The Fundamentals of Homeland Security

What does it take to be a homeland security professional? This question can be difficult to answer simply, as security-related specialists and experts are employed at all levels (e.g., international, national, regional and local) and in all types of organizations (e.g., U.S. Secret Service, F.E.M.A., U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Transportation Security Administration). Most typically, employees in the homeland security profession have similar, or fundamental, qualifications, including quick reaction time, critical thinking and research skills, and the ability to quickly analyze a situation and initiate the best possible solution.

Each of these aforementioned skills is essential to the daily life of a homeland security professional; however, all security-related jobs are built around five, all-encompassing objectives established by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Established in 2007, the department recommitted itself to achieving these objectives in coming years as the branch refines its infrastructure, policies and procedures.  The five goals of the DHS include: 1.) Protect our nation from dangerous people, 2.) Protect our nation from dangerous goods, 3.) Protect critical infrastructure, 4.) Build a nimble, effective emergency response system and culture of preparedness, and 5.) Strengthen and unify DHS operations and management.

In the following, we will address each of the DHS's objectives and determine what future plans are expected to be implemented in order to achieve these proposed means.

1. Protect our nation from dangerous people. To achieve this goal, the DHS focuses its efforts on the strengthening and reinforcing of border security and border control. The focus of this objective, therefore, is to monitor and facilitate the flow of individuals in and out of country.  Past and current budgetary expenses aimed at meeting this objective include: enhanced air and marine support and security, additional fencing along the border, security-enhanced identification, and increased law enforcement. As part of the President's proposed budgetary increase of 7 percent, the DHS will concentrate future resources on additional border patrol officers; improve  the E-Verify system (an employer-used program designed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in order to verify new employees' names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, and immigration information, if applicable, against federal databases); reinforce infrastructure; and implement the US-VISIT system, a ten, rather than two, fingerprint system devised to ensure accuracy.
2. Protect our nation from dangerous goods. The DHS proposed this objective in order "to identify, track, and intercept nuclear and radiological components and systems at ports of entry and in transportation systems within U.S. borders." Past efforts in this area include radiation scanning and detection, more rigorous security measures on imports, narcotic investigation and seizure, and the amplification of border control on drug influx into the country.  The DHS plans to expand efforts under this departmental goal by enhanced BioWatch measures and nuclear detection research, development, and operations.
3. Protect critical infrastructure. The DHS believe part of homeland security is being well-informed and prepared on and through the home front. To this means, the department is acutely concerned with the fortification of its internal infrastructure. Therefore, the DHS has made considerable efforts to "bolster the resiliency…and mitigate potential vulnerabilities" found within the infrastructure. In order to do so, the branch aims to increase cyber security, design strategic disaster response and sector-specific plans, and expand credible outlets for information sharing.
4. Build a nimble, effective emergency response system and culture of preparedness. After the aftermath of both 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, advanced security and emergency response systems became a vital part of the DHS mission. Therefore, the DHS aims to "draft federal interagency strategic plans that coordinate resources and capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from major disasters and other catastrophic emergencies."
5. Strengthen and unify DHS operations and management. Proper management and sound policies play a crucial role in the effectiveness of security and/or emergency response programs. The DHS is fully aware of these factors and designs each of its procedures and policies to reflect a high level of efficiency, quick response time, and the proper allocation of resources.  The DHS claims this need can be met through the integration of core management functions, the consolidation of information technology network sites, the possession of state-of-the-art information technology resources, and the creation of a DHS counterintelligence program.

Source:

Department of Homeland Security. (2008). Testimony of Secretary Chertoff, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, "FY 2009 Budget Request." Retrieved February 19, 2008, from http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/testimony/testimony_1203008767192.shtm