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.
"The unusual circumstances of having no fatalities in my fire house, unlike all those surrounding us, left me with a relentless desire to do something, to give back or to make a difference."
"They became my motivation to want to learn more about what we call homeland security. I felt that as a supervisor, who was responsible for the safety of firefighters, I had a personal and moral obligation to learn more about terrorism – what it is, why it happens and how we can defend ourselves against it."
"…looking up to see my wife Lisa, holding my newborn son and yelling that they had just hit another building. In that moment of stark reality, my perspective and purpose in the fire service changed forever."
“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.”
Having responded to both the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma and the 9/11 attacks in New York City, "I am fully committed to continuing whatever work is necessary to help secure the nation and protect the freedoms that we hold most dear."
"The sniper case taught me that as leaders we can never stop working on what I call our leadership blueprint. These disasters on steroids that we have seen unfold since 2001 are the kinds of disasters that eat up a lot of our planning assumptions."
"All of us, not just those of us in traditional first responder [positions] but all of us citizens have to be engaged in public service…we have to be engaged with our hearts and minds in this undertaking for the betterment of our country."
"The unusual circumstances of having no fatalities in my fire house, unlike all those surrounding us, left me with a relentless desire to do something, to give back or to make a difference."
