Notes from the Editor

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our Nation, the Homeland Security Affairs Editorial Committee decided to invite CHDS faculty members and HSAJ Editorial Board members to write reflective essays on the development of homeland security as a discipline and field of practice. We asked CHDS faculty members to select CHDS theses that had a significant impact on their own understanding and on the field and discipline. We also asked Editorial Board members to reflect on similarly impactful HSAJ articles over the past 16 years. Read more.

9/11 20th Anniversary Issue

9/11 20th Anniversary Issue

Postcards From a Homeland Security Past: Chris Bellavita reflects on the impact of 18 years of CHDS theses on the homeland security field

By Chris Bellavita (Unless otherwise noted, all quoted material in this essay is taken from the thesis being discussed.) I used to think a master’s thesis was essentially about demonstrating an understanding of ideas. Doctoral dissertations were mainly about creating […]

Postcards From a Homeland Security Past: Chris Bellavita reflects on the impact of 18 years of CHDS theses on the homeland security field

Anders Strindberg reflects on the impact of Jonathan Gaddy’s CHDS thesis, “An Ontology of Power: Perception and Reality in Conflict.”

By Anders Strindberg Whatever else homeland security involves, at its core we find a multi-tiered, multi-disciplinary network of actors and interests (exemplified by the students and alumni of CHDS) that intersects with other, similarly complex networks of actors and interests.

Anders Strindberg reflects on the impact of Jonathan Gaddy’s CHDS thesis, “An Ontology of Power: Perception and Reality in Conflict.”

Kathryn Aten reflects on the impact of Katie Witt’s CHDS thesis, “Why We Serve: Public Service Motivation and what the USCIS Mission Means to its Workforce”

By Kathryn Aten Katie Witt’s thesis informs Homeland Security by explaining how policy changes can influence employee public service motivation.1 Witt traces changes in the USCIS mission and alignment between the organization’s and employees’ public service values—beliefs about which behaviors

Kathryn Aten reflects on the impact of Katie Witt’s CHDS thesis, “Why We Serve: Public Service Motivation and what the USCIS Mission Means to its Workforce”

Florina Cristiana Matei and Nadav Morag reflect on the impact of Bruno Dias’ CHDS thesis, “Blip on the Radar: School Safety Synergy through Early Warning and Information Sharing.”

By Florina Cristiana Matei and Nadav Morag School violence—which includes, inter alia, bombing, mass shooting, and active shooting incidents—has become an increasingly frequent phenomenon since the beginning of the 21st century.1 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security categorizes school violence

Florina Cristiana Matei and Nadav Morag reflect on the impact of Bruno Dias’ CHDS thesis, “Blip on the Radar: School Safety Synergy through Early Warning and Information Sharing.”

Carolyn Halladay reflects on the impact of Jaime Lier Chen’s CHDS thesis, “Muted Voices: Toward an Understanding of the U.S. Asylum Program at the Southwest Border.”

By Carolyn Halladay Jaime Lier Chen crafted her thesis amid a great deal of shouting. The 2020 presidential election campaign was at full volume. Stentorian outrage attended all sides of all issues at the U.S. southern border, the broad subject

Carolyn Halladay reflects on the impact of Jaime Lier Chen’s CHDS thesis, “Muted Voices: Toward an Understanding of the U.S. Asylum Program at the Southwest Border.”

Anke Richter reflects on the impact of public health research published in Homeland Security Affairs over the years.

By Anke Richter Until 2020, public health had an uneasy relationship with the majority of the homeland security establishment. Unlike first responders and the medical establishment (hospitals, doctors, nurses, and ambulances) which focus on securing and saving individuals, public health

Anke Richter reflects on the impact of public health research published in Homeland Security Affairs over the years.

Michael Petrie reflects on the impact of Luke Hodgson’s Homeland Security Affairs article “How Violent Attacks Are Changing the Demands of Mass Casualty Incidents: A Review of The Challenges Associated with Intentional Mass Casualty Incidents”

By Michael Petrie Luke Hodgson’s article “How Violent Attacks Are Changing the Demands of Mass Casualty Incidents: A Review of The Challenges Associated with Intentional Mass Casualty Incidents” is an important contribution to the development of homeland security as a

Michael Petrie reflects on the impact of Luke Hodgson’s Homeland Security Affairs article “How Violent Attacks Are Changing the Demands of Mass Casualty Incidents: A Review of The Challenges Associated with Intentional Mass Casualty Incidents”

James Ramsay reflects on the impact of John Mueller and Mark Stewart’s 2011 HSAJ article, “Balancing the Risks, Benefits, and Costs of Homeland Security” on the development of Homeland Security as a field

By James Ramsay Over the past 20 years, “homeland security” (HLS) has evolved in countless ways; as a term of art, as a profession, as policy, as law, and as an academic discipline. Since 2005, higher education has added over

James Ramsay reflects on the impact of John Mueller and Mark Stewart’s 2011 HSAJ article, “Balancing the Risks, Benefits, and Costs of Homeland Security” on the development of Homeland Security as a field

Rudy Darken reflects on the impact of Tom Richardson’s CHDS thesis, “First Responder: Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Using Massively Multiplayer On-Line Gaming”

By Rudy Darken In July of 2002, the U.S. Army released version 1.0 of America’s Army, a free, downloadable first-person shooter video game intended to be used as a recruitment tool. The game was initially developed by the MOVES Institute

Rudy Darken reflects on the impact of Tom Richardson’s CHDS thesis, “First Responder: Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Using Massively Multiplayer On-Line Gaming”

Glen Woodbury reflects on the impact of John Flynn’s CHDS thesis “Mindfulness Training: Worthwhile As A Means to Enhance First-Responder Crisis Decision Making?”

By Glen Woodbury There continues to be a critical skill that we are failing to learn, failing to teach, homeland security leaders. We often hear that the increasingly complex global, strategic, and operational environments demand “thinking differently” as if the

Glen Woodbury reflects on the impact of John Flynn’s CHDS thesis “Mindfulness Training: Worthwhile As A Means to Enhance First-Responder Crisis Decision Making?”

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