The Alumni Magazine of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security
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Watermark The Alumni Magazine of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security CHDS Alum Invited to Conference at the White House • Tracy Frazzano Advances Active Shooter Strategies • APEX Conference 2012 : Terrorism, Budgets and Disasters • Noel Heffernan at the United Nations • Mike Brown Earns INSA Award • Innovators Enlighten Alumni • Brannan Receives Teaching Award NCIS Deputy Director Speaks to ELP • CHDS Supports Fusion Centers Development • UAPI Program Reaches Milestone • Stephanie Yanta Honored • Pfeifer and Schwartz Address NCR Cohort • 1 Regional Alumni Chapters CHDS Regional Alumni Chapters have been started throughout the United States. Current chapters and contact information for alumni leading their respective organizational efforts are provided below. Alumni interested in starting a regional chapter in their area may contact Tracy Frazzano, Michael Biasotti, or Heather Issvoran for more information. Pacific Northwest Region National Capital Region Pacific Northwest Region Chapter Contact: Midwest Region NCR Chapter Contacts: Andrew Miller Midwest Region Chapter Contact: Jeff Burkett Michael Crane Sue Reinertson Sara Fisher Greater Bay Area Region Greater Bay Area Chapter Contact: Donna Cayson CHDS Fellows, Michael Biasotti and Tracy Frazzano will be working with the CHDS Alumni Assembly and the regional chapter leaders to assist with the annual conference, regional events and other alumni initiatives. Contact them to volunteer your expertise and enthusiasm. Alumni Profile: Vinny Doherty, MA0301 Vinny Doherty’s history with the Center began when he was selected as the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) official to participate in the first CHDS master’s degree cohort. He also served as the first CHDS Distinguished Fellow at FEMA where he facilitated partnerships across the country at all levels of government. He continued these activities as CHDS’ Director of Outreach Programs, speaking at dozens of national conferences, regional meetings and CHDS mobile education events. He is passionate about the Center’s mission and has recruited numerous applicants through his outreach efforts. "Vinny is one of the most successful networkers I have ever seen," says Heather Issvoran. "He has been with the Center from the beginning, always willing to work with students and applicants to shepherd them through the process. We are truly grateful for his efforts and appreciate his willingness to stay involved." Now that the alumni cadre has reached critical mass, CHDS will be calling on each alumnus to continue the great work that Vinny has started by assisting CHDS in planning and conducting outreach briefings in their jurisdictions. On the Cover: Built in Pacific Grove, Calif. in 1855, the Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the West Coast, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is maintained by the Coast Guard. II Message from CHDS Director In this Issue of Glen Woodbury Watermark Dear Alumni, The conference this year was a Chapter and Assembly News II great success. The aptly titled 2012 Alumni Professional CHDS Alum Invited to Conference at Education Exchange – the White House 02 "Terrorism, Budgets and Disasters" – provided insightful Tracy Frazzano Advances Active methods on effectively Shooter Strategies 04 maintaining high standards despite dwindling budgets. Stephanie Yanta Honored 05 This issue of Watermark relates the expert insights of our alumni and colleagues during APEX Conference 2012 06 the two-day event. FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino delivered the opening address, reminding us though Innovators Enlighten Alumni 08 the impact of budget cuts is yet to be determined, the emergency management community will proceed through resourcefulness and partnerships. Charles Galloway of the Experience Drove Biasotti to Thesis 10 University of Maryland and FEMA Region III Administrator MaryAnn Tierney discussed the rash of chaotic weather Noel Heffernan at the United Nations 11 events and the need for more robust, comprehensive planning to address climate-related disasters. Pfeifer, Schwartz Address NCR Cohort 12 On a more traditional topic, faculty member Mike Walker NCIS Deputy Director speaks to ELP 13 discussed a range of terrorist threats facing the United States from within and outside its borders while David Brannan and Anders Strindberg analyzed the Arab Spring and U.S. CHDS Supports Fusion Centers policy in the Middle East. To the point of the conference’s Development 14 theme, four alumni discussed methods to spur innovation in the workplace and used examples from their careers to McAllister Speaks to Fusion Center illustrate their message. Group 15 While we have devoted much attention in this magazine to the 2012 conference, we are ever aware that CHDS alumni Brannan Receives Teaching Award 15 and faculty are implementing their papers and theses on a near daily basis. Mike Biasotti showcased the outside-the- Faculty Feature: Chris Bellavita. 16 box thinking CHDS endeavors to instill with his thesis on alternative treatment of the severely mentally ill and his Mike Brown Receives INS Award 18 ideas have made national headlines. Current CHDS student Stephanie Yanta talks about her FBI team’s role in the Times UAPI Hits Milestone 19 Square Bomber investigation. Class Notes 20 Also, Tracy Frazzano is continuing the strong tradition of the CHDS Distinguished Fellows program as she works on Alumni Photo Album 22 the Joint Counterterrorism Awareness Workshop Program while serving a one–year fellowship at FEMA. Connections 24 Finally, David Brannan was recognized March 21 with the David L. Williams Outstanding Professor Award, yet Watermark is published semiannually for the alumni of another example of our teaching excellence at the Center. the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily I continue to be impressed with your stories and work. represent the official policy or position of the Naval Keep in touch to update us on what is going on in your Postgraduate School, the Department of Homeland jurisdiction. Security, the Department of Defense, CHDS, the CHDS alumni or faculty, or the U.S. Government. Truly yours, Glen Woodbury Spring 2012 Volume Three, Issue One 1 CHDS Alumni Invited to Countering Violent Extremism Conference at the White House Local, state and federal law enforcement professionals convened at the White House Jan. 18 to discuss the Obama administration’s plan for countering violent extremism. Eight of 46 law enforcement personnel attending the daylong event have ties to CHDS educational programs. Squires of the Utah Dept. of Public Safety / Director of Homeland he Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense T Security and Emergency Management and a CHDS graduate. and Security (CHDS) was well represented as local, state and "When I was a student at CHDS, the main concern discussed was federal law enforcement professionals convened at the White cells being established around the country. What I see now is that House Jan. 18 to discuss the Obama administration’s plan for the greater threat comes from inspired individuals who only need countering violent extremism. a weapon and a familiar target." Eight of 46 law enforcement personnel attending the daylong Ronald Brooks, director of the Northern California Regional event have ties to CHDS educational programs. The "Strategic Information Center, also applauded the administration for its Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners in the United leadership in addressing violent extremists. States" was the topic of a day-long conference. The Department of Homeland Security-backed strategic initiative to counter violent "We need to harness the power of law enforcement and our extremism will couple the mass array of federal resources with community organizations to deter violent extremism and to local-level methods that incorporate traditional community prevent or disrupt planned attacks by lone wolf and small cell, policing. homegrown violent extremists who have been radicalized in our community, on the Internet or in our jails," said Brooks, a DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric graduate of the Fusion Center Leaders Program. "We’re moving Holder attended the session, something seen by many observers as forward with further development of these strategies." signaling the importance the administration is placing on the issue that has become the latest front in fighting terrorism. To the CHDS community, the actions called for in the implementation plan may sound familiar. During the meeting, "What was really positive was the fact that Napolitano and Holder Napolitano emphasized DHS’ efforts to support local communities showed 110 percent support for this topic," said alumnus Deputy by enhancing existing partnerships to focus on information- Inspector Amin Kosseim of the New York City Police Department. driven community-based solutions, building government and law "Countering violent extremism is an issue that is getting bigger enforcement expertise, supporting community oriented policing every day. Local law enforcement really needs to focus on this. It’s practices and expanding grant prioritization to counter violent the wave of the future." extremism and violent crime regardless of ideology. The plan also represents a shift in concern among law enforcement "It’s basically looking at community policing in a different professionals that previously focused on terrorist cells that could be style," Kosseim