LEXINGTON, Mass. - The National Guard Bureau Homeland Security Institute, in cooperation with Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, recently hosted a first-of-its-kind, joint Homeland Protection Course at Hanscom Air Force Base here.
Fifty professionals from across the country and all branches of service from the rank of lieutenant colonel to brigadier general and DoD civilians attended the five-day course designed to provide a broad understanding of homeland protection missions, enabling technologies, architectures and current challenges.
The course consisted of technical lectures, tours and hands-on exercises. Each lecture, tour and exercise was given by a leading expert at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
"The mission of MIT Lincoln Laboratory is technology in support of national security," said Dr. Israel Soibelman, head of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory's homeland protection and air traffic control division. "Our key roles are system architect engineering, long term technology development and system prototyping."
Army Brig. Gen. Paul G. Smith, assistant adjutant general (Army), Massachusetts National Guard, offered a warm New England welcome. "For 375 years, the National Guard has been in the business of homeland protection," Smith said. "This course will assist our leaders to prepare for the unique challenges we may encounter in the future."
Army Maj. Gen. David L. Harris, the National Guard Bureau's director of joint military and civil operations, who provides direct leadership for National Guard domestic operations programs including homeland defense, civil support, counterdrug and military support to civil authorities told participants homeland response is mission one.
"What you will discuss during this course is how we will do business at the operational and tactical level," Harris said. "Defense of the homeland is our number one priority and we are in a no fail scenario. Our ability to respond to defense support to civil authorities has to be unequivocally ready to go and is our main priority."
The course began with topics on homeland air defense and air security and future challenges.
"This is a unique opportunity for Coast Guard members to get the latest information on technology for the homeland protection mission," said Rear Adm. Karl Schultz, director of governmental and public affairs, U.S. Coast Guard. "It is a dual benefit for us particularly with the National Guard as we have a shared interest in their support of defense. It's a win on both fronts; learn about the technology and network with the Guard."
The course continued with main topics of critical infrastructure protection and disaster response management. "This course is vital for our organization because it deals with cutting edge homeland security technologies," said Army Brig. Gen. Elton Lewis, assistant adjutant general for the U.S. Virgin Islands National Guard and director of the U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency. "From a strategic level, this course will be good for our future decision-making process regarding protection of the homeland."
Cutting-edge presentations in communications and cyber security were very popular.
"We are here to learn about homeland protection and interagency coordination and this will help me determine where the efforts are and how to leverage my parent agency [DHS] to match our acquisition needs," said Rashea McCall Jackson, lead system engineer for the U.S. Coast Guard.
The course concluded with a real-world homeland protection exercise.
"It is very challenging and exciting for me to learn that the nation's brightest scientists are working on technology advances that will benefit Soldiers on the battlefield," said Army Lt. Col. Lisa Meriwether, director of military support, Rhode Island National Guard.
Army Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, presented the class with certificates at the end of the course. "In March 2011 a presidential policy directive titled 'National Preparedness' stated our commander in chief sought strength, security and resiliency for the nation through systematic preparation for threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of our nation," Carter said.
"In response to the challenges posed in those critical documents, the Massachusetts National Guard committed itself to becoming the agent of change in the realm of homeland security preparedness. Today, we've taken another critical step toward fully realizing the vision of creating and sustaining a program of professional training that identifies, engages and leverages the very best military and academic resources to the nation."
The inaugural course was deemed a great success by the class participants as it provided a common homeland security framework which can be used as part of strategic decision-making processes within the agencies that protect our nation in times of crisis.
For information on future National Guard Bureau Homeland Security Institute courses, please contactcharles.cody@us.army.mil.