John A. O’Kleasky, Jr. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In the 13 years since September 11, 2001 (9/11), it is unknown to what extent counterterrorism (CT) has been fully embraced by local law enforcement (LE). This question is not easy to answer, as it is not easily quantifiable; this level of LE is comprised of nearly 18,000 individual…
CHDS Theses: Executive Summaries
Risk, Politics, and Money: Need for A Value-Based Model for Financing Public Health Preparedness
William F. Pilkington EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This research pointed to significant problems in the public health preparedness system for which there are no easy solutions. Budgets are extremely tight and staffs are strained. Most of the public health preparedness funding comes from one federal grant (PHEP) that has been declining every year for the last seven…
Groupthink: A Significant Threat to the Homeland Security of the United States
James E. Ricciuti EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The groupthink psychological phenomenon widespread throughout the homeland security enterprise is a significant threat to the national security of the United States (U.S.). Nevertheless, the existence of groupthink and its influence on homeland security has not been thoroughly studied or evaluated. To counter the ever-evolving threats to the nation, the…
Developing a New Context for Leadership Development in the Los Angeles Fire Department
Trevor M. Richmond EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Leadership development in the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the fire service, and the broader homeland security enterprise is in need of comprehensive analysis. Homeland security leaders, when discussing the usefulness of the homeland security enterprise, are pointing to leadership as the single biggest determinant of success over the next…
Meta-Leadership in Mega Disasters – A Case Study of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour during Hurricane Katrina
Lee Wallace Smithson EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In April 2005, I returned from a year in Baghdad and was appointed the Director of Military Support for the Mississippi National Guard. I was responsible for the planning, coordinating and deploying of National Guard troops in support of a gubernatorial call-out in Mississippi. These call-outs include terrorist events, natural…