By Sunny Kim

Please introduce the Homeland Security & Defense Business Council in terms of some of the recent industry activities that you think would have a significant impact on the U.S. and global homeland security industry.

The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council is a distinguished group of senior industry representatives with a vested interest in safeguarding America.  The council is comprised of the leading and small business companies who are providers and users of homeland security-related services, technologies, and products.  The reach of the organization’s membership is state and local and global, and its activities focus on identifying and promoting strategies by which industry can contribute to critical homeland security missions across both the public and the private sectors in the U.S.A. and abroad.

In September 2007, the council hosted the Partners in Preparedness Symposium, in Washington, D.C., which was co-sponsored by the American Red Cross and the Washington Board of Trade for the purpose of informing and educating the local Washington business community about preparedness and response to incidents in the National Capital Area.  The council sponsored the Shaping the Technology Future Symposium that provided an industry perspective on the alignment, portfolio, deliverables, and vision of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate.  In addition to industry representatives, participants included leaders from the Science & Technology Directorate, National Laboratories, Capitol Hill, and other government agencies.

The council released a thought leadership paper titled Corporate Responsibility: Why Businesses Should Be Prepared in a World of Uncertainty.  The study looks at industry’s role in partnering with federal, state and local governments to help protect and secure America’s homeland.

Can you please tell us what your No. 1 priority is as new CEO of the Homeland Security & Defense Business Council to promote the role of industry in achieving the vision and mission for homeland security across both the public and the private sectors in the Unite States and internationally?

My first priority is very simple to enhance the relationship between the private sector and government agencies/ officials that have a primary role in insuring a more secure and safer homeland.  The management, best practices and historical expertise and perspective that industry possesses must be part of the process.  Ours is not an organization focused on procurement or business development, but making sure that the foundation upon which a successful homeland security set of programs and functions can be built is solid.  The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council exists to provide a forum where current and former government agency and congressional officials and other experts in the field of homeland security can interact, share management and structural perspectives, offer advice and counsel to public officials in a non-partisan, non-specific-program context.  My mission is to further develop and implement those goals in a more visible and constructive way going forward particularly in light of what our country will be facing in the next several months.

What do you think will be the next ‘big thing’ in the homeland security industry?

The next "big thing" will obviously be the ability of the new administration, Congress and the private sector to successfully and cooperatively transition.   The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has just celebrated its 5th anniversary and how the new change of leadership at all levels will handle a new President and a new Secretary will be crucial.  Developing a strong management, best practices approach to all aspects (Federal government; state and local government agencies; cooperation between and among local, state, Federal and global homeland security agencies/officials; relationship to the private sector; communication to citizens on how important they are in helping to make the country safer and more secure) of the homeland security landscape remains the ‘big thing’.  Building on the successes of the past five years, identifying gaps, and building a cooperative relationship between the interested sectors so that our nation can try, identify and prevent, but, more essentially, adequately prepare for any natural or man-made incident, respond accordingly, and develop a resiliency plan that insures the health of citizens and continued economic/ supply chain going forward is the foundation that our nation needs to further develop.

Can you please introduce your management philosophy and vision to us?

The ‘role’ of the President and CEO of the council is to build on the passionate involvement and expertise of its members.  The council has attracted (and will continue to reach out to other like companies and individuals) an incredible group of companies and their senior leaders who have come together to provide expertise, insight and a valuable perspective on the private sector’s role in homeland security and defense.  My goal is to help facilitate and coordinate those qualities and help government officials and agencies (DHS, the new administration, other agencies, state and local homeland security officials, and global government leaders) better understand the positive and valuable role the private sector has and will continue to play in developing, implementing and providing homeland security responses and solutions.  Our organization is not tied to any political organization or philosophy, and can serve as a ‘trusted advisor’ and coordinator of private sector resources to/among think tanks, educational institutions, providers and users of homeland security solutions, and government officials.  My ultimate ‘vision’ is to help facilitate a healthy and honest dialogue among the interested stakeholders to insure that our country does not become complacent, remains ever vigilant, and is prepared to address and respond successfully to any/all incidents that impact our homeland security.

Sunny Kim is Editor of SecurityWorld INT’L.  Please send your comments to kbs@infothe.com.