Homeland Defense Journal - January 2009 - 7

TAKE FIVE WMD to be Deployed by 2013 FEMA’s Acquisition Workforce Still Unprepared for Catastrophic Disasters HE DHS INSPECTOR GENERAL released a report assessing FEMA’s acquisition workforce and found that FEMA does not have the necessary plans and policies, or the well-prepared acquisition workforce needed to respond to disasters that result in extraordinary levels of casualties, damage or disruption. The report by the private accounting ﬁrm Foxx and Co., recommends that FEMA prepare a strategic plan for its acquisition workforce and create policies and procedures for FEMA’s Ofﬁce of Acquisition Management. The strategic plan should focus on setting standard operating procedures and rules for information sharing and communication. http://www.dhs.gov STAFF SGT. LIESL MARELLI T Movers… T HE COMMISSION on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation and Terrorism released it’s World at Risk report, which predicts that a WMD will be used somewhere in the world by the end of 2013, and that terrorists are more likely to deploy a biological weapon than a nuclear weapon. Consequently, the Commission recommends that the U.S. place greater emphasis on preventing a bioweapons attack, and that it redouble efforts to secure dangerous pathogens, increase forensics capabilities, tighten oversight of biological laboratories, promote a culture of security in life sciences, and enhance the nation’s capability for rapid response. The commission was chaired by former Senators Bob Graham, D-FL and James Talent, R-MI. http://www.preventwmd.gov/report/ O LIVER-EDWARDS & COOPER, a government relations and public affairs ﬁrm specializing in homeland and national security is now Catalyst Partners, LLC…Klaus Riede returned to MEADS International as Executive Vice President in charge of their air and missile defense systems… Boeing Director Gen. James Jones resigned his board seat after been named National Security Adviser to Presidentelect Obama. Shakers… RESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA named Governor Janet Napolitano as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta was chosen as CIA Director John Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, was selected as Counter-terrorism Coordinator for the White House National Security Council Senator Hillary Clinton, was tapped for Secretary of State Eric Holdner was selected as Attorney General and Obama decided to keep Secretary Robert Gates at the Defense Department. P In the information security area, FISMA, from what started off as an F to what was a B-plus last year. I mean, that’s not like a — they’re not going to make a movie out of that, but that’s a great tribute to a lot of hard work. —Sec. Chertoff at a bloggers roundtable on the question of measuring success at DHS under his tenure Visit www.homelanddefensejournal.com Homeland Defense Journal | 5
Homeland Defense Journal - January 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Homeland Defense Journal - January 2009
