Participants Comment on the Executive Leaders Program

 The CHDS Executive Leaders Program proved extremely informative and beneficial to me. The readings, speakers, and forum topics were timely, relevant and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the mix of bright, energetic colleagues who participated. The totality of our experience, expertly facilitated by the staff and visiting speakers, made for spirited discussion! As a senior Coast Guard officer, I have focused on the narrow world of maritime security - this forum provides a fresh perspective on the current issues and challenges facing other agencies, as well as a better understanding of the dynamic and changing relationships between federal, state and local partners. I highly recommend it to other homeland security professionals! I look forward to maintaining the close and personal relationships that I developed with my fellow CHDS alumni well into the future.

 I found this course of study to be the most thought provoking and relevant undertaking I have made in years. The content, speakers and facilitation was first class!

 Participation in the Executive Leadership Program at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Post-Graduate School was an unrivaled opportunity to appreciate the scope and complexity of the enormous enterprise that defines homeland security in our country and world. Of greatest value to me was the rare chance to interact with my contemporaries in so diverse a cross-section of the disciplines that comprise that enterprise. I consider the cultural and professional isolation typical in our day to day experience to be the single greatest impediment to clear thought and effective action in our lives and careers. The ELP for me was a rare and enriching opportunity to find exposure to fresh thought and perspectives unavailable within the normal constraints of our professional lives. The quality of discussion in each session allowed members of the class to stretch our thinking beyond the limits normally imposed by the demands our respective disciplines. The ELP was without question the greatest mind broadening experience I have encountered in my professional education. I consider the CHDS faculty, guest presenters and fellow classmates all to have made a uniquely positive and lasting impact in my professional and personal life.

 The chance to look at problems - and problem-solving - in a new way is a rare one. But the Executive Leaders Program does just that. It pushes you to not only to re-consider issues that you thought you knew from very every possible vantage point, but it also presents you with different and unique prisms from which to consider possible solutions. Going through the program has been a fantastic educational experience. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity.

 It’s not what I learned from this course as much as how I learned. The program invigorated critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in the core function of homeland security

Participating in the Executive Leaders Program broadened my perspective beyond that of my traditional background as a response driven, Fire Incident Commander, enabling me to develop a greater appreciation for the value of pre incident planning and preparedness efforts as well as post incident recovery follow through. Now as an emergency management professional, I can apply this larger perspective to provide a more all encompassing approach to crisis management.

The Executive Leaders Program was superb! It was extremely beneficial for me to sit next to state and local partners. Too often, Federal officials seem to be out of touch with state and locals when writing Federal inter-agency plans that affect our partners. We all need to remind ourselves that all incidents are indeed local.

NPS presents that rarest of all gifts for those of us working hard in our respective corners of the Homeland Security arena: a moment to take a breath, step away from the daily demands of our jobs, and look at our nation’s security puzzle in its entirety. It was invigorating to be back on a campus as well. The academic environment provided the perfect atmosphere to examine broad concepts like Complexity and Network Theory, then apply them to real life security situations. Exactly the type of outside-the-box thinking in which people in our line of work should be engaged. Also, If "connecting the dots’ is one of our national HS priorities, then the lasting bonds formed between local, state, federal and private practitioners at NPS are a definite step in the right direction.

Many positive things can be said about the program; for me, I think the most noteworthy part is that, although you come seeking answers, you find more questions. From an education standpoint, the formation of a well thought-out question is often more valuable than an answer.

I have been totally impressed with the Executive Leadership Program at the Naval Postgraduate School at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. The opportunity to meet and confer with other Emergency Managers and Homeland Security officials from local, state, and federal agencies across the country helped me understand that the issues in Dallas are the same issues across the USA. I learned a lot about Islam and Muslims including that the vast majority are not involved in terrorism as seems to be a concern by many Americans. I learned a lot about militia groups. And I learned about Homeland Security issues and procedures across the country. This knowledge will help me to be a better leader as one of the major city Emergency Managers. And it will help me to associate more closely with local, state, and federal professionals that I meet and work with on many programs and projects. I now have friends across the country that we can share our issues and concerns with when natural or man-made incidents cause concern in our areas. I would strongly encourage anyone in Public Safety, Emergency Management, or Homeland Security to consider applying for the ELP - it is a great opportunity.