Homeland Security, Disaster Response, Homeland Defense, and Emergency Management in the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. Pacific territories continually evolve and present complex issues and challenges for the region and nation. In partnership with FEMA Region 9 and various Pacific-based stakeholders, the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) developed the Pacific Executive Leaders Program (PELP) to address the unique challenges and build collaboration and capacity in the Pacific region.

PELP, which is part of CHDS’ Executive Education Program (EEP), provides a wide range of educational opportunities that include a combination of in-residence offerings, multi-day workshops, and focused executive leader sessions on topics including:

• Emergency Management
• Hurricane/Typhoon/Tsunami Response
• Complex Incident Coordination
• Executive Leader Education
• Homeland Defense
• Defense Support to Civil Authorities
• Communications
• Pacific Supply Chain and the Tyranny of Distance

PELP is fully sponsored by FEMA Region 9, and participation in events is by invitation only.

Program Objectives

• Strengthen national security by providing non-degree, graduate-level educational sessions to meet the needs of leaders responsible for homeland defense and security in the Pacific region.
• Provide an educational forum to enhance leaders’ capacity to identify and resolve complex issues
• Create regional networks and build relationships between senior leaders across agencies, disciplines, levels of government, NGOs, and the private sector.

Learning Structure and Curriculum

The “traditional” Hilo PELP consists of an intensive one-week in-residence session in Hilo. The course is designed to accommodate the busy schedules of participants. It does not require the workload of a traditional graduate-level course.

Instruction is a combination of presentations and facilitated discussions between faculty, participants, and subject matter experts. Discussions include strategy, policy, and organizational design, complex problem solving, resiliency, capacity building, critical infrastructure, border/immigration, threat and hazard identification, collaboration, communications, and emerging homeland security issues.

Under the PELP umbrella, CHDS also offers topic-specific and Executive Education sessions and supports other events in the Pacific, based on priorities established by FEMA and its Pacific partners. Previous PELP topic-specific sessions included port resilience, power restoration, capacity building, and post-disaster housing plans. CHDS has also conducted executive education workshops for the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Islands Executive Leaders, Guam, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

“Traditional” Hilo PELP 2501 In-Residence Timeline

Criteria and Eligibility

For the “Traditional” or “Hilo PELP” Sessions

Ideal participants are mid- to senior-level professionals in their organizations who are seeking professional development and who serve in the Hawaiian Islands, U.S. Pacific Territories, or hold significant responsibilities in those jurisdictions. This program is currently by invitation only and not accepting applications. Full attendance and active participation throughout the weeklong session are required.

Selection is determined exclusively through this recommendation process and is based on several considerations, including the individual’s role, scope of responsibilities, the anticipated benefit to the participant and their organization, and the knowledge and expertise the participant contributes to the cohort.

The program is fully sponsored for those selected. Sponsorship includes travel, per diem, and lodging in accordance with federal travel regulations. Time away from the workplace, however, is not included.

Other CHDS or PELP Sessions in the Pacific Region
Other offerings in the Pacific Region are generally invitation only. Attendees are selected in collaboration with the host jurisdiction or agency. Participation is free. Travel is determined on an individual event basis.