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FLETC Conducts Females in Law Enforcement Leadership Coaching System in Peru

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-Posted by Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Director Connie Patrick

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) recently completed its latest iteration of the Women in Law Enforcement Leadership Training Program in Lima, Peru where 38 female police officials from Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay participated in a five-day program on topics such as work-life balance, leadership, and effective communication skills. The program started at the U.S. Embassy in Lima with opening remarks from Ambassador Rose M. Likins, who underscored the importance of fostering the development of female law enforcement leaders around the world.


(from left) FLETC Assistant Director for Training Dominick Braccio; Commander Jeaning Calmell del Solar, Peruvian National Police; and FLETC Deputy Assistant Director Val Atkins participate in a panel discussion.

To date, 218 women from 25 nations have benefited from the knowledge and skills conveyed in this program. The wide spectrum of individuals we are reaching makes me confident that we are making a difference in advancing the rights of women across the globe and developing future leaders that will strengthen international security.

Already, we have heard feedback from some participants on how the program has had a positive impact on both their personal and professional lives. Thessa, a prosecutor from the Philippines, wrote in an email to our team here at FLETC applauding the program for “the great opportunity, the priceless knowledge, tools and insights.” 

Attendees at the Women in Leadership Training in Lima, Peru.
Attendees at the Women in Leadership Training in Lima, Peru.

I have had the honor to be able to take part in several of the training programs and saw firsthand how much the participants value our efforts. The heartfelt enthusiasm and motivation of these women at the end of each training session truly shows the value of the program, and I look forward to the next session in Budapest later this year.

Published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

The Blog @ Homeland Security

Preview the Next Generation of www.DHS.gov

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– Posted by Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Pia Carusone

The Department of Homeland Security just redesigned its website and now you can take a look and offer your feedback before we officially launch the new website within the next two weeks and retire the old one.

Here are tips to start your site tour of http://preview.dhs.gov/

  • Visit the new Topics pages, with their own Resource Directories to relevant information
  • Use the How Do I? sections to find answers to commonly asked questions
  • Learn how to Get Involved with agency activities for the public
  • Go to the About  DHS section for to learn about DHS’ budget, organization, career options and history
  • See our new multimedia page and photos of DHS at work in the News section.

Why Did We Redesign the Site?
Our new website design was guided by user feedback and best practices in user-centered design.  The goals of the redesign are to simplify and unify DHS.gov’s content and create a more consistent look and feel throughout the site.

At the new DHS website, we are aiming to:

  • Provide valuable information
  • Help you find what you need on the DHS.gov with better navigation and improved content
  • Make it easier for visitors to engage with DHS

In addition, there are plenty of unseen improvements in the administrator interface that make our online communication more cost-efficient, help us execute a customer-focused strategy for web-content management, streamline customer access to DHS services and improve our web content management.

Please Note…
We plan to adopt an improved search engine at launch.  That means at the preview.dhs.gov site, onsite search function does not work yet.  If you use the search box, your search results will return you to the “old” DHS.gov site for now.

We Want Your feedback!
Now that you have some background on what we did and why we did it, please take a few minutes to look around http://preview.dhs.gov and send us your feedback using IdeaScale. IdeaScale is a platform where we can collect your ideas and suggestions for improving the next generation DHS.gov. While you are at it, consider casting a vote for the best ideas that others share, or joining discussions about ideas submitted by others.

Our DHS web team will review ALL submissions, and your feedback will be extremely valuable to us in making quick and continuous improvements to the new website.

If you prefer not to create an IdeaScale profile or have difficulty using IdeaScale, you can always send your suggestions or concerns to [email protected]

Thank you!

Published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

The Blog @ Homeland Security

Private Sector Preparedness and Response in Boston: DHS for a Day X

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By Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector Douglas A. Smith

The Private Sector Office hosted the tenth DHS for a Day on August 1st, in Boston, Massachusetts.  This ongoing initiative is one example of DHS’ commitment to collaborating with the private sector to share best practices and build valuable partnerships to keep our communities and businesses safer.  The event highlighted opportunities for our private sector partners to support efforts to make our nation more prepared and resilient through programs like the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification (PS-Prep) Program and trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry or TSA Pre✓™ .
DHS for a Day X The day began at U.S. Coast Guard Base Boston, where participants received briefings on the DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection Protective Security Advisor program and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s, Emergency Management Institute (EMI).  Founded over 60 years ago, EMI provides emergency response training to over two million public and private stakeholders each year on topics ranging from how to build public private partnerships, to how to develop and manage volunteers.  Following these presentations, participants were briefed on the U.S. Coast Guard’s mission and role in emergency response and port security.
In the afternoon, participants traveled to Conley Terminal at the Boston Seaport, where Customs and Border Protection officials briefed them on the role DHS plays in border security, travel and trade facilitation.
Finally, participants went to Logan International Airport to observe several TSA risk based security initiatives, including TSA Pre✓™.   
It is our hope participants left the tenth installment of DHS for a Day with a better understanding of the Department’s mission.  As we plan the next event, we will look for new ways to continue to strengthen our partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders. 
Published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

The Blog @ Homeland Security

Marine environmental, wildlife assessments of post-Isaac pollution continues

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NEW ORLEANS – Wildlife teams recovered three oiled birds, Monday and were out on the water searching for any other impacted wildlife. 

Coast Guard and State of Louisiana response workers continued assessments of the areas affected by Hurricane Isaac, searching for signs of pollution or impacted wildlife. 

So far, Coast Guard and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality assessment teams have investigated about 90 separate reports of pollution throughout the impacted areas. Facility owners are taking steps to clean up the majority of these. Six sites require further assessment and environmental response crews are taking steps to clean up or contain any oil.

“We respond to every pollution report that comes in and send teams to see what’s out there and try to identify the responsible party so they can get it cleaned up,” said Lt. Cmdr. Lushan Hannah, the Coast Guard incident commander for the pollution response. “Pollution following a hurricane is to be expected, especially with a slow-moving storm like Isaac.” 

The Coast Guard, EPA, NOAA, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries are working together to safeguard public safety and minimize wildlife and environmental impacts resulting from Hurricane Isaac.

Coast Guard and state officials are asking residents to avoid any contact with chemicals or pollution they come across and to report it to the Sector New Orleans Operations Center at 504-365-2200 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.

 

Recent Updates for HQ (use “U.S. Coast Guard Digital Newsroom”)

Oiled wildlife recovery, pollution assessment surveys continue following Hurricane Isaac

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NEW ORLEANS – One dead oiled brown pelican, one dead oiled clapper rail, one dead oiled common moorhen, and three live oiled wildlife were recovered near Myrtle Grove, Sunday. 

Affected wildlife are taken to a rehabilitation center in Belle Chaisse, La. Necropsies will be performed to determine the cause of death. 

Pollution assessments continued at multiple sites impacted by Hurricane Isaac and a wildlife recovery team deployed to Myrtle Grove to recover wildlife and to look for signs of other impacted animals. 

Assessment teams in the field discovered oil in Bayou St. Denis, Myrtle Grove and near Port Sulphur.  Teams are also investigating reports of sheening in Breton Sound.  Responders are in contact with facility owners and operators and have taken steps to contain and clean up any product.

Overflights of Lake Pontchartrain revealed no signs of spilled or leaked oil, however, there are multiple displaced drums and containers. 

Coast Guard representatives along with state officials and Stolthaven representatives are on scene to assess the chemicals stored at the Stolthaven facility in Braithwaite, La., which was heavily damaged and flooded during the storm. There is no immediate public health concern and Mississippi River traffic is not affected. A half-mile exclusion zone is in effect around the facility.

“We are conducting overflights, ground assessments, airboat and small boat operations to seek out and recover any impacted wildlife and to find any oil or hazardous materials so we can recover them as quickly as possible to minimize the impact to residents and the environment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Lushan Hannah, incident commander at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans.  

Coast Guard and state officials are asking residents to avoid any contact with chemicals or pollution they come across and to report it to the Sector New Orleans Operations Center at 504-365-2200 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.

Recent Updates for HQ (use “U.S. Coast Guard Digital Newsroom”)

Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans transfers command

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WHO: Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.

WHAT: Alter-of-command ceremony.

WHEN: Friday, June 22, 2012 at 10 a.m.

Exactly where: Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans on board Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, 400 Russell Ave., New Orleans, La. 70143.

NEW ORLEANS&nbsp&mdash Cmdr. Michael J. Brandhuber will relieve Cmdr. Frederick Riedlin as the commanding officer of&nbspCoast Guard Air Station New Orleans&nbspduring a adjust-of-command ceremony in Belle Chasse, Friday.

The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored naval tradition, which formally restates the continuity and authority of command. It entails the total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one particular person to another.

Editor’s note: Media wishing to attend the event have to contact Petty Officer Ryan Tippets @ 504-671-2020 to RSVP. Media need to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m.&nbsp

Recent Updates for HQ (use “U.S. Coast Guard Digital Newsroom”)

New captain to command Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis

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HONOLULU – Capt. Webster Balding, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis, was relieved by Capt. Richard Mourey during a change of command ceremony at Coast Guard Base Honolulu, Friday.  

Mourey, a 1989 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, has more than 13 years of sea time aboard six cutters. He was the operations officer of Coast Guard Cutter Mariposa, executive officer of the Cutter Maui, operations officer of Cutter Chase, executive officer of Cutter Dependable, executive officer of Cutter Gallatin, and the commanding officer of Cutter Thetis.

In addition to his sea duty, Mourey served as the U.S. Military Deputy for the United States Northern Command Future Operations division. Recently, he served as the Director of Interagency Coordination for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command.

Balding will continue his Coast Guard career as the Atlantic Area chief of Preparedness Division, in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Vice Adm. Paul Zukunft, commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area, was the presiding official for the ceremony.

For more information contact Ensign In Choi at 808-842-2875 or at [email protected].

Recent Updates for HQ (use “U.S. Coast Guard Digital Newsroom”)

CBP Announces Availability of Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Northern Border

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Washington- U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced these days that the Final Programmatic Environmental Influence Statement (PEIS) and Draft Record of Choice (ROD) for Northern Border Activities is available. The Final PEIS analyzes the prospective environmental and socioeconomic effects connected with its ongoing and prospective future activities along the northern border in between the United States and Canada. (far more)
CBP.gov: National News Releases