Assignment: National Homeland Security Mission Areas and Theoretical Foundations

 In 2002, the Bush administration published the original "National Strategy for Homeland Security" document. This foundational document not only defined homeland security, but also provided overall strategic guidance for the implementation and management of the overall national homeland security system. Intended as an all-hazards strategy for all man-made and natural disasters, the document (Homeland Security Council, 2007) was inspired by the 9/11 attacks and thus retained a strong focus on the threat of terrorism. Since the publication of this document, there have been several revisions, some of which were prompted by changes in the administration. There are still, however, primary homeland security mission areas, also called goals or pillars, that organizations and agencies must achieve. Depending on one’s perspective, the mission areas duplicate, supersede, or update the more traditional emergency management phases of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. In the readings this week, you become familiar with the current homeland security mission areas and how they relate to the traditional emergency management phases. You also examine some of the theoretical foundations of the national homeland security system in terms of how it is organized.

 To prepare for this assignment:

 Review the article, "Principles of Emergency Management Supplement," focusing on the description of the four phases of the emergency management cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

• Review the assigned pages of the article, "Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Report." Reflect on how the mission areas of homeland security compare to the four phases of emergency management. (htttp://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/08conf/Emergency%20Management%20Principles%20Monograph%20Final.doc)


• Review the article, "Organizing for Homeland Security After Katrina: Is Adaptive Management What's Missing?" Focus on the author's application of adaptive management theory to homeland security organization. (Wise, C.R. (2006). Organizing for homeland security after Katrina: Is adaptive management what's missing? Public Administration Review, 66(3), 302-318.)


• Review the article, "Contingent Coordination: Practical and Theoretical Puzzles for Homeland Security," focusing on the author's application of contingent coordination theory in a homeland security context. (Kettl, D. F. (2003). Contingent coordination. Practical and theoretical puzzles for homeland security. The American Review of Public Administration, 33(3), 253-277.)


• Reflect on the overall national strategy and mission areas of homeland security. Then think about why the homeland security system is organized into these mission areas.


• Select two public administration theories that apply to the homeland security system as it is currently organized. Note: The theories you select can be from the readings this week or can be different theories with which you are familiar from previous courses.

The assignment: (2pages)

• Briefly describe the overall national strategy and mission areas, also called goals or pillars, of homeland security.


• Explain why the national homeland security system is organized into these mission areas.


• Describe at least two public administration theories that apply to the national homeland security system as it is currently organized. Explain how each theory applies. Be specific.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.