Roadmap for Homeland Security Enterprise Released
A new analysis and set of recommendations entitled Homeland Security 3.0 rolled out yesterday at the National Press Club. James Carafano and David Heyman, co-chairs of the task force that wrote HLS 3.0, were joined by John Hamre, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to introduce the new report as the work of twenty five experts in the fields of national and homeland security, counterterrorism, political science, intelligence, law, international affairs, and civil liberties. This range of expertise represents the core thrust of the report: homeland security is bigger than any single department.
Indeed, the article that ran this morning in Congressional Quarterly by Dan Fowler captures this thrust with the report’s subtitle taking front and center: “Building a National Enterprise To Keep America Free, Safe, and Prosperous.” [Full disclosure: I served on the task force and participated in the international affairs group.]
The methodology for this report was smart in its simplicity: Assemble a broad cross-section of relevant experts, organize them into basic groups of discipline, and ask them to answer to two questions: (1) What are five of the most important problems that need to be solved in the homeland security mission space? (2) What are the corresponding practical responses to those problems?
The outcome is an actionable set of recommendations that look across the strategic challenge of securing the homeland without focusing on one department or competency.
What emerges is a useful definition of the goal, too: Establishing America’s homeland security enterprise. Such an enterprise involves more than managing DHS. It demands executive leadership across the federal government that can understand the best role for our state and local partners and the enormous opportunities on the international level. As such, the report breaks down the challenge into five groups:
1. Empowering a National Culture of Preparedness
2. Shifting to a Strategy Focused on Sustaining a Resilient National Infrastructure
3. Expanding International Cooperation
4. Developing a Framework for Domestic Intelligence
5. Establishing National Programs for Professional Development
We are seeing the beginning of what will become a significant contribution from the policy community on the next phase of governance in keeping America free, safe, and prosperous. Look for additional contributions from the Center for American Progress, the Homeland Security Policy Institute, and others. Combined with the work of the National Academy of Public Administration and the Council for Excellence in Government, the next Administration will have a wealth of intellectual support in assuming leadership.
