NGA officials said the new division was created to assist governors and their staffs with their efforts to design and implement comprehensive state-based homeland security and emergency management strategies.
Although the NGA has studied local, state, and federal emergency management efforts since the 1980s -- and terrorism preparedness since 1996 -- the issues were under the purview of the Center's Natural Resources Division.
The new division will focus on all aspects of homeland security and emergency management, including prevention of and response to natural disasters and biological, agricultural, chemical, nuclear, radiological and computer terrorism. Another priority will be monitoring the issues surrounding the creation -- and subsequent work -- of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, since the creation of that department will involve the reorganization, restructuring and integration of many state and federal agencies and assets.
"The past year has established that homeland security and emergency management are complex, long-term challenges that demand significant investment and collaboration among local, state, and federal governments -- and integration with the private sector," said the NGA's Executive Director, Raymond Scheppach.
Ann Beauchesne will direct the new division and manage its staff. Since joining the NGA in 1993, she has led several important initiatives relating to domestic terrorism and state emergency-management policies.
In the coming months, the NGA said the division will examine states' efforts to protect critical infrastructure, develop interoperable communications capabilities, and prepare for -- and respond to -- terrorist attacks. The division will also provide technical assistance, policy research, publications and other support to governors as they answer the challenge of homeland security leadership.
