Government Technology

Napolitano Addresses Fusion Center Conference


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March 12, 2009 By

"In the world we live in today, it's critical for federal, state, local and tribal entities to know what the others are doing so each can operate effectively and efficiently." -- DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano (pictured)

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon yesterday addressed the federal, state and local officials attending the third annual National Fusion Center Conference in Kansas City, Mo., which ends today.

Close to 1,000 state, local, tribal, territorial and federal partners involved in state and major urban area fusion centers across the country attended the conference, which offered fusion center stakeholders opportunities to learn more about privacy and civil liberties and exchange best practices, new trends, tools, technologies and processes that can help them improve information and intelligence sharing and collaboration across all levels of government.

Fusion centers are the state and major city facilities that the 9/11 Act recommended as the best way for federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments and the owners and operators of critical infrastructure to share information and intelligence about terrorist threats, criminal activity and other hazards. Since the fusion center initiative began in 2006, states and major cities have stood up some 70 centers across the country, with the federal government providing personnel, financial and technical support.

The initiative has included diligent attention to fostering a climate of respect for civil rights and liberties in fusion centers. The federal government, through the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the DHS Privacy Office and the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, provides training, technical assistance and guidance to ensure that the privacy and civil liberties policies established by fusion centers are consistent with federal guidelines.


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