Dual-Benefit Solutions

Company Tests Radioactivity Detection System Along I-40 (WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN) “The I-40 interchange at Watt Road is one of the busiest stretches of interstate in the country. That makes it a perfect place to test a special system for” radioactivity detection developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, according to WATE. “… ORNL’s SensorNet project manager Randy Walker explains further. ‘We can look for the bad guys from the standpoint of homeland security and we can look for the unsafe vehicles, unsafe drivers from the standpoint of the Department of Transportation.’ … The SensorNet itself maps winds for any sign of chemical or biological weapons as part of a terrorist attack. Also, several new pieces of equipment have recently been added, such as a thermal camera traditionally used to check the brakes on semis for safety violations.” [View article]

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What’s New

DHS Appoints Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the appointment of 20 members to the Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee. The committee will provide external expert advice to the Secretary of DHS and the Chief Privacy Officer on programmatic, policy, operational, and technological issues that affect privacy, data integrity, and data interoperability in DHS programs. The committee will provide “important recommendations on how to further the Department’s mission while protecting the privacy of personally identifiable information of citizens and visitors of the United States,” said Nuala O’Connor Kelly, DHS Chief Privacy Officer. [View press release]

U.S. Pledges $1.6 Million More for OAS Counterterror Efforts The United States has pledged an additional $1.6 million to strengthen and expand counterterrorism coordination in the western hemisphere, officials announced on 17 February at a meeting of the Organization of American States, bringing the total US contribution to $5 million since the 9/11 attacks. The pledge is about 80% of the total hemispheric investments in the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism. [View press release]

Update to Disaster Time Line: Major Focusing Events and US Outcomes (1969-2004) Claire B. Rubin & Associates have updated their comprehensive time line of US disaster events. This chart, sponsored by ICF Consulting, features natural, industrial/technological, and biological events and their outcomes, such as studies, policies, legislation, and organizational changes. Most important, the chart shows the causal relationships between events and outcomes. The chart delineates the origins and development of the two main federal response plans that have been in place until recently--the Federal Response Plan and the National Contingency Plan. This chart, together with the companion Terrorism Time Line--also recently updated--provides an array of several types of major disasters for the past 35 years and a comprehensive overview of federal emergency management systems and organizations. [View time line]

UN Considers Multilateral Approaches to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle On Tuesday, the independent Expert Group on Multilateral Approaches to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle submitted its report to Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. To assure nonproliferation of nuclear weapons material while assuring supply and services for the power industry, multilateral groups, instead of individual states, should be in charge of making nuclear fuel, according to the report. [View report]

DHS Inspector General Reviews Port Security Grant Program In a January 2005 report, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of the department’s port security grant program. Based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents, the Office of the Inspector General gave recommendations to the Executive Director of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness: consider changing the weighting of the evaluation criteria, with greater emphasis on criteria that reduce critical vulnerabilities; communicate information to field reviewers to educate them on eligibility; and clarify department policy on funding private-sector projects. [View report]

GAO Reviews Seven Countries’ Experiences Consolidating Food Safety Systems According to a February 2005 Government Accountability Office report, the experiences of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom can offer useful information to US policymakers on food safety. The countries’ experiences varied, but each established a single agency to lead food safety management or enforcement of food safety legislation. [View report]

Streamlined Visas Mantis Program Lowers Burden but Needs Refinement, Says GAO The State Department’s Mantis action plan was not fully implemented, but the State Department and other agencies did take actions in response to the Government Accountability Office’s recommendations to improve Visas Mantis, a primary tool used to screen science students and scholars for visas and to facilitate travel by visa applicants. Issues remain, however, according to a February 2005 GAO report. Consular officers at posts still need guidance on Mantis, particularly through direct interaction with State Department officials who are knowledgeable about the program. Several agencies that receive Mantis cases are not fully connected to the State Department’s electronic tracking system; this can lead to unnecessary delays. Finally, students and scholars from China are limited to 6-month, two-entry visas. The Chinese government has rejected a US proposal to reciprocally extend visa validities for students and scholars. GAO recommends that the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, develop a time frame for connecting agencies to Mantis and give officers at key posts more opportunities to learn through direct interaction. [View report] [View DHS-DoS joint response]

UN Security Council Appeals to Weapons Exporters to Be Responsible in Small Arms Deals Stressing its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the United Nations Security Council on 17 February appealed to the arms-exporting countries “to exercise the highest responsibility in small arms and light weapons transactions” in accordance with international law. The council also called for international cooperation “in identifying the origin and transfer of small arms and light weapons in order to prevent their diversion, in particular, to Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.” [View press release]

DHS Launches Regional Technology Integration Initiative in Seattle The Department of Homeland Security has added a new urban area to its Regional Technology Integration initiative, which focuses on speeding the effective integration of innovative technologies and organizational concepts to the homeland security efforts of regional, state, and local jurisdictions. Four urban areas are initial pilot locations for this program, managed by DHS’s Science & Technology directorate. Seattle joins Memphis, TN; Anaheim, CA; and Cincinnati, OH. [View press release]

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National News

Federal Group Formed to Remedy Poor Security (InformationWeek) “The consistent failure of many federal agencies to secure their IT systems has prompted government officials to create a new organization, which will be funded by the private sector, to help chief information security officers improve cybersecurity,” reports InformationWeek. “The formation of the CISO Exchange was disclosed last week by the federal CIO Council and the chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, Tom Davis, R-Va., who also released a computer-security scorecard for two dozen federal departments and agencies. It wasn’t a report card to be proud of: The average grade for 2004 was a D+, and seven departments received a grade of F. Only seven departments got grades of B or higher. The best performers were the US Agency for International Development, with an A+, and the Transportation Department, with an A-.” [View article]

Feds Prepare Cyber-Security Test (Federal Computer Week) “The federal government and several international partners will hold a cyber preparedness exercise in November, Homeland Security Department officials said” in San Francisco at the RSA Conference, according to Federal Computer Week. “Its purpose is to give federal agencies an opportunity to test their plans for responding to a direct or indirect attack on the computer networks that control the nation’s critical infrastructure such as power plants and oil pipelines. The exercise will be unclassified, and the public will be informed, said Hun Kim, deputy director of the National Cyber Security Division at DHS.” [View article]

Border Crossers Not Just From Mexico Anymore (El Paso [TX] Times) “The 11,000 men and women who serve as the border’s front-line defense are overwhelmed,” according to USA Today. “Despite an influx of new technology, such as underground sensors and cameras that pan the desert, agents catch only about one-third of the estimated 3 million people who cross the border illegally every year. Most are poor Mexican laborers looking for work. But officials are alarmed that a growing number hail from Central and South America, Asia, even Mideast countries such as Syria and Iran.” [View article]

Email Scams Claim Homeland Security Ties (InformationWeek) “Federal authorities are investigating two e-mail scams, including one targeting families of soldiers killed in Iraq, that claim to be connected to the Homeland Security Department,” according to the Associated Press. “… Both of the online pleas for help--and money--link themselves to the bureau. In one scheme, e-mail sent to families of US soldiers killed in Iraq [includes] a link to the bureau’s Web site. The e-mail seeks to recover money from a friend of the slain soldier. In the other, the e-mail identifies itself as being sent by a federal agent trying to track down funds looted from the Iraqi Central Bank by Saddam Hussein’s son.” [View article]

School Nurses Not Ready for Terror Attacks (Kansas City [MO] Star) “Nearly half the nurses who responded to a National Association of School Nurses survey listed emergency preparedness as their highest priority,” according to the Associated Press. “But, disaster preparedness trainer Deborah Strouse noted that many schools don’t even have a full-time nurse or health services.… ‘They’re really on the front line before even the EMT person gets there,’ said Wanda Miller, executive director of the school nurses association. ‘They are the person that has to react, has to be prepared and must have some kind of plan in place to manage the situations that occur.’” [View article]

DHS Departures Could Hurt Security Mission (Federal Computer Week) “Some government and counterterrorism experts are concerned that the departure of a number of high-ranking Homeland Security Department officials since President Bush’s re-election could hinder several programs and initiatives,” reports Federal Computer Week. “… Testifying before a Senate homeland security committee in late January, Stephen Flynn, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said only one Senior Executive Service member holds a permanent position within the secretary’s office. He said presidential appointees or staffers hold the remaining positions.” [View article]

Saudis Hindering Terror Fight? (CBS News) “Saudi Arabia’s less-than-full cooperation has hindered US efforts to choke off terrorist financing,” Rep. Sue Kelly said on 16 February, and Juan Zarate, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing, “indicated [that] the Saudis were being prodded,” according to the Associated Press. Zarate “also said Treasury investigators have not found a direct link between al Qaeda and the illicit diamond trade in Africa but did not rule one out.” [View article]

Terrorists’ Use of Internet Spreads (USA Today) “Cyberfraud, ranging from credit card theft to money laundering, is the latest wrinkle in terrorists’ use of the Internet,” reports USA Today. “It’s ‘the new cash cow’ for terrorists to finance operations, says John Pironti, a security consultant at tech consultant Unisys. Online scams are harder to trace because they are relayed through a sophisticated network of individuals and Web sites worldwide, he says. And many schemes originate from abroad, where cyberlaws don’t exist or law enforcement is lax.” [View article]

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International News

Britain Says It Foiled Terror Plots Involving British Citizens (New Delhi, India, Hindustan Times) “Security forces have foiled a series of terrorist attacks, some of them said to have been planned by British citizens, the government revealed on Tuesday in documents that coincided with the release of a new anti-terrorism Bill,” reports Agence France-Presse. “The threat of a devastating strike involving biological, chemical or radiological weapons was still real, the government warned.” [View article]

Interpol Chief Warns of Bioterror Attack Threat (ABS-CBN News, Philippines) “The threat of a biological terrorist strike by al Qaeda is very real but the world is still not prepared, the head of Interpol said,” according to Reuters. “Ronald Noble said governments, police and security services were more organized than ever before but he warned it would be wrong to assume [that] the threat from Osama bin Laden’s group, blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, had eased.” [View article]

US Intelligence Concludes That Theft of Russian Nuclear Material ‘Has Occurred’ (Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Khaleej Times) “US intelligence agencies have concluded that theft of radioactive materials from Russia’s nuclear complex ‘has occurred’ and the country’s atomic power plants remain vulnerable to terrorist attack, according to a new … unpublished analysis by the National Intelligence Council, a CIA-based think tank that serves the entire US intelligence community,” reports Agence France-Presse. [View article]

Philippine Mayors Join Fight Against Terror (Manila [Philippines] Bulletin) The Philippines Department of National Defense and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines have agreed to “a comprehensive partnership in the fight against terror and in coping with disasters,” reports the Manila Bulletin. The agreement commits “the operational involvement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in securing national security and peace and order as a bureau of” the Department of National Defense. The agreement “came as an offshoot of the recent bombings that rocked Davao City, General Santos City and Makati City, leaving 13 people dead and 143 others wounded.” [View article]

Canada Shows Off New Disease Center (Canada.com) “Federal health officials expressed confidence [last] Friday that Canada is ready for the next infectious disease outbreak as they officially opened a new $3-million emergency operations centre” in Winnipeg, Manitoba, reports the Canadian Press. “But they admitted [that] the final say on how an outbreak would be dealt with lies in provincial hands.” [View article]

North Korea Ready to Join Nuclear Talks (Sydney [Australia] Morning Herald) “Kim Jong-il, the reclusive leader of North Korea, has said his Government is ready to rejoin talks about its nuclear weapons ‘at any time’ as long as so far–unrevealed ‘conditions’ are met, according to an official Chinese report. Mr Kim was reported to have declared this in a meeting on Sunday with a visiting Chinese Communist Party official,” reports the Sydney Morning Herald. [View article]

Pakistan Says It Will Abide by Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Indo-Asian News Service) “Pakistan is to cooperate with the US in enforcing nuclear export controls and has promised ‘never again to be a source of nuclear proliferation,’” the Karachi, Pakistan, News reported Tuesday, according to the Indo-Asian News Service. The News, “quoting a report of the US State Department, said Pakistan had adopted an export control law and vowed to bring its controls and regulations in line with international standards.” [View article]

Publication of New UK Antiterror Laws (Reuters UK) The British government was scheduled to “publish controversial anti-terrorism legislation [on Tuesday] despite failing to secure cross-party agreement,” reports Reuters. “… The move has sparked an outcry among civil liberties campaigners and opposition parties, who say judges, not politicians, should decide what happens to suspects.” [View article]

Orthodox Christians Fear International Control of Russian Nuclear Forces (MosNews [Moscow News]) “Several hundred Orthodox Christians rallied in the center of Moscow Sunday in support of what they described as Russia’s nuclear sovereignty,” reports MosNews. “… A number of Orthodox Christian and Cossack groups organized the demonstration following media reports that at the summit in Bratislava on Feb. 24 Russia and the United States [were going to] sign a treaty under which international control is going to be established over Russian nuclear forces.” [View article]

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State and Local News

Phoenix Community Emergency Response Team Created (Arizona Republic) “Should a large-scale disaster, such as a terrorist attack, strike in Phoenix, 76 city residents are now trained to provide assistance,” according to the Arizona Republic. “These residents, skilled in disaster preparedness and disaster medicine, are the first members of the Community Emergency Response Team of Phoenix.” [View article]

Colorado Transit Class Teaches How to Recognize Terrorism (Colorado Springs Gazette) “Highway Watch, a [Transportation] Security Administration program, trains people to recognize uncommon signs that may signal terrorists at work,” reports the Gazette. “Nineteen people in Colorado Springs got that training Tuesday at a Colorado Springs School District 11 transportation facility. They’re among 600 in Colorado trained so far. The goal is 5,000 within the next few months.” [View article]

Florida Gulf Coast Univ. Granted $1M for Biotech Research (Southwest Florida News-Press) “Florida Gulf Coast University [has] received a $1 million US Department of Defense grant to research and help develop biodefense devices for the military and the general public,” reports the News-Press. “… The university’s biotechnology department will focus on creating technologies that could help with the detection [of], protection [against] and decontamination of everything from polluted buildings to biochemical attacks to simple diaper rash.” [View article]

Indiana Terrorism Scenario Tests Wits (South Bend [IN] Tribune) “Nine members of the local public safety and media sectors have come together for a mock-disaster drill at WNIT Television, the PBS affiliate in Elkhart,” IN, reports the South Bend Tribune. “Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, there have been staged disasters in places such as downtown South Bend and University Park Mall in Mishawaka. But in this scenario, there are no actors with pretend injuries or fire truck and police cars arriving on the scene of a fake emergency. In this drill, sponsored by WNIT Television and The Tribune, the participants sit on a panel in a television studio as a moderator puts their mental wits to the test.” [View article]

Indiana Homeland Security Gets Boost (Indianapolis Star) “The Indiana Counter-Terrorism and Security Council, Crane Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indiana University and Purdue University have signed an agreement for the development, application and advancement of technologies for homeland security or military use,” according to the Indianapolis Star. “… The counter-terrorism panel is the state’s liaison to the US Department of Homeland Security. The partnership will help create a public safety technology evaluation system and training opportunities. In addition, it is designed to spur the development of a homeland security industry in Indiana.” [View article]

Louisiana Parish Leaders to Meet on Terrorism Preparedness (Biz New Orleans) “The University of New Orleans’ College of Urban and Public Administration” was scheduled to host a seminar Wednesday “on the National Incident Management System for parish leaders from Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes, together with state and federal Public Safety and Homeland Security officials,” according to Biz New Orleans. “The purpose of the meeting [was] to discuss implications for local emergency response to a terrorist attack. NIMS is the federally mandated protocol governing the local, state and federal response to” terrorist or weapons of mass destruction incidents of national significance. [View article]

Mississippi Plans Terrorism Prevention (Natchez [MS] Democrat) “With a nuclear plant at nearby Port Gibson and several major ports on the coast, Mississippi has some major areas the state director of homeland security wants to protect,” reports the Natchez Democrat. “… nine Mississippi regions have a regional response team responsible for their area and surrounding areas.” State homeland security director Ed “Worthington said that was far too many teams, and wants to train a smaller number of teams to specialize in certain areas including swift water search and rescue, building collapses and train crashes.” [View article]

Minnesota Emergency Response Team FEMA Certified (Minnesota Sun Newspapers) The Federal Emergency Management Agency “has certified a team of emergency responders in Dakota County as an Incident Management Team,” reports the Sun Newspapers. It’s “the first county-level team in the state to be certified, placing them in the top 2 percent of teams in the nation.” The “standing team of trained experts … could be mobilized to assist a city, county, or state in the event of a sustained natural or man-made disaster.” [View article]

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Private-Sector News

Systems Engineering Stresses Prevention in Protecting Public Spaces from Terror (Georgia Tech Research News) Because chem/bio detectors cannot head off a terrorist attack, “protection for closed public spaces such as airport terminals and shopping malls therefore needs a new paradigm: a ‘systems engineering’ approach, argues Jiri (Art) Janata, a Georgia Tech professor of chemistry who specializes in sensing and analytical instrumentation,” according to Georgia Tech Research News. “That systems approach would include central command centers, response strategies tailored to the facility, protection of water and air circulation systems--and neutralizing and sterilizing chambers built into air-circulation systems to limit the spread of terror agents.” [View article]

US Sees Insurers as Possible Tool in Terror Fight (Boston Globe) “Homeland Security officials in the Bush administration are considering ways to use the insurance industry as a free-market-friendly vehicle to drive chemical facilities, food companies, utilities, and other businesses to take greater precautions against terrorist attacks without heavy-handed new regulations,” reports the Boston Globe. “The concept of using insurance to spur companies to spend on counterterrorism measures may solve a vexing homeland security problem: Despite improvements the government has made to upgrade security at public facilities since the 2001 Al Qaeda attacks, 85 percent of American infrastructure is privately owned and underprotected.” [View article]

Radioactive, Chemical Sensors Part of Daytona Racing Security (WKMG-TV, Orlando, FL) “Technology to detect radioactive, biological or chemical agents in the air has been acquired to help secure the Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 and other races, Local 6 News has learned. Local 6 News also learned [on 18 February] that medical personnel in Daytona Beach have received more than 400 doses of nerve agents to be used in an emergency.” [View article]

Los Alamos Lab Develops Fast Nuclear Materials Detector (USA Today) “A team of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists has developed a prototype detector that could quickly screen vehicles and cargo crossing US borders for nuclear materials,” according to the Associated Press. “The detector would provide border security with a fast way to screen for weapons being smuggled into the United States without interrupting legitimate international trade.” [View article]

Computer Sciences Corp. Gets $16M Homeland Security Contract (Los Angeles Business) Computer Sciences Corp. has received a contract from the Transportation Security Administration worth up to $16 million, reports Los Angeles Business. “CSC will support the TSA’s credentialing office in helping process security checks for commercial truck drivers pursuing a hazardous materials driver’s license. The contract is for one-year, with three more one-year options.” [View article]

Indiana Univ. and Naval Base to Develop Homeland Security Technologies (WRTV, Indianapolis) “Indiana University will use cutting-edge research in its new partnership with Crane naval base to develop technologies to be used for homeland security and by the military,” according to the Associated Press. “… IU will partner with southwest Indiana’s Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center and Purdue University. The Indiana Counter-Terrorism and Security Council, the state’s liaison to the US Homeland Security Department, will also be involved.” [View article]

Scientists Enlist Cosmic Rays to Fight Terror (Turkish Press, Plymouth, MI) “Cosmic ray detectors, already used to look into the great Cheops pyramid in Egypt, could be enlisted to peer into cargo holds in a bid to prevent possible terror attacks, scientists said,” according to Agence France-Presse. “The detectors read muon particles, which are more powerful than gamma or so-called X-rays.” [View article]

DHS to Buy Sigarms Pistols (Nashua [NH] Telegraph) “SiGARMS of Exeter [NH] [has] won a five-year, $23.7 million contract to provide up to 65,000 pistols for the government’s Department of Homeland Security,” according to the Associated Press. “The competition pitted the company against some of the biggest gun makers in the world in four months of testing that included firing more than three million [rounds] of ammunition with 46 competitive gun models. Each weapon was required to shoot a minimum of 10,000 rounds and each pistol was eventually measured against 50 criteria.” [View article]

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Upcoming Events

1st Interpol Global Conference: Preventing Bioterrorism (28 February and 1 March; Lyon, France) Interpol, with support from the Sloan Foundation, presents the 1st Global Conference to strengthen law enforcement preparedness and develop effective police training. Senior police officers, including chiefs of police and those involved in counterterrorism, as well as relevant national and international governmental and nongovernmental agencies, academics, and scientists, should attend. There will be simultaneous interpretations in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. [View conference website]

International Conference on Biosafety and Biorisks (2-3 March; Lyon, France) The Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is organizing this event, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response Office in Lyon, France. Scientists, health leaders and practitioners from all over the world will discuss biosafety and biosecurity challenges presented by SARS, influenza and other major epidemic threats, as well as the efforts needed to improve international cooperation prior to and during future epidemics. The conference is being funded in large part by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit organization that aims to strengthen global security by preventing the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and materials. [View conference website]

Risk Communication (10 March; Arlington, VA) Waste Policy Institute (WPI) and C4CS are pleased to announce their workshop on Risk Communication. This one day workshop will provide insight into the strategic processes used for risk communication solutions. The one-day workshop will be held on March 10, 2005 in Arlington, VA. Presenters for the workshop are seasoned risk communication experts Dr. Terry Cole and Butch Wardlaw. [View conference website]

The Infrastructure Security Partnership's (TISP) Building Security Symposium (10-11 March; New York, NY) Co-Sponsored by The Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) of ASCE and the Ornamental Metal Institute of New York, the Building Security Symposium will feature experts in the field of building security presenting an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to building security. Topics covered will include: Blast; Progressive Collapse; The Building Envelope; Architectural Considerations; Mechanical/ Electrical Redundancy Issues; and Site Planning. The symposium will address basic principles as well as state-of-the-art mitigation needs and techniques. All building professionals including architects, engineers, owners, and government officials, are encouraged to attend. [View conference website]

Fourth Annual International Conference on Public Safety: Technology & Counter-Terrorism (March 14-15; San Francisco, CA) This fourth annual conference provides a single venue for gathering information on policy, solutions and state-of-the-art technologies in public safety and counter-terrorism. Presentations will cover, international port security and border security; sharing law enforcement information and intelligence; cyber-security and critical infrastructure protection; and biometrics identification. Former Central Intelligence Agency Director, George Tenet will deliver the Keynote Address. [View conference website]

Contracting for Homeland Security III (16–17 March; Washington, DC) This third annual Defense Today conference will look at the FY06 homeland security budget request--and any supplemental requests--and detail the requirements, acquisition plans, and business opportunities across the Department of Homeland Security. Like previous conferences, it will also explore the DHS contracting mechanisms, from Technology Support Working Group broad agency announcements to tips on successfully competing for contracting and the DHS Procurement Office’s use of Small Business Innovative Research grants. Additionally, it will address Homeland Security Advanced Projects Agency rapid prototyping. Panels will review the report card on integrated contracts, how integrating contractors and vendors view performance, homeland security funding priorities on Capitol Hill, and the legal implications of the new homeland security regulations and contract vehicles. [View conference website]

Nebraska Infrastructure Security Forum (29 - 30 March; Kearney, NE) This forum is designed for public and private transportation, banking, energy, agriculture, and communications executives, law enforcement officials, emergency management personnel, medical and public health professionals, and others throughout the Nebraska. The discussions and exchange of ideas will be directly relevant to all Nebraskans concerned with Homeland Security issues, including infrastructure, community and organization. [View conference website]

FOSE 2005 (5-7 April; Washington, DC) The Federal Office Systems Exposition (FOSE) is the most comprehensive technology event serving the government marketplace with 500 top technology vendors such as Accenture, Dell, INTEL, etc. Every year FOSE provides expanded educational programs, exhibits, solutions via best practices and demonstrations, informative keynotes speeches, and networking opportunities. FOSE includes a Homeland Security Center that focuses on the first response solutions for government agencies to protect citizens, businesses, governments and critical infrastructures. A mix of federal, state and local government agencies will demonstrate and discuss the latest technologies. [View conference website]

2005 Water Security Congress (10-12 April; Oklahoma City) Utility managers, key security staff, public officials, and consultants should attend the American Water Works Association 2005 Water Security Congress to take advantage of in-depth conference sessions, exhibits, evening receptions, and an opportunity to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum on the eve of the 10-year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The congress will feature sessions from some of the nation's leading water and water security experts who will address topics most pressing to water utilities today. [View conference website]

2005 IEEE Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security (April 26; Boston, MA) The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) will host their next conference on Technologies for Homeland Security. With the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) as principle co-sponsors for this event, along with top technical, governmental, and industry speakers, conference attendees will gain direct insights into the requirements, technologies, operations and funding for technologies, which protect our critical transportation, aviation and border infrastructures. [View conference website]

Working Together: Research & Development (R&D) Partnerships in Homeland Security (April 27 & 28; Boston, MA) This two-day conference hosted by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate will focus on state-of-the-art research and development to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from high-consequence chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosives and cyber terrorist threats. The conference will also address research and development to protect the nation's critical infrastructure, and the harnessing of science and intelligence to reduce threat and risk. [View conference details]

3rd Annual Homeland Security Contracting Opportunities Forum: Solutions at Local, State and Federal Levels (5-6 May; Arlington, VA) The 3rd Annual Homeland Security Contracting Opportunities Forum will feature top private and public sector officials explaining how to secure funding at the state, local and federal levels. This 3rd annual forum, bridging government and business needs, will answer questions like: What goods and services are needed by the government in homeland security, and where should businesses look to secure funding? To register, call 800-401-5937 Ext. 2 or email at subserve@ioma.com. [View conference website]

2005 Homeland Security Summit & Exhibition (24–25 May; Washington, DC) McGraw-Hill Companies will host the third annual Homeland Security Summit and Exhibition emphasizing the need for continued cooperation between the public and private sectors. This event will address how both groups have worked together to prepare for new threats of terrorism in the three years since heightened security measures were first implemented. Attendees will hear from and network with top security experts and local agencies regarding defense, transportation, aviation, and infrastructure to discuss, develop, debate and create security plans that work. The 2005 conference will analyze transportation and border security; system integration; command, control, communications, computers and intelligence; and critical infrastructure protection with a focus on policy, innovation, politics, and best practices in countering the threat worldwide. [View conference website]

Contingency Planning and Management 2005 West (24–26 May; Las Vegas, NV) CPM 2005 West is dedicated to the continuity of operations, emergency management, and security. Participate in a disaster simulation exercise and hear world-recognized military leader and national security expert General Barry McCaffrey deliver the keynote address. Conference sessions include “Creating a Trusted Information Network for Homeland Security,” “Planning for Chemical Releases in Populated Areas,” “Challenge in the South: Islamic Insurgency in Southern Thailand,” and many more. [View conference website]

124th American Water Works Assn. Annual Conference and Exposition (12–16 June; San Francisco, CA) Learn from industry experts in the field, hear about cutting-edge research and exceptional best practices, and have the opportunity to ask questions, seek advice, and interact with other water professionals regarding universal topics and items specifically focused to meet your needs. At this exposition, you’ll have access to the latest products and services available to the water industry. With more than 500 exhibitors on hand to answer your questions and educate you about the latest technology and services available, you’ll gather valuable insight and contacts with companies whose goal is to help you improve your results. [View conference website]

Homeland Security Medical Executive Course (13-17 June; Austin, TX) This course is designed to train senior medical officers for command and senior staff positions in support of the National Response Plan. It is also designed to address the challenges and complexities of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-explosive event or natural disaster in the United States and its territories. [View course website]

AIAA’s New integrated Forum Addressing Information-Enabled Aerospace Systems, Capabilities, Applications, and Technologies (26-29 September; Arlington, VA) Infotech@Aerospace premiers AIAA’s first, full spectrum technical forum devoted to information-enabled aerospace systems, capabilities, applications and technologies. Intended to serve as the Institute’s cornerstone event in addressing 21st century aerospace opportunities and issues, it provides an opportunity for interaction among experts from a wide range of disciplines including intelligent systems, unmanned and robotic platforms and systems of all types, enabling computing technologies. Experts from the research, design, development, manufacturing, test and operations communities will share their observations, thoughts and ideas on a broad array of topics germane to aeronautical, space and related robotic applications for military, civil, scientific or commercial purposes. [View conference website]

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