Director Jared M. Maples of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) discussed the impact of US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant programs on the ability of New Jersey communities to combat threats and prepare for emergencies when he testified before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery on April 28. The hearing, “State and Local Perspectives on DHS Preparedness Grant Programs,” examined the critical role federal grants play in security and resiliency planning, especially as new tactics and events continue to alter the threat landscape in both the physical and cyber realms.
The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with support from George Mason University and the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute (HSSEDI), recently concluded a two-week Use of Force Simulation Experiment (SIMEX) to examine law enforcement use of force and inform best practices for 21st century policing.
The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) opened the application period for the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) on March 4. This grant opportunity appropriated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2021 supports security enhancements at eligible nonprofit organizations in New Jersey that are at the greatest risk of terrorist attacks.
David Pekoske, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, met with local law enforcement officials and the National Football League (NFL) to review Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations to help ensure the safety and security of employees, players, and fans during Super Bowl LV. Dozens of federal agencies and components, including DHS, contributed to security measures seen and unseen in connection with the Super Bowl.
Alejandro Mayorkas was officially sworn in as the seventh Secretary of Homeland Security. Secretary Mayorkas took the oath this afternoon after the Senate voted to confirm him. As Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas now leads the third largest federal department in the United States, which includes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the United States Secret Service.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) joined the Cactus League, its teams and spring training facilities, and state and local partners for a virtual tabletop exercise to review pre-incident preparedness measures and response plans at stadiums during spring training.
David Pekoske, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin after consultation with the intelligence community and law enforcement partners. There is currently a heightened threat environment across the United States that is likely to persist over the coming weeks. DHS does not have any information to indicate a specific, credible plot; however, violent riots have continued in recent days. DHS says they remain concerned that individuals frustrated with the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances and ideological causes fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize a broad range of ideologically-motivated actors to incite or commit violence.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed Paul Trombino as Director of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Paul was serving as interim director of the Department of Administrative Services as well as the Governor’s Chief Operating Officer. His appointment is effective January 22, 2021.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) published the Resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Conformance Framework today. PNT services, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), is a national critical function that enables many applications within the critical infrastructure sectors. This framework will inform the design and adoption of resilient PNT systems and help critical infrastructure become more resilient to PNT disruptions, such as GPS jamming and spoofing.
The University of West Florida has been re-designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as the Southeast Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C) Regional Hub.
