Education
and Training Initiatives Needed
to Address Threats and Challenges to Homeland Security By
Paula D. Gordon, Ph. D. August
14, 2002 Note: This article is also posted on the
Web site of the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
at http://www.mipt.org/pdf/education-traininginitiatives.pdf.
A
wide range of initiatives involving education and training are needed
in order to help build the capacity of the Federal government and
the nation to address current threats and challenges to homeland security.
A primary objective of these initiatives is to set up as speedily
as possible a network of education and training resources that will
help maximize homeland security-related efforts. Accomplishment of this objective would
make these resources more readily available to government officials,
managers and analysts, as well as others in key roles of public responsibility
throughout the nation. As a result, these individuals would
be better able to optimize their expertise and meet the challenges
of their new and expanding roles. In
addition to University-based programs, the following institutions
and organizations could play a role: ~ E-Gov and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Graduate School and its Washington-based and regionally-based network
of education and training resources could be provide an array of new
courses and programs in support of homeland security efforts. ~
The Government Online Learning Center launched July 23, 2002 by the
U.S. Office of Personnel Management could be dedicated in part to
addressing homeland security-related education and training needs
( www.golearn.gov ). ~
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Management Training
Institute could develop and expand access to classes and training
programs focusing on homeland security efforts. ~
The Partnership
for Critical Infrastructure Protection (PCIS), a private sector organization,
could be encouraged to expand and more widely publicize their current
coordinating, informational, and training and educational efforts. ~
The Oklahoma City Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
could play an expanded role in education and training efforts. ~
The Federal Executive Institute could help by developing course offerings
in support of homeland security efforts. ~
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Eastern and Western Training
Centers could develop course offerings and training opportunities
in support of homeland security efforts. ~
The National Academy of Public Administration could be enlisted to
address some key areas of concern including the structure and function
of homeland security efforts. ~
The President's Council on Productivity & Efficiency could focus
attention on lessons learned from Y2K, including contingency planning
and crisis planning efforts that have continuing applicability given
the threats of cyberterrorism and cyberwarfare. ~
Training programs and institutes of the National Governors' Association,
the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the
National Association of Counties, the International City Management
Association, the Council of State Governments, the National Association
of State Chief Information Officers, the National Council of State
Legislators, Public Technology, Inc. and other national associations
and organizations serving communities, regions, states, and the nation
could expand their current efforts focusing on homeland security concerns. A
wide range of offerings could be sponsored by some of the following
institutions and organizations: ~
Universities and colleges could be encouraged to sponsor courses,
symposia, workshops, programs, and conferences on homeland security-related
issues. The Anser Institute
was instrumental in establishing a University-based certificate program
soon after September 11, 2001.
~
Fannie Mae which had hosted nationally influential programs on threats
and challenges posed by Y2K could play a similar role by hosting programs
on homeland security-related issues, including cyberterrorism and
cyberwarfare. ~ The Council for Excellence in Government
could expand its series of programs and webcasts on issues relating
to homeland security. ~
The General Accounting Office could sponsor a series of proactive
and educational initiatives, including conferences, symposia, and
workshops aimed at stimulating informed discussion and information-sharing
concerning homeland security-related issues and concerns. ~ A wide range of foundations and institutions
that have been focusing attention on homeland security concerns could
play an expanded role in the future.
These include, among others, the Anser Institute, Brookings
Institution, the Heritage Foundation, and the American Enterprise
Institute. ~
Other organizations that have been engaged in planning or in putting
on timely conferences and workshops concerning issues relating to
homeland security and national defense could make continuing contributions.
These include the Armed Forces Journal, Aviation Week, E-Gov,
the Reserve Officers Association, Potomac Forum, Ltd., and Federal
Sources, Inc. C-SPAN
could play an active role in broadcasting these programs. These
initiatives could be designed to address the education, training,
and information needs of individuals who fall into the following categories: ~
Persons in roles of public responsibility who are directly or indirectly
involved in government efforts that address homeland security concerns. ~
Persons in roles of responsibility in private sector organizations
who are being called upon (or who will be called upon) to address
homeland security concerns. ~
Persons in non-governmental and non-profit organizations who are being
called upon (or who will be called upon) to address homeland security
concerns. ~
Individuals who wish to become better informed and to find ways of
contributing their efforts to addressing home security threats and
challenges. Certificate
programs could be developed with core course offerings that would
address the education, training, and information needs of all of these
categories of individuals. Such certificate program could include:
a Public Sector Certificate Program, a Private Sector Certificate
Program, a Non-Governmental and Non-Profit Organization Certificate
Program, and a variety of certificate programs for citizens who wish
to play a more informed role in homeland security efforts. A
wide range of course offerings and topics could be a part of homeland
security-related education and training initiatives.
Core courses might include overviews of the following areas
of concern: ~
Overview of the nature and scope of the threats and challenges posed
by terrorism and terrorist activities, including threats and challenges
posed by cyberterrorism and cyberwarfare. ~
Overview of the multi-pronged approach needed to address homeland
security and protection concerns involving the planning and implementation
of prevention, preparedness, protection, mitigation, response, and
short-term as well as long term recovery efforts. ~
Overview of the work of a wide variety of commissions and task groups
on the general topics of terrorism, and homeland security and defense.
(For an excellent virtual library of homeland security-related
resources, see www.homelandsecurity.org.) ~
Proposed configurations of the efforts of the Office of Homeland Security,
versions of the proposed Department of Homeland Security, and related-Federal
and national efforts. ~
Overviews of how efforts to develop and coordinate Federal and national
strategies are unfolding. Specific
courses that could be designed to address the learning needs of one
or more of the intended categories of individuals to be served could
include any or all of the following: ~
Initiatives for Prevention: Lessons Learned Pre-September 11 and Lessons
Being Learned Since September 11 ~
Initiatives for Protection: Lessons Learned Pre-September 11 and Lessons
Being Learned Since September 11 ~
Initiatives for Preparedness: Lessons Learned Pre-September 11 and
Lessons Being Learned Since September 11 ~
Initiatives for Response and Recovery: Lessons Learned Pre-September
11 and Lessons Being Learned Since September 11 ~
Organizational Challenges and Options for National Homeland Security
Efforts ~Contingency
Planning Focusing on the Internal Needs of Public Sector Agencies (and similar courses geared to the
needs of private sector organizations, and NGOs and non-profit organizations) ~
Infrastructure Concerns (Using as a springboard key studies on this
topic, including the April 2001 U.S. General Accounting Office report
on Critical Infrastructure Concerns) ~
Leadership and Management in Crises:
Lessons and Legacies from Y2K and Other Pre-September 11-Related
Efforts and Lessons Being Learned since September 11 ~
Managing Up in Times of Crisis ~
Managing Organizational Change in a Turbulent Environment ~
Useful Organizational Management Tools and Skills in the Aftermath
of September 11 ~
Complex Societal and Organizational Problemsolving and Proactive Approaches
(including lessons learned and lessons that could be learned from
the way in which Y2K technology challenges have been addressed and
other notable examples) ~
Cross Disciplinary Teams in Crisis Management and in Crisis Situations ~
Informal and Formal Action Groups and Task Groups ~
Informal and Formal Networking Skills ~
Using Knowledge Transfer, Innovation Diffusion, and Change Agentry
Techniques to Promulgate the Adoption of Approaches, Policies, and
Programs ~
Approaches to Decisionmaking, Including Using Issue Papers and Comparative
Scenario Analysis to Help Inform and Drive Decisions and Action ~
Utilization of Virtual Tools to Maximize Learning, Communication,
and Information Dissemination ~
Coordination and Facilitation of Interagency and Intra-agency Efforts ~
Public/Private Sector Task Group, Partnering, and Coordination Efforts ~
Organizational Communication in a Crisis ~
Organizing Public Information Efforts: Principles, Guidelines, and
Lessons Learned ~
Initiatives for Public Preparedness ~
Public Sector Ethical Principles and Socially Responsible Business
Ethics ~
Emergency Medical Management: Planning, Preparedness, and Response ~
Social Services Management: Planning, Preparedness, and Response ~
Policies, Program, Approaches, and Initiatives for Maximizing Economic
Stability in Times of Crisis, Including Innovative Approaches to Diversification,
Initiatives to Minimize Unemployment, Initiatives to Minimize Economic
Hardship, etc.) (For
an article that addresses this issue, see "Infrastructure Threats
and Challenges Before and After September 11. 2001" at users.rcn.com/pgordon/homeland.) Implementing
the initiatives proposed here could be instrumental, if not invaluable,
in enabling the government and the nation to meet present threats
and challenges to homeland security. ******* E-mail:
pgordon@erols.com.
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