The First Line of Defense: State and Local Homeland Security

Rick "Ozzie" Nelson, Director of the CSIS Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program, in conjunction with the National Governors Association, cordially invite you to an event:

The First Line of Defense: State and Local Homeland Security

Featuring Remarks By: 
Colonel Keith Squires
Chair, Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council and
Deputy Commissioner, Utah Department of Public Safety 

and

James Davis
Vice Chair, Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council and
Executive Director, Colorado Department of Public Safety

Since September 11, 2001, a number of steps have been taken to more closely integrate a variety of government departments and agencies into a larger homeland security enterprise. However, the dynamic threats that face the United States are not limited to the federal government, but affect states and localities as well. State and local governments have a vital role to play in keeping our communities safe and bring with them a unique set of capabilities. In many cases, it is the state and local entities that possess the necessary community connections and knowledge to detect threats such as homegrown terrorism, and it is these entities who are often the first to respond to terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other potential crises. Further, it is the states who are responsible for much of the infrastructure likely to be targeted by cyber and other attacks. In order to examine the current and future role of state and local actors in the homeland security enterprise as well as the challenges they face, the CSIS Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program and National Governors Association (NGA) invite you to an on-the-record discussion with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council. Part of NGA, the Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council provides a forum through which states can work together to share information, discuss the evolving homeland security landscape and keep governors informed of the issues affecting homeland security policies in the states.