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Monterey CA - July 2011

Third FCLP Features Fusion Center Leaders

The third installment of the Fusion Center Leaders Program (FCLP) reflected the evolution of that critical component of homeland security as representation included fusion center leaders, as well as homeland security advisors, professionals from the high-intensity drug trafficking areas (HIDTAs), major city intelligence unit commanders, and a tribal nation chief.

Twenty-four attendees participated in the week-long program June 27-July 1 at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security. The program is intended to enhance management capabilities across the national network of fusion centers and enable best practices in information sharing and analysis.

The growth in the academic study of fusion centers was illustrated by the first time presence of major city intelligence commanders, a HIDTA director, and a tribal nation police chief.

"The program (FCLP) has matured a lot," said Bart R. Johnson, principal deputy under secretary for Intelligence and Analysis with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "The national network is maturing. Everybody is seeing the value-added of the national network and why it's a critical part of our national security apparatus."

The FCLP is valued by students such as Chief Joseph Delgado, who said the Tohono O'odham Nation is in the process of establishing its intelligence and information sharing capabilities. The Nation is working with DHS and the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) on this effort.

"We're trying to get tribes to share more information with each other," Delgado said. "We want to be an equal partner with the state and the feds. Our tribe has a lot of information to share, especially with border-related issues."

Moreover, partnering with tribal nations, as well as law enforcement and other multi-disciplinary partners is in important goal for DHS.

"I think that is an area that needs continued attention and support," Johnson said. "It's something we need to strive to accomplish this coming year."

Keith Squires, a 2009 CHDS master's degree graduate, said the FCLP interaction with some of the nation's more prominent fusion center directors was beneficial in his job as Utah's director of homeland security and emergency management. He described the classroom discussions as very valuable because of the individual backgrounds and expertise that was present.

"It is critically important for graduates to remain attuned to ever-evolving issues," said Squires, deputy commissioner of Utah Department of Public Safety/Director of Homeland Security. "The Fusion Center Leaders Program provided an excellent opportunity for that direct interaction."

The role of multi-disciplinary partners, including the fire service, in fusion centers was also addressed. These partners play an important role in the fusion process, Johnson noted.

"It's important to make sure law enforcement and multi-disciplinary partners get the intelligence they need in terms of preparedness so they are better informed about what they need to be equipped and trained to respond to should something occur," Johnson said. "Not only that, it's important because when they respond, they make a lot of observations; it could be accidental or it could be something nefarious, a criminal act."

Captain Dean Sherick of the Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center said the program provided resources and networking contacts for additional examination of intelligence collection, analysis and product requirements, which will enhance the information that is provided to his colleagues in Northern Virginia and across the National Capitol Region. Sherick noted that these partners are "interested in being contributors, collaborators, as well as customers of the fusion centers and the information sharing process."

The program, sponsored by DHS, was developed based on recommendations from interagency partners, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Department of Justice (DOJ), and state and local partners through the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC) and National Fusion Center Association (NFCA).

The goal of the FCLP is to enhance management capabilities across the national network of fusion centers and enable best practices in information sharing and leadership.

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