Since 9/11, we have heard amazing stories from CHDS alumni, students, faculty and staff about why they are motivated to serve and committed to protecting the country. The Homeland Security Audio Archive preserves these stories while inspiring the next generation of public safety leaders and serving as a reminder of the sacrifice and dedication that local, state, tribal and federal homeland security officials make on a daily basis.
"As we drove in, New Yorkers held up thank you signs and waved. As a New Yorker myself, I felt the attacks were personal so I was glad to do my part to help in the recovery."
"I was very fortunate to have very talented mentors at my side throughout my career, mentors who encouraged me to always stress the system and use imagination."
"We face a number of significant homeland security challenges, including both changing actors, and changing threats within a changing global environment…these challenges that have driven me to stay in my current homeland security and homeland defense career path."
"The inspiration that has fed my career is working through bureaucracy to help communities recover from disasters. It began with the 1997 flood in Grand Forks, ND. My father had lived in the same house since he was in the 5th grade. When I saw the devastation on his face…it inspired me to do whatever I could."
"We could see the plumes of smoke rising from the far side of the Pentagon where the plane had struck. One of the first thoughts to cross my mind was this event and day would be my Pearl Harbor just as that December morning in 1941 had been for my parent’s generation."
“On 9/11, 2001, I listened to the radio with my academy classmates as the attacks unfolded. On that day, the questioning of my career decision stopped as I knew I was where I belonged and dedicated myself to what became homeland security.”
