A comprehensive textbook that overviews common technologies utilized within the homeland security enterprise with an emphasis on contemporary homeland security mission areas and end-user applications. Designed for students entering or currently working in the safety, security, and emergency management disciplines in the public or private sectors, this textbook presents a broad array of homeland security technology types from the viewpoint of end-user applications and homeland security mission areas. The authors investigate various theories behind the use of technologies and assess the importance of technologies for achieving goals and objectives. The content includes not only technical capabilities but also a blend of sample applications of technologies using an all-hazards framework and use cases at all levels of practice, including both the public and private sectors. The authors provide an overview of preparedness applications; preventive and protective systems; and mitigation, response, and recovery technologies. Topics such as ethical and privacy concerns associated with implementing technologies and use of the Internet and social media receive special attention. In addition to readers directly involved in the security disciplines, this book will be useful for students in technical fields of study such as geographic information systems (GIS), computer science, or engineering who are seeking information on standards, theories, and foundations underlining homeland security technologies.

This paper examines the Information Technology challenges that face strategic leaders of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the United States transitions into the 21st Century. Author assumes that Information Technology is the enabler to providing the Department of Homeland Security a high fidelity effective and operational infrastructure and is critical to the overall success of the Global War on Terrorism. The author reviews and discusses options for maintaining an effective infrastructure of Information Technology that protects the vital interests of the U.S. homeland. Author argues that by having positive control of the five (5) challenging areas of cultural change systems integration knowledge management decision-making and telecommunications DHS can successfully maintain an efficient and effective organization that will provide a protective wall between terrorist activities and the homeland of the United States.

Drawing two decades of government efforts to “secure the homeland,” experts offer crucial strategic lessons and detailed recommendations for homeland security. For Americans, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, crystallized the notion of homeland security. But what does it mean to “secure the homeland” in the twenty-first century? What lessons can be drawn from the first two decades of U.S. government efforts to do so? In Beyond 9/11, leading academic experts and former senior government officials address the most salient challenges of homeland security today. The contributors discuss counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection; border security and immigration; transportation security; emergency management; combating transnational crime; protecting privacy in a world of increasingly intrusive government scrutiny; and managing the sprawling homeland security bureaucracy. They offer crucial strategic lessons and detailed recommendations on how to improve the U.S. homeland security enterprise.

A guide for the twenty-first century leader.

In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode. A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy: 1) Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education; 2) Sustain and strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research; 3) Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad; and 4) Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation. Some actions will involve changing existing laws, while others will require financial support that would come from reallocating existing budgets or increasing them. Rising Above the Gathering Storm will be of great interest to federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, public decision makers, research sponsors, regulatory analysts, and scholars.