George Washinton University Medical Center
 
HSPI 2005: Year in Review

Programs and Events
  • HSPI sponsored a series of roundtable discussions featuring prominent figures in homeland security together with academicians and leaders in the non-profit and private sectors. Participants included:
    • Secretary Michael Chertoff, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Secretary Tom Ridge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Robert Liscouski, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection
    • Dr. Penrose “Parney” Albright, Assistant Secretary of Plans, Programs and Budgets, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Sen. George Allen (R-VA)
    • Congressional authors of the soon-to-be introduced BioShield II legislation
  • Co-hosted with the Council for Excellence in Government, American Red Cross, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security the roll-out of our report “Public Preparedness- A National Imperative” on January 28, 2005. Secretary Tom Ridge participated.
  • Hosted a briefing on the President’s proposed FY06 Department of Homeland Security budget for the DHS Office of Private Sector and DHS Office of Public Liaison on February 9, 2005. Undersecretary for Management Janet Hale and Chief Financial Officer Andy Maner participated.
  • Hosted Secretary Michael Chertoff for two major addresses. On March 16, 2005, he delivered his first major public address at GW, unveiling his vision for the Department and outlined a risk-based approach to Homeland Security. On December 20, Secretary Chertoff addressed 2005 accomplishments and departmental goals for 2006, including a focus on reorganization after the Second Stage Review and Hurricane Katrina as well as the implementation of a risked-based to policy.
  • Worked with the Global Security Consortium to host multiple summits including the 2005 Spring Summit on Homeland Security April 20-21 as well as the October 26-27 Fall Forum. The forums brought together 75 venture capital firms with leaders from the federal government and private sector with the goal of bolstering private-public ties and investment in technology vital to national security. White House officials and Senator George Allen (R-VA) participated.
  • Co-hosted with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Communications Commission the “Integrated Public Alert and Warning System” conference on April 25, 2005. Reynold Hoover, Director, FEMA Office of National Security, state/local government officials and citizen organizations participated.
  • Hosted Italian Deputy Finance Minister Mario Baldassarri for a lecture on economic reform in the European Union on November 7, 2005.
  • Led a forum for senior Japanese technology executives on the role of the private sector in homeland security and a discussion of potential bilateral partnerships in December 2005.
Policy/Research and External Collaborations:
  • HSPI Director Frank Cilluffo testified on national chemical plant security and the business case for homeland security before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity on June 15. He argued that a private-public partnership, including improved information sharing, industry incentives, more precise metrics and the recognition of performance, was necessary to better secure the chemical sector and other critical infrastructure.
  • HSPI launched Senior Fellow initiative, naming more than 30 nationally-recognized experts in homeland security disciplines from intelligence to EMS as 2005 HSPI Senior Fellows. The Fellows participate in roundtables and collaborate to publish policy papers and undertake homeland security research projects.
Roundtables, panels and reports
  • HSPI hosted the Jamaican Minister for National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, for a July 8 roundtable on Caribbean homeland security efforts. Among the issues discussed were efforts to combat organized crime and narcotics trafficking.
  • Dr. Robert Kadlec, a 2006 HSPI Senior Fellow and staff director for the US Senate Subcommittee on Bioterrorism and Public Health led a roundtable on the National Biodefense Act of 2005.
  • Addressed upcoming critical infrastructure protection issues at January 28 roundtable led by DHS Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Robert Liscouski.
  • Key Senate staffers led HSPI March 1 roundtable on Bioshield II legislation on bioterrorism issues, including vaccine and liability issues.
  • Brought together terrorism experts, government leaders and insurance industry representatives for an October 28 roundtable to address policy issues related to the pending expiration of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) (12/31/05).
  • Hosted “Grading Homeland Security’s New Look,” a July 14, 2005 roundtable discussion to review the Department of Homeland Security’s “Second Stage Review.” Speakers included academic leaders from area think tanks and universities.
Publications
  • Published a report of the TRIA roundtable’s findings and recommendations entitled, “Terrorism Risk Insurance: Assessing TRIA and the Way Forward,” outlining a strategy to reform terrorism insurance. Released December 8, 2005, the report was distributed to congressional officials as they negotiated TRIA renewal legislation.
  • HSPI Task Force Report, “Back to the Future: An Agenda for Federal Leadership of Emergency Medical Services” April 25, 2005. The report called for the transfer of EMS from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
  • Frank Cilluffo published op-ed “Don’t rush toward a trinational security strategy,” Globe and Mail, March 21, 2005.
  • HSPI Deputy Director Daniel Kaniewski published op-ed “A doomsday priority,” Washington Times, April 6, 2005.
  • “Public Preparedness: A National Imperative,” a report developed together with The American Red Cross, The Council for Excellence in Government, and the Department of Homeland Security. The report makes concrete recommendations for citizens, together with all levels of government and the private sector, to increase the preparedness of the American public. January 28, 2005.
  • The fourth and fifth issues of the “Homeland Security @ GW” publication were released by HSPI. The publication highlights University-wide homeland security efforts, including faculty research, publications, and events.
Grants, Training and Education
  • Awarded $4.7 million through DHS’ FY2005 Competitive Training Grant Program for the National Emergency Medical Services Preparedness Initiative (NEMSPI). NEMPSI will include the development of Web-based coursework designed for students at the EMT-Basic and EMT-Paramedic levels to respond to CBRNE events. A highlight of the training will include virtual simulation gaming components.
  • Received a $1.8 million contract from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) to develop and oversee terrorism training curriculum for shopping center security officers is nearing completion of the on-line Learning Management System.
  • Received approximately $1 million grant from the DHS Office of Domestic Preparedness FY2005 National Training Program supporting accomplishment of the National Preparedness Goal (NPG) under Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 National Preparedness (HSPD-8). The NPG utilizes a capabilities-based planning approach that identifies target levels of 36 capabilities (target capabilities) that the Federal, State, local and tribal entities must achieve to perform critical homeland security missions. HSPI will focus on two target capabilities: Firefighting Operations/Support and Pre-Hospital Triage/Treatment. The project will frame HSPD-8 in terms of State and operational response entities assess data and metrics and ultimately help determine the cost-effectiveness of federal homeland security programs for fire and EMS.
  • Received additional funding through DHS’ FY2005 National Training Program to continue Response to Emergencies and Disasters Institute (READI) efforts through December 31, 2005. Since the establishment of READI in 2003, the Institute has coordinated and facilitated 262 course offerings, which have trained over 10,010 students, including personnel from law enforcement, EMS, emergency management, fire service, hospitals, public health, public works, public administration, and nongovernmental organizations. Consistent with new DHS guidance, a concept paper has been submitted to DHS to refocus READI’s mission and streamline training efforts to offer those courses that have significant constituent demand within the National Capital Region.
Notables
  • The Center for Emergency Preparedness (CEP) led two relief missions to the Gulf after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita including;
    • A 20-member medical relief mission to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The team spent 8 days providing medical care to evacuees, law enforcement personnel, the military and first responders in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
    • An 11-member medical relief mission to southwest Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Rita. The team spent 9 days providing medical assistance to evacuees, including 136 nursing home patients being cared for on the floor of an elementary school gymnasium for 12 days.

     

  • Received DHS Disaster Management eGov Initiative award for emergency data interoperability efforts. Presented by Congressman Curt Weldon, Vice-Chairman, Homeland Security Committee, U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Frank Cilluffo frequently interviewed on homeland security topics in such publications as The Washington Post, National Journal, Associated Press, Boston Globe and on NBC, ABC, CNN, Fox News and NPR.
University outreach and Education
  • HSPI regularly disseminates homeland security information University-wide homeland security initiatives and funding opportunities over our email listserv comprised of over 100 faculty members from throughout the University.
  • HSPI provides mentoring, internship, fellowship and job placement opportunities for GW undergraduate and graduate students.
  • HSPI Director Frank Cilluffo taught a graduate course “Homeland Security and Counterterrorism” for the GW Elliott School of International Affairs in Fall 2005 that featured participation from such homeland security leaders as: Judge William Sessions, Former FBI Director ; Dr. Robert Kadlec, Director for Health and Biodefense, Homeland Security Council; Robert Liscouski, Former Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security; John Cohen, Senior Homeland Security Adviser, Governor of Massachusetts; and Duncan Campbell , former DHS Chief of Staff.
   
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