Melanie Montroll, former Assistant Chief of the Harbor Police Department (HPD) at the Port of New Orleans, has been promoted to the role of Chief, responsible for all aspects of port security.

Laurie Doran, a former intelligence official and national security leader, has been named Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

Baxter Kruger, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, has been named the new Director of the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security.

October 20, 2021, marked the first anniversary of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking. The center is taking a holistic, victim-centered approach to counter these crimes.

The “Ransom Disclosure Act would require ransomware victims to disclose ransom payments within 48 hours of payment — including the amount of ransom demanded and paid the type of currency used for payment of the ransom, and any known information about the entity demanding the ransom.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the heightened threat environment across the United States, especially leading up to and following the 20th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks as well as religious holidays that could serve as catalyst for targeted violence.  

Gardner-Webb University of North Carolina will offer a new undergraduate degree in Homeland Security Administration this year.

Plano Fire-Rescue Chief Sam Greif has been appointed to serve as Chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Terrorism & Homeland Security Committee.