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M4A1: Midterm Essay Examination M4A1: Midterm Essay Examination 2 HEM 125: Introduction to Homeland Security Jackie Bozeman M4A1: Midterm Essay Examination Larry J. Spicer Excelsior College 1. Is it possible for the U.S. Government to employ dual-use, all-hazards systems to protect U.S. transportation systems and critical infrastructure? Provide an example of a dual-use, security/safety system for both a transportation system and a component of critical infrastructure that would address the risk of terrorism and other non-intentional hazards (either man-made or natural). I do believe that the U.S. Government can employ systems that serve a dual-use, all-hazard purpose. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, extensive support was trying to understand how such attacks took place and identifying potential weaknesses that could be a target in future attacks. The national transportation system, critical infrastructures are considered strategically important. Plans to coordinate efforts among different levels of government and with public and private entities to create measures of security are a means to address natural disasters. The NIPP also creates a strategy and outlines goals for establishing security measures for the nation’s 16 crucial infrastructures (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2016). They are with the NIPP, Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) for all 16 critical infrastructures. Sector-Specific Plans help establish security goals, identify weaknesses, and create metrics for evaluating how organizations maintain security (Department of Homeland Security, 2015). SSPs also can be used to identify terrorism risks and risks involved with non-intentional hazards. 2. Is the function of homeland security maintained wholly by the Department of Homeland Security, or is this function shared among other governmental and nongovernmental agencies? Explain your answer and give examples. The function of the nation’s homeland security is coordinated through the Department of Homeland Security yet, to reach the goals to maintain such purposes, a framework has established that expands the responsibilities beyond the federal level of government. Although area responsibilities such as border security and immigration fall mainly to the Department of Homeland Security, other areas such as emergency management and securing the nation’s critical infrastructure are where DHS acts within more of a support or leadership role for different groups (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2016). Shared responsibilities where Federal, States share homeland security and local government agencies but also expand out to non-government groups and public/private organizations that have a shared interest. This “Homeland Security Enterprise” approach creates a shared vision of security and helps to get all involved on the same page (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2016). The Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) approach with sharing its vision of common interest when it comes to the nation’s security, creates a framework that allows for increased accountability, transparency and greater efficiency through coordinated efforts in response to security concerns. With the results, the DHS, through the Homeland Security Enterprise concept, has worked towards streamlining operations and reducing cost through eliminating duplicates. The resulting financial reviews helped to point out over 1 billion dollars in cost avoidance through consolidation, licensing changes, and sharing excess equipment between agencies instead of purchasing new for each group (Department of Homeland Security, Homeland security enterprise overview, 2015). 3. Is the U.S. government doing enough to protect the borders of the country? In your opinion, is this the most important element of preventing terrorist attacks within the country? Can you name any shortfalls that exist with regards to border security in the United States that could be exploited by terrorists? Provide references to support your opinion. In my opinion, I do not feel that enough has been accomplished by the U.S. government to protect the nation’s borders. Although the Department of Homeland Security has identified the boundaries of the U.S. as areas of critical strategic importance (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2016), there remain several issues to address. Mexican cartels and other criminal organizations smuggle illegal drugs, humans, and weapons into the United States in a variety of ways. One of the popular medicines that have migrated to the U.S. is heroin. Between 2008 and 2015, heroin seizures have increased by over 350% (Painter, 2017). We have seen an increase in the use of tunnels to transport drugs, humans, and other cargo across the border. These tunnels create an opportunity for smugglers to carry out their business without being detected by the technological tools of the U.S. Border Patrol. Reports of the discovery of most of these tunnels, at least 244 tunnels since the 1990s (Painter, 2017), have been discovered by law enforcement and government agencies through human intelligence. The longest tunnel saw was found in 2016 and stretched over 800 yards in length, equipped with electrical, railing, and an elevator system. Included with the 2020 Border Patrol strategy is a focus on operational control, which provides for better understanding the operational environment, infrastructure to prevent criminal activity, increase response time and mobilize supporting assets (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 2019). The Border Patrol strategy to protecting the nation’s border from terrorist and criminal activity will improve coordination of supporting agencies and also to create a layered-approach to drive smuggling attempts away from communities so law enforcement can have a more of a tactical advantage. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 2019). 4. Explain, as specifically as possible, how the function of homeland security is managed at the state and local levels. With the concept of the “Homeland Security Enterprise,” the roles and responsibilities of managing homeland security have evolved to include the State and local government levels. The State and local levels act as knowledgeable resources to identify “homegrown” terrorist activity and act as first-responders to counter natural and human-made disasters. The State level of government also determines and prioritizes infrastructure areas that could become targeted for attacks (Center for Strategic & International Studies, 2012). The Department of Homeland Security has worked on providing resources and establishing systems to share information regarding homeland security among State and local government agencies. These systems include fusion centers that are focal in creating a means to gather, share, and analyze information between Federal, State, and local agencies and with private/public organizations. These fusion centers are also state-owned and serve as focal points for major metropolitan areas (Department of Homeland Security, Fusion Centers, 2019). Another function at the State and local government level are to provide information regarding counter-terrorism and criminal activity to supporting Federal and State agencies. This information helps not only the Homeland Security mission but also Federal and State-level policy-making (Steiner, 2009). Along with information sharing, State-level agencies have specific missions to support Homeland Security. These missions include establishing and maintaining sufficient critical infrastructure threat intelligence and developing and maintaining formal contacts to ensure situational awareness among local, regional, national, and international partners (Steiner, 2009). The State-level missions help to create an active network that can support the nation’s intelligence community and the tasks of the Department of Homeland Security. References Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2016). Introduction to homeland security: Principles of all-hazards risk management. Waltham, MA: Elsevier. Center for Strategic & International Studies. (2012). The first line of defense: State and local homeland security. Retrieved from csis.org: https://www.csis.org/events/first-line-defense-state-and-local-homeland-security Department of Homeland Security. (2015). 2015 Sector-specific plans fact sheet. Retrieved from dhs.gov: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2015-ssp-fact-sheet-508.pdf Department of Homeland Security. (2015). Homeland security enterprise overview. Retrieved from dhs.gov: https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-enterprise-overview Department of Homeland Security. (2019). Fusion Centers. Retrieved from dhs.gov: https://www.dhs.gov/fusion-centers Painter, W. (2017). Selected homeland security issues in the 115th congress. Retrieved from fas.org: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R44847.pdf Steiner, J. E. (2009). Improving homeland security at the state level. Retrieved from cia.gov: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol.-53-no.-3/improving-homeland-security-at-the-state-level.html Transportation, D. o. (2015). Transportation systems sector-specific plan. Washington, D.C.: Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (2019, September). 2020 U.S. border patrol strategy. Retrieved from cbp.gov: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Sep/2020-USBP-Strategy.pdf M4A1: Midterm Essay Examination HEM 125: Introduction to Homeland Security Jackie Bozeman M4A1: Midterm Essay Exam ination Larry J. Spicer Excelsior College M4A1: Midterm Essay Examination HEM 125: Introduction to Homeland Security Jackie Bozeman M4A1: Midterm Essay Examination Larry J. Spicer Excelsior College