responses to mass casualty incidents. This course provides medical operation guidance to hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), healthcare facility personnel, and others who may be involved in a mass casualty incident.
‘Game Day’ Food Defense: Enhanced Business as Usual
Michéle Samarya-Timm
January 21, 2014
With more than 40 Olympic venues serving an estimated 14 million meals, the 2012 London Olympic Games were susceptible to many potential foodborne illnesses – both intentional and unintentional. However, through education, communications, surveillance, and a focus on surge capacity, London provided a model that could help protect the food
Protecting the Food Supply Outside the Walls
Don Hsieh
January 15, 2014
When food products disappear, there are no serial or vehicle identification numbers to identify these stolen goods when they re-enter legal markets. Although there is a significant financial concern to the companies, a greater public concern is the safety of the food itself – ranging from improper handling and storage
Checklists for All-Hazards Food Defense Planning
Kay C. Goss
January 15, 2014
In the not-too-distant past, most food consumed by Americans traveled directly from the farm to the kitchen table. Today, there are a dozen or so stops of varying duration on the way – all of them vulnerable to mold, theft, sabotage, spoiling, and/or infection from zoonotic diseases.
Food Processors – Recovery Before a Recall
Wm. Mark Cosby
January 15, 2014
Recovery begins during the planning stage. As past unintentional cases of food contamination have shown, the effects of an intentional incident could be extremely costly to food processors and the nation as a whole. Understanding the features that processors should include in their recovery plans will help to quickly restore
TECHNOLOGY ALERT
Rob Schnepp
January 12, 2014
Performance Standards Introduced For Rapid Biological Field Tests AOAC International Approves RAMP following US Department of Homeland Security Sponsored Evaluation
New Mexico – ‘Defensive’ About Agriculture & Food
Kelly Hamilton
January 8, 2014
In a state with a large agricultural and food industry, protecting that infrastructure is a difficult yet necessary task that New Mexico takes very seriously. Guidance and support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have helped initiate innovative programs and exercises to protect the state’s cattle, alfalfa hay, milk,
Productivity & Multiagency Meetings
Joseph Cahill
January 8, 2014
When multiagency meetings take time away from everyday tasks, productivity may decrease – but only temporarily. Those participating in such meetings should recognize, though, that the productivity lost that day usually will be reimbursed, with interest, when the same participants simultaneously respond to future incidents.
Training & Protecting the First On-Scene Responders
Richard Schoeberl
January 1, 2014
When a chemical or biological attack occurs, the first responders on the scene need the proper training and equipment not only to protect themselves but also to save others during the critical first ours after the attack. Today, unfortunately, not all of the nation’s responders receive the same training and/or
Preparing the Next Generation of Emergency Service Leaders
Anthony S. Mangeri
December 25, 2013
In a world where disasters and other emergency incidents occur every day, emergency service leaders are responsible for bringing calm and structure in the midst of crisis. Some of these leaders will begin this path as early as high school, while others will migrate to the emergency services as their
FINAL REPORT: Resilience 2013
Thad W. Allen
December 23, 2013
On 18 November 2013, DomPrep hosted an executive briefing at The National Press Club to present the Resilience 2013 – Survey & Report. The survey outlined in this report is the second of a series that Booz Allen Hamilton has partnered on with DomPrep Journal. The survey drills down into
Security Technology Trends to Watch in 2014
Jay Hauhn
December 18, 2013
As security needs continue to change, the technology to meet those needs also must constantly evolve. In 2014, five key technology trends may change the way that business managers protect their employees, data, and facilities: cloud services, wireless technologies, standards, distance biometrics, and business intelligence.
The Future of Training: Integrated, Intuitive & Interactive
Craig Crume
December 18, 2013
Different people have different learning styles; therefore, an effective training process must be able to meet those individual needs in order to improve information retention, resolve issues, and promote an ongoing learning experience. As equipment evolves, so too must the training. Otherwise, that shiny new equipment may simply gather dust.
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.
