|
|
|
| Quick Links |
For information regarding the All Hazards Consortium, please visit www.ahcusa.org
|
|
|
| Greetings! |
Welcome to the quarterly AHC newsletter. The past several months have been an exciting time for the AHC as it has moved toward new policies, partnerships, products, projects, advisory groups, and new regional workshops.
2009 will usher in changes in federal and state government leadership, and the Stimulus Bill will provide the states with new resources across a number of agencies. These changes will pose both challenges and opportunities for the AHC states as they continue to promote multi-state, multi-agency collaboration.
We invite you to share this newsletter with your peers, and welcome your participation in the AHC efforts to support the states.
Thanks,
Executive Director
|
|
|
|
| AHC Board News |
In January 2009, the Board of Directors approved an AHC procurement policy which is designed to support the needs of its multiple state members. This was another important milestone in the development of the All Hazards Consortium and will allow the Consortium to serve some of the business needs of the states on a variety of multi-state issues. To date, the Consortium has been involved in several small procurements, and has proven to be a fast and effective facilitator on behalf of the member states.
Also in January, the AHC Board officially established a new Regional Executive Advisory Group (REAG). This group is comprised of former Board members and executives from both the public and private sector, and will advise the Board of Directors and Working Group members on a wide variety of issues including a policy, projects, grants, strategy, research and partnerships. Initial members of this group include:
Public/private sector members:
John Contestabile (Chair of Advisory Board) - MDOT State Interoperability
Tim Beres - former DHS Grants and Training Director, Principal at CNAC
Barbara Childs-Pair - former Director, DC EMA, former AHC Board of Directors
George Foresman - former Under Secretary, DHS
Chris Geldart - former Director, DHS/FEMA Office National Capital Region Coordination
Dennis Schrader - former Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, FEMA
Bob Stephan - former Asst. Secretary, DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection
Pat Wheeler - CEO, Integrity Consulting
Former AHC Board members:
Brian Darmody - University of MD
Gordon Johnson - NJ Assemblyman
Kelly Kirwan - Motorola
Jim "Smokey" Stanton - Insight Solutions
In the future, the Board will be considering other nominations for this group.
|
| AHC Working Group Updates |
The AHC and its government Critical Infrastructure Protection Working Group members, in conjunction with the DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection, the RCCC (Regional Consortium Coordinating Council), and regional private sector owner/operators from several critical sectors will be conducting a private CIP Interdependencies webinar series to continue the multi-state collaboration process focused on interdependencies between state governments and private sector companies within the region.
Participating owner/operators include Verizon Communications, PSE&G, Wakefern Food, Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority, Bank of America, CSX Railroad, Norfolk Southern, Association of American Railroads, CITGO, BASF, American Water Association and Amtrak.
This "invitation only" webinar is the result of the regional AHC CIP Interdependencies Summit held in November. During that meeting, it was agreed that more dialog and information sharing between all parties needs to occur in order to accomplish effective results over the next several years. Other next steps include a regional CIP/Interdependencies baseline report of existing "interdependencies efforts" within the region by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), as well as a regional CIP Interdependencies Workshop (tentatively scheduled for July).
The Public Safety Communications and Interoperability Working Group is currently focused on a regional communications interoperability capability assessment project. They are also actively working with FEMA's RECCWG to ensure that the group's efforts are coordinated. This regional Working Group continues to meet bi-weekly via conference call, and will convene in person at the upcoming AHC Spring Workshop in May.
The Emergency Management Working Group continues to focus on the RCPGP (Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program) multi-state grant, with each state taking the lead on one or two projects (see Regional Project and Grant News).
The Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Group is currently finalizing the white paper generated by the nine states as an outcome of the 2008 AHC GIS Workshop. The white paper is scheduled to be released in March and will be available at www.ahcusa.org. Next steps include identifying multi-state projects based on the recommendations of this report.
The Information Sharing and Intelligence Working Group will be reorganizing shortly. First steps includes collaboration with the CIP Working Group on the upcoming AHC Cyber Security and Port Security Workshops, as well as re-prioritization of white paper recommendations. A kick-off conference call is scheduled for May 14.
|
| Regional Project and Grant News |
CIP - The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is currently working with the state of NJ to produce a baseline assessment of CIP interdependencies projects in our region.
Interoperability - The AHC Public Safety Communications and Interoperability Working Group completed the Statement of Work for a regional Communications Interoperability Capability Assessment. This baseline assessment is expected to commence shortly.
Emergency Management - The AHC is compiling a summary report from the recent Border Coordination Summit Meeting that identifies the three top issues per function that exist in Border Coordination efforts. A report identifying existing catastrophic planning organizations, task forces and efforts as they relate to multi-state border coordination issues will also be produced.
Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant Program - The six FEMA Region III states participating in the RCPGP grant have submitted their project plans for the grant projects, and all projects are expected to start shortly. Projects and state leads are as follows:
Behavioral Study - VA
Public Preparedness - PA
Transportation - DE
Mass Care - DC
Resource Management: Key Partnerships - MD
Resource Management: Database Sharing of Key Evacuation Resources - MD
Modeling & Simulation - WV
Next Generation Leadership Development Initiative - The AHC recently invited four college students (two from James Madison University in VA and two from David and Elkins College in WV) to participate in the regional Border Coordination Summit in Gettysburg as the first step in a long-term vision to create awareness and develop "next generation leaders" in homeland security/emergency management. Paired with regional leaders, the students were able to listen and learn, as well as participate fully by offering the perspective of their generation and ask questions of leadership. Next steps include campus focus group meetings in early 2009, followed by a summit meeting in August. |
| Federal Partnerships |
At the request of the states, the AHC, in conjunction with DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection, will be hosting a webinar to educate the region on the "DHS Earth/iCAV" visualization tool to be used for homeland security and emergency management efforts across the region. The purpose of this webinar is to help the states and invited guests learn about this technology, applications in addressing multiple state/local government and private sector owner/operator issues, its capability to serve as a decision support tool, and compatibility with existing GIS infrastructure and systems.
This was initially discussed at the AHC CIP Interdependencies Summit in November 2008 as a technology funded by DHS and provided at no cost to qualified users in both government and private sector. As the regional states continue to address their CI/KR issues, the AHC will continue to explore potential tools that have already been developed to support specific efforts without endorsing a specific product. This webinar is an example of that commitment.
DHS Science and Technology has been a valuable partner to the AHC states. Through their research support, DHS S&T has funded the development of three of the five AHC white papers, and will be also be involved in the Next Generation Leadership Development Initiative.
As the AHC states continue to develop the regional rail initiative, DHS TSA is becoming an important partner. Working closely with the regional rail carriers, the AHC and TSA will continue to develop this partnership in 2009.
The AHC partnership with FEMA and their regional offices also continues to grow. In 2009, the AHC is planning and coordinating closely with FEMA Regions III, II and V on many meetings and projects.
|
| Recent and Upcoming AHC Events |
On December 22, an AHC Executive Briefing was held at the Greenbelt Marriott to discuss the various activities and opportunities within the region including Working Group efforts, regional workshops/white papers, summits/reports, grant efforts, coordination/partnership with federal partners, and 2009 planned activities.
On February 11, a "Project Idea" Training Session was held for AHC corporate members. Tom Moran, AHC Executive Director, and John Contestabile, AHC Advisory Committee Chair and MDOT State Interoperability Director, reviewed the process for developing and submitting project ideas that address white paper recommendations, followed by a break out "practice session" to help convey what the states are looking for. Lt. Kris Nelson, AHC CIP Working Group Co-Chair and MD Critical Infrastructure Coordinator and Clay Stamp, Deputy Director, MD Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), attended and provided updates on the CIP and Interoperability Working Group efforts. Darrell Darnell, Director, DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, also addressed the group via phone. A follow-up session is now being planned to provide extra brainstorming and discussion time.
For those interested in learning more about the Consortium, open AHC Informational Webinars regarding the history, mission, partnerships, work and progress of the All Hazards Consortium will be offered monthly going forward. Tom Moran, AHC Executive Director, and government guests will provide an overview of this unique public-private partnership. There is no cost to attend - simply register via the AHC website at www.ahcusa.org.
Planned 2009 AHC Workshops include:
Ø AHC Cyber Security Workshop - tentatively scheduled for April 1, 2009
Ø AHC Spring Workshop - scheduled for May 5-6, 2009 in Delaware (location TBA). RCPGP Evacuation grant, Board, CIP, Interoperability and demonstration tracks are being planned
Ø AHC Port Security and Resiliency Workshop - tentatively scheduled for September 1, 2009
Watch the AHC website at www.ahcusa.org for more details on all meetings. A limited number of sponsorships and/or presentation opportunities are available - please contact Paula Copperthite at paula.copperthite@ahcusa.org for more details.
| |
| AHC Corporate Member Spotlight |
|
Welcome to one of our newest corporate members! ManTech Security and Mission Assurance (MSMA) is a leading provider of innovative technologies and security solutions, servicing the U.S. intelligence community, DoD, DoS, and the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice directly, as well as their member agencies (FBI, TSA, ICE, etc.). Recently, MSMA began providing security solutions to commercial customers (emergency response and preparedness, incident management, vulnerability assessments, and technological and intelligence solutions), employing over 7400 employees in 41 different countries.
In addition to their systems engineering capabilities in the IT business unit, their Cyber Sector is world-renowned and provides forensic engineering and analysis capabilities to government and commercial customers. The MSMA Operations and Security Sector provides world-class network information and program protection. Their Critical Infrastructure Program has been providing security solutions to icon dams, all components of the transportation sector (rail, air, and sea), and other CI for years (to include training protection teams, vulnerability assessments, emergency response, incident management, and providing technology such as surveillance cameras and sensors for intrusion, chemical, and other threat detection).
MSMA is also committed to state and local Fusion Centers by providing top-notch Counterterrorism, Criminal, and All-Hazards Intelligence Analysis, successfully promoting the integration of private sector information sharing.
For more information, please contact Andrew Apollony at Andrew.Apollony@ManTech.com. | |
|
|
|
