Department of Homeland Security

www.dhs.gov

About the Department of Homeland Security

Established in March 2003 in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security is the 15th and newest cabinet-level department in the federal government. It is also the third largest executive department, comprised of approximately 180,000 employees from 22 different agencies.

DHS has three primary missions: to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters. The department is organized into four major divisions, or directorates, in addition to its management office: Border and Transportation Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, and Science and Technology.

Michael Chertoff, the second Secretary of Homeland Security, was appointed in February 2005.

Although DHS has a main Office of Public Affairs, its major components have their own press shops. Those are likely to be more useful for stories that go into any detail about specific security issues, especially for regional reporters who may need to contact regional offices. Here's a rundown of contact information for DHS:

Location

Information for the Press

Accredited members of media organizations who wish to receive press releases by e-mail can sign up online to be on the DHS distribution list under “Press Room” at www.dhs.gov:

DHS Press Secretaries - Brian Roehrkasse, Katie Montgomery and Cynthia Bergman.  The top three press officers usually don't give out their direct phone lines. Instead, calls are taken through the main public affairs office number where inquiries will be forwarded to press contacts in the relevant DHS agencies or bureaus.

Agency press contacts

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
Michael, public affairs officer
(tel.) 202-272-1200, main line; 202-272-1218, direct line
www.immigration.gov

Coast Guard (USCG):
(tel.) 202-267-1587; www.uscg.mil

Customs and Border Protection (CBP):
Christi Clemens, Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs
(tel.) 202-344-1780; www.cbp.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
John Philbin, communications director
(tel.) 202-646-4600; www.fema.gov

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
Cathy Bridwell, acting communications director
Dean Boyd, press secretary
(tel.) 202-514-2648; www.ice.gov
For press contacts for the eastern, central and western U.S. regions, see http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/contact.htm

Secret Service (USSS):
(tel.) 202-406-5708; www.secretservice.gov

Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
Mark Hatfield, assistant administrator of communications and public information
(tel.) 571-227-2829; www.tsa.gov
Darrin Kayser, public affairs officer
(tel.) 571-227-2963; (e-mail) darrin.kayser@dhs.gov

On Capitol Hill:
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: hsgac.senate.gov ; Republican staff: Jen Burita (tel.) 202-224-4751; Democratic staff: Leslie Phillips, (tel.) 202-224-2627
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: intelligence.senate.gov; Wendy Morigi, (tel.) 202-224-6101

Homeland Security Experts

A variety of outside experts can provide useful analysis and commentary on DHS and other homeland security topics:

• The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government conducts research on international affairs, environmental and resource issues, and science and technology policies. Daniel Prieto is a fellow at the Belfer Center and research director of the Homeland Security Partnership Initiative; www.belfercenter.org; press contact: Sharon Wilke, communications officer; (tel.) 617-495-9858; (e-mail) sharon_wilke@ksg.harvard.edu
• The Brookings Institution is an independent, nonpartisan Washington think tank that researches and analyzes economics, foreign policy, governance, and metropolitan policy. It has several experts who specialize in homeland security issues; www.brookings.edu; press contact: Katie Busch, media relations assistant; (tel.) 202-797-6467; (e-mail) kbusch@brookings.edu; communications office (tel.) 202-797-6105
• Center for Strategic and International Studies is a Washington, D.C., private, nonpartisan organization dedicated to domestic and global policy issues. It has several experts in its Homeland Security Program who can comment on DHS, biological threat reduction, and other policies and practices to ensure the country's safety; www.csis.org; press contact: H. Andrew Schwartz, acting director of external relations; (tel.) 202-775-3242; (e-mail) aschwartz@csis.org
• Civitas Group LLC, a Washington, D.C., advisory and investment services firm serves the homeland and national security markets. Its clients include security service providers, government contractors and private investment firms. It issues reports on the government's homeland security budget and its implications for the private sector; www.civitasgroup.com; Mark Shaheen (tel.) 202-530-0765
• Equity International Inc. is an international business development and investment promotion firm with offices in Washington, D.C., and Florida. It provides information, strategies and programs on topics of global importance. Its activities are focused on homeland and global security and reconstruction and development; www.equityintl.us; (tel.) 202-756-2244. Erica Orange, Communications Manager, eorange@equityintl.us
• George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute draws on experts from the university, nonprofit policy organizations and the private sector to discuss the policy implications of and solutions to issues facing the country's homeland security policymakers; www.homelandsecurity.gwu.edu/hspi.htm; press contact: Jan Lane, deputy director; (tel.) 202-994-2437; (e-mail) jtl@gwu.edu; Frank Cilluffo, associate vice president for homeland security and HSPI director; (tel.) 202-994-0295; (e-mail) cilluffo@gwu.edu
• The Heritage Foundation is a Washington, D.C., think tank whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values and a strong national defense. It has experts who can discuss military readiness for homeland security threats, counterterrorism, foreign policy, national security, and federal, state and local homeland security programs; www.heritage.org; press contacts:
  • Matthew Streit, senior associate, media services; (tel.) 202-608-6156 matthew.streit@heritage.org
  • Elizabeth Fulk, media services associate; (tel.) 202-608-6157;  (e-mail) elizabeth.fulk@heritage.org
  • 24-hour media hotline (tel.) 202-675-1761
• Homeland Securities Industry Association is a nonprofit corporation with more than 200 members. Its mission is to provide a mechanism for government and the private sector to coordinate on a wide range of homeland security issues; www.hsianet.org; (e-mail) info@hsianet.org
• The RAND Corp. is a nonprofit research organization that analyzes the challenges that face public and private sectors around the world. Its Homeland Security Program supports DHS and other agencies charged with preventing and mitigating the effects of terrorist activity within U.S. borders. Projects in this program include critical infrastructure protection, emergency management, terrorism risk management, border control (particularly ports), first responders and preparedness, domestic threat assessments, domestic intelligence, and manpower and training. Michael Wermuth is the director of the Homeland Security Program; www.rand.org; press contacts: David Egner, director of office of external communications, or Warren Robak, deputy director; (tel.) 703-413-1100, ext. 5117, or 310-451-6913; (e-mail) oec@rand.org or media@rand.org

State and Local Governments and Associations

State and local governments and associations are also a good place to go:

• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, www.astho.org; press contact: Paula Steib, 202-371-9090, ext. 1638; (e-mail) psteib@astho.org
• Homeland security state coordinators list: http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=84
• National Association of State Chief Information Officers in Lexington, Ky., has committees on information security and interoperability and integration that deal with homeland security technologies; www.nascio.org; press contact: Stephanie Czuhajewski, (Pronounced Chai-F-ski) communications and program coordinator; (tel.) 859-514-9167; (e-mail) schzuhajewski@amrms.net
• National Association of Counties, www.naco.org; press contact: Tom Goodman, 202-942-4222, (e-mail) tgoodman@naco.org
• National Governors Association, www.nga.org; press secretaries: John Blacksten, (tel.) 202-624-7787; (e-mail) jblacksten@nga.org or Jodi Omear, 202-624-5346; (e-mail) jomear@nga.org
• U.S. Conference of Mayors has a homeland security task force; www.usmayors.org; press contact: Rhonda Spears 202-293-7330; (e-mail) rspears@usmayors.org

Does this agency's information need updating? programs@nationalpress.org