ITT-Technical institute | Capstone Project | Department of Homeland Security | | Rudy Olave (12341891) | 10/19/2012 |

Table of Contents
Introduction --------------------------------------------------------- Page 3
Background of the topic and linked topic--------------------Page 5
Research Question--------------------------------------------------Page 9
Results----------------------------------------------------------------- Page 13
Conclusion------------------------------------------------------------Page 16
References------------------------------------------------------------Page 19

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Rough Draft
Introduction-
The reason that I chose this topic in homeland security is for the fact that I believe has an essential meaning and importance to all of us living in the United States. The department of homeland security has the duty of protect our home land from anything and anyone. This might include terrorist attacks and such. Many of us don’t even know what the purpose of the Department of Homeland Security is for, or what does it do and what does it protect. My priority is to leave that very clear to everyone and why will we always need this department in place no matter the ups and downs of our economy. It is very essential to have such department in place for the fact that we need to protect our land from any illegal activity or an attack to our people, we can’t afford another attack like the 9/11 one. A country with the guidelines and boundaries well organized, ordered, and secure will always guarantee a well front-line force. Unfortunately, people within our nation don’t like to keep our nation safe nor secure, there are many individuals that have murder a lot of people within our nation. The saddest part is that they are Americans as well as the people they murder, hurt, etc.
For example the guy that open fire in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, this individual was a U.S. citizen and still wanted to murder some of its own people for the fact that he was such a psychopath. The murders that happened in a university in the Carolina’s or in Virginia, these individuals are committing crimes within our nation and unfortunately that must be with a lack of proper and reinforce security. There are such many cases and stories from interview concerned citizens that one to be able to walk out of their homes without having the worry or thought that what is today I found myself between a terrorist attack and their target, what if I get on the wrong bus, I’m enrolled in the wrong university, or I got on the wrong plane. All these are questions citizens question themselves with and they want to be able to either prevent these things or learn hot to be more cautious.
My whole purpose of my project is to identify every single sub-department within the Department of Homeland Security by giving a brief but very explanatory description of what is there for, what does it do, and how does the Department of Homeland Security reinforces this branch. I will identify all as much as I can find enough information of each. I will practically be learning all this information as I am researching it. I am not a genius as I wish I would be but I know where to get the sources from so that will be my advantage. Upon identifying all these branches within the Department of Homeland Security I will relate them with one another and how they come up to have the same purpose within the Department of Homeland Security. I will also research and write about the side branches that might work together with maybe the Department of Defense, or any other, if they are any.
The Department of Homeland Security has a very important mission and that is protecting the United States from threats, hazards, and national disasters. Department of Homeland Security carries out this mission by securing America's borders, preventing terrorist attacks, and responding to threats to the American people. National disasters and international criminal activities are other areas that the Department of Homeland Security works to counter, contain, and prevent. Vigilance, duty, respect, and innovation are the core values of the Department of Homeland Security and it helps to define the purpose for this national protection agency. The Department of Homeland Security strategic plan has goals and objectives for protecting the nation's borders and for preventing illegal goods from entering into the United States. U.S. Department of Homeland Security will use to secure America's points of entry. Evaluation procedures are utilized by the department to ensure that the goals and objectives are met.
Background of the topic and linked topic
The Department of Homeland Security is a department within the cabinet of the United States, Federal Government created this department in response to the 9/11 attacks with the essential responsibilities of protecting the United States of America and U.S. Territories and responding to terrorist attacks that are man-made accidents, and/or natural disasters. In fiscal year 2011, DHS was allocated a budget of $98.8 billion and spent, net, $66.4 billion. (Clarke, R. A. (2008).)
The Department of Homeland Security doesn’t have much of history but it was first brought up after the 9/11 attacks to take an effect, President George W. Bush announced the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security to coordinate homeland security efforts. There was an announcement the official said about the purpose of the homeland security:
The mission of the Office will be to develop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks. The Office will coordinate the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States.
Their primary goal is to prepare for, prevent, and respond to domestic emergencies, particularly terrorism. Additionally, the border enforcement functions of the INS, including the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Customs Service, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service were consolidated into a new agency under DHS: U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The department of Homeland Security has more than 200,000 employees, this is the third largest Cabinet department, after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Homeland security policy is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council. (Horn, G. M. (2004).)
According to Peter Andreas, a border theorist, the creation of DHS constituted the most significant government reorganization since the Cold War. It is the most substantial reorganization of federal agencies since the National Security Act of 1947, which placed the different military departments under a secretary of defense and created the National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency. DHS has most diversity merger of federal functions and responsibilities, having 22 government agencies into a single organization. This makes it a very large organization. (Clarke, R. A. (2008).)
All of the 22 departments of Homeland Security are tied together to implement department-wide goals and performance standards. Goals and department assessments are important because they reveal the department's preparedness capability for handling any type of potential threat or disaster. There are many factors that make securing America a challenge and if the Department of Homeland Security doesn't properly train, evaluate, assess, and adapt, then it will not be able to carry out the objective of protecting the American way of life.
Ever since the Department of Homeland Security was created they’ve been several attacks. From the one of 9/11 attack, although this was the event that made this department to be in effect, I want to bring it up because it is scenarios such like these ones that the Department of Homeland Security wants to prevent. One in was in effect these following events are some of what the Department of Homeland Security has gone through ever since it came into effect. Now I just wanted to point out that these are only cases that happened in United States land after the 9/11, these are some of them. But some of them will be attack to the American people due to the 9/11 attacks. In 2003 May 12, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: suicide bombers kill 34, including 8 Americans, at housing compounds for Westerners. Al-Qaeda suspected. In 2004 May 29–31, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: terrorists attack the offices of a Saudi oil company in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, take foreign oil workers hostage in a nearby residential compound, leaving 22 people dead including one American. Dec. 6, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: terrorists storm the U.S. consulate, killing 5 consulate employees. 4 terrorists were killed by Saudi security. In 2005 Nov. 9, Amman, Jordan: suicide bombers hit 3 American hotels, Radisson, Grand Hyatt, and Days Inn, in Amman, Jordan, killing 57. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. In 2006 Sept. 13, Damascus, Syria: an attack by four gunman on the American embassy is foiled. 2007 Jan. 12, Athens, Greece: the U.S. embassy is fired on by an anti-tank missile causing damage but no injuries. In 2008, May 26, Iraq: a suicide bomber on a motorcycle kills six U.S. soldiers and wounds 18 others in Tarmiya. June 24, Iraq: a suicide bomber kills at least 20 people, including three U.S. Marines, at a meeting between sheiks and Americans in Karmah, a town west of Baghdad. June 12, Afghanistan: four American servicemen are killed when a roadside bomb explodes near a U.S. military vehicle in Farah Province. July 13, Afghanistan: nine U.S.soldiers and at least 15 NATO troops die when Taliban militants boldly attack an American base in Kunar Province, which borders Pakistan. It's the most deadly against U.S. troops in three years. In 2009, Feb. 9, Iraq: a suicide bomber kills four American soldiers and their Iraqi translator near a police checkpoint.
April 10, Iraq: a suicide attack kills five American soldiers and two Iraqi policemen. The following happened on U.S. soil in 2009, June 1, Little Rock, Arkansas: Abdulhakim Muhammed, a Muslim convert from Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with shooting two soldiers outside a military recruiting center. One is killed and the other is wounded. In a January 2010 letter to the judge hearing his case, Muhammed asked to change his plea from not guilty to guilty, claimed ties to al-Qaeda, and called the shooting a jihadi attack to fight those who wage war on Islam and Muslims. In Dec. 25: A Nigerian man on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit attempted to ignite an explosive device hidden in his underwear. The explosive device that failed to detonate was a mixture of powder and liquid that did not alert security personnel in the airport. The alleged bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, told officials later that he was directed by the terrorist group Al Qaeda. The suspect was already on the government's watch list when he attempted the bombing; his father, a respected Nigerian banker, had told the U.S. government that he was worried about his son's increased extremism. In 2010 May 1, New York City: a car bomb is discovered in Times Square, New York City after smoke is seen coming from a vehicle. The bomb was ignited, but failed to detonate and was disarmed before it could cause any harm. Times Square was evacuated as a safety precaution. Faisal Shahzad pleads guilty to placing the bomb as well as 10 terrorism and weapons charges. May 10, Jacksonville, Florida: a pipe bomb explodes while approximately 60 Muslims are praying in the mosque. The attack causes no injuries. Oct. 29: two packages are found on separate cargo planes. Each package contains a bomb consisting of 300 to 400 grams (11-14 oz) of plastic explosives and a detonating mechanism. The bombs are discovered as a result of intelligence received from Saudi Arabia's security chief. The packages, bound from Yemen to the United States, are discovered at en route stop-overs, one in England and one in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. In 2011, Jan. 17, Spokane, Washington: a pipe bomb is discovered along the route of the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial march. The bomb, a "viable device" set up to spray marchers with shrapnel and to cause multiple casualties, is defused without any injuries. (Dansky, K. (2012, 10 10))
Cases such like these and many more that I found on the research I did are the type of events the Department of Homeland Security wants to prevent. That’s why it is important to understand the severity of protecting our nation and our people.
Research Question
How do the government and its specific Department of Homeland Security keep the U.S. safe? As I now will develop my answer as a very comprehensive way I will write the pros and cons of having the department of Homeland Security.
President George W Bush. Said that the existing loose structure of government agencies created in the 1940’s to respond to the Cold War was very insufficient for addressing new terrorist attacks. He said that the new department which has the purpose of consolidate many agencies into one central department will minimize the duplication of efforts, improve coordination between agencies, and take advantage of advances in technology and management techniques. When it was first brought into proposal it was as a bill that was signed into law in November of 2002. There has been very good feedback from the people saying they do feel more safe that the Department of Homeland Security is now active. Is like back in the 1940s when President Harry Truman recognized that our Nations fragmented military defenses needed reorganization to help win the Cold War. President Truman then proposed uniting out military forces under a single entity, which is now the Department of Defense, and by creating the National Security Council to bring together defense, intelligence, and diplomacy. As we can all see President Truman’s reforms are still helping us to fight terror, which is the same reason we need to know how essential it is to have similar dramatic reforms to secure us and our home. I know how great Idea is to have the Department of Homeland Security although there might be some other people who might have opposed to that idea President Bush had. As of right now there is no other Federal Government agency that has homeland security as its primary mission.
Responsibilities to the homeland security were dispersed among more than 100 different entities of the Federal Government. The Department of Homeland Security brought all these together and its primary mission is making America safer. This one department is responsible of protecting our borders, transportation sectors, ports, and infrastructures. This department bring all into one, it manages Federal emergencies response activities and trains and equips the first responders as well to have a set plan in case terrorist do make a mass destruction. Although this department makes sure to minimize the possibilities of an attack it also helps develop a plan of how to respond to it. The Department of Homeland Security has a more clear and efficient organizational structure with four main divisions to enforce it, Border and Transportation Security; Emergency Preparedness and Response; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Counter Measures; and Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. (Cothran, H. (2004).)
Now many other people said otherwise when the Department of Homeland Security was first proposed and even more when it came into effect. Ron Paul a representative of Texas said that the department which is consolidating many government agencies into one centralized department will actually make America less safe by diverting critical resources from fighting terrorism to rearrenging government offcies and command structures. Other people said that this will be a lot more costly that anything, it cost more than $3 Billion just to implement this department. These were only a few of the the opposing viewpoints of the Department of Homeland Security, although there wasn’t many.
In general, homeland security is all about keeping the United States a safe place. This involves passing laws and writing new policy, fighting crime, and preventing terrorism, among other things. Homeland security is about protecting the freedoms we’re afforded in the United States, while also ensuring citizens are safe. The Department of Homeland Security consist of the following agencies within its agency, U.S. Customs Service which concentrated in the border but now it dissolved, since 2003. Then there is a department Immigration and Naturalization Service, most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new entities – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , and U.S. Customs and Border Protection – within the newly created Department of Homeland Security. Then there is Federal Protective Service which is responsible for law enforcement and security of nearly 9,000 federally owned and leased buildings, courthouses, properties, and other federal assets and the personnel associated with those assets. It also protects other properties as authorized and carries out various other activities for the promotion of homeland security as the Secretary of Homeland Security may prescribe, to include providing a uniformed police response to National Security Special Events, and national disasters.
Transportation Security Administration is another agency with in the Department of Homeland Security with state, local, and regional partners, the TSA oversees security for highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems, pipelines, ports. The TSA is solely responsible for screening passengers and checked and carry-on baggage at 450 U.S. airports. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center is a law enforcement training organization for 90 United States government federal law enforcement agencies. Federal Emergency Management Agency is used to coordinate the response to a disaster that has occurred in the United States and that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities. Strategic National Stockpile works together with National Disaster Medical System as medical response to major emergencies and disasters such as antibiotics, vaccines, chemical antidotes, antitoxins and other critical medical equipment and supplies in the event of a national emergency involving bioterrorism or a natural pandemic. Nuclear Incident Response Team is another agency which selves explains itself. Domestic Emergency Support Team, concerning weapons of mass destruction threats and actual incidents and/or attacks. CBRN Countermeasures Programs is another agency within DHS. Environmental Measurements Laboratory which tests and evaluates technologies and systems, including those developed by DHS, other agencies, and the private sector. Plum Island Animal Disease Center It is part of the DHS Directorate for Science and Technology. Federal Computer Incident Response Center is another agency within DHS. National Communications System is in charged of enabling national security and emergency preparedness communications using the national telecommunications system. National Infrastructure Protection Center is a center within the department of DHS who has control and oversees.
Energy Security and Assurance Program is another agency or program within the agency, United States Coast Guard it operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President at any time, or by Congress during time of war. United States Secret Service is Federal law enforcement agency the sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States Department of the Treasury.
Homeland Security has a very hard job of protecting us from terrorists. They are always on the lookout for possible dangers. They also have to be sure that they are covering everywhere that a terrorist can slip into our country. So they are constantly updating and going over their entire defense tactics to make sure they have not forgot something.
Security from Homeland is something that most people take for granted. They do such a good job that everyone tends to forget that they are even here. It is not until we need their help that most of us remember. Obviously, the government and other agencies are working closely with Homeland Security to help keep all of us safe.
Results
With the research I did I found out that the Department of Homeland Security has a lot of responsibilities and a lot of agencies to oversee. If anything goes wrong in United States soil they are first department they world will focus their eyes on. It is very sad that when things are going to great and normal and apparently everybody is happy nothing nor no one greets or congrats the Department of Homeland Security but as soon something goes wrong everybody is on top of them asking, pointing out, judging why they didn’t do their job correctly. Being accurate in this job it is very critical though, the lives of multitude of people are in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security, technically we are very vulnerable and any lack within our nation may cause the lost of many lives.
I have found that Border and Transportation Security represents a sweeping federal reorganization, as it has absorbed the Customs Service from the Department of the Treasury, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) from the Department of Justice (DoJ) and both the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard from the Department of Transportation.
Border and Transportation Security will also absorb the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for traditional quarantine and control measures. The Federal Protective Service will be included because of its mission to secure public buildings. While the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, it remains a distinct military entity that is subject to DoD authority in time of war.
The Secretary of Homeland Security has been allowed to reorganize and reallocate functions within the department as necessary. The secretary may contract private-sector sources for service and consultation as opposed to typical civil service competitive appointment procedures. The bill also permits cooperative agreements for research and development while exempting the department from procurement regulations that obstruct the homeland security mission.
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security marks a significant step forward for the United States in addressing the threat posed by terrorism within its borders. DHS also marks the major reorganization of nearly two dozen disparate—and sometimes competing—federal agencies. DHS is not alone in its mission, as DoD has taken steps of its own with homeland defense. The National Guard and Reserve units, dotting every state in the union, should not be overlooked in considering the most effective means to accomplish standardized training, readiness and reaction.
I found that there are really good benefits to have the DHS, the first benefit is the increased organization of federal, state and local agencies to facilitate an effective response to incidents of terrorism. Every major federal law enforcement and security agency is directly involved and has specified responsibilities. Another benefit of Homeland Security is the prevention of terrorist attacks.

The urgency and novelty of the homeland security challenge requires that those who bear responsibility for this mission enjoy a significant degree of management flexibility. Its beyond anything else how much the responsibility they have, even more the Secretary of Homeland Security itself. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find the how the Department of Homeland security will keep us safe, and that is understandable it’s obvious United States government is not going to share its tactics to fight terrorism and how they will develop a plan after a mass destruction, or even how they will evacuate in case of a homeland toxic gas on our air.

Conclusion
A little overview of this project I describe the reason I chose this topic and what I will like to accomplish out of it. I gave an extensive brief of what is the Department of Homeland Security and what’s its budget as well as what does it do. Also in summary, the Department of Homeland Security was created as a response after the 9/11 attacks. President Bush immediately said we needed a department that their main focus would be to protect us from terrorism.
Its primary missions are to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce U.S. vulnerability to terrorism and minimize the damage of attacks once they occur. Even with an expansive federal department responsible for protecting American lives and property from terrorist attacks at home, the public must understand that the threat is still very real and immediate. It is imperative that the responsibilities of DHS be clearly articulated, including standardized training and operations at state and local levels, legal parameters, and cooperation with DoD. However, with the strides being made with the creation and enhancement of DHS and the continued efforts to improve on security deficiencies at all levels of government, U.S. citizens should be optimistic that progress will continue and that their safety is a top priority. The Department of Homeland Security has a very important mission and that is protecting the United States from threats, hazards, and national disasters.
I gave an extensive overview of what agencies are within the department of Homeland Security and what their main priority is, what is it do. I also gave some examples of some of the attacks or casualties they United States has suffer after the 9/11 attacks and some that were out of country and that they somewhat relate to the 9/11. I also gave some explanations about my findings on the research I did, and how do I feel about them.
This was the conclusion of the project although I want to share how important it was for me to finish this, and how good I feel for myself that this was an excellent opportunity to prepare me for the future. This project was impossible to finish at last minute it sure does take a lot of time to do this, and effort. I am not going to lie It took me longer finding the correct information that I needed and putting into my own words than actual time it took me typing it, obviously. This project will allow me to get an idea about what the future holds and what it might have prepared. No matter how long it took me to complete this project it was definitely worth my time and dedication into this and the emphasis I put into it. I tried my best to be as clear as possible. This project has give me the opportunity into many things and I am gratefully thankful for that.

References

Clarke, R. A. (2008). Your Government FAILED YOU. New York: Harper Collins.
Colon, S. J. (2008). After 9/11 Americas war on terror. New York: Hill and Wang.
Cothran, H. (2004). National Security. Farmington Hills: Green Haven Press.
Horn, G. M. (2004). The Cabinet and Federal Agencies. Milwaukee: World Almanac.
Larsen, R. J. (2007). Our own worst enemy. New York: Grand Central Publishing.
David Walker, Homeland Security: Proposal for Cabinet Agency Has Merit, But Implementation
Will Be Pivotal to Success, Report GAO-02-886T (Washington, D.C.: General Accounting Office, 25
June 2002), p. 7.
Schmalleger, F. (2009). Criminology Today. Upper Saddle River: Pearson hall.
(2011, unknown unknown). Retrieved from www.westwood.edu: http://www.westwood.edu/resources/how-to-become-a-police-officer
Unknown. (unknown). Learn About Police Officer Careers. Retrieved 10 8, 2012, from Legal Criminal Justice School: http://www.legal-criminal-justice-schools.com/Criminal-Justice-Degrees/Police-Officer-Career.html
Dansky, K. (2012, 10 10). Senate Homeland Security Committee Misses the Mark with Statement on DHS “Fusion Center” Program. Retrieved from American Civil liberties Union: http://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-criminal-law-reform-national-security-free-speech/senate-homeland