Homeland Security

Governors play a critical role in homeland security and are responsible for protecting people, property, and businesses within their respective states and territories. Governors are confronted with a range of events—from natural and man-made disasters, disease outbreaks, acts of terrorism, and other major emergencies— such as catastrophes on the scale of COVID-19, Hurricane Maria, or the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Homeland Security Program provides technical assistance to Governors and their staffs on a range of national security policy issues, including violence prevention, energy assurance, public health emergency preparedness, and emergency management, including disaster response, recovery and resilience.

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The Governor’s Guide To Public Health Preparedness

This guide serves as a primer on public health preparedness, detailing current strategies, available resources and existing partnerships that may help policymakers bridge the gap between the disciplines of public safety and public health. By doing so, governors can develop a stronger cooperative network for emergency response and provide their states with a safe and healthy future.


Governor’s Roadmap to Preventing Targeted Violence

This roadmap distills the latest research and draws from elements of public-health interventions to provide guidance to governors, state and local leaders, and other stakeholders on how to prevent ideologically inspired violence—whether political, gender-based, or religious. By taking a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to preventing such violence, states can build safer and more resilient communities.


Governor’s Guide To Homeland Security

This guide covers fundamentals in homeland security best practices ranging from emergency management, fusion centers, grant management, the national guard, emergency declarations, critical infrastructure and other areas of homeland security that a governor and their policy staff would need awareness on.

Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council

The Homeland Security Program manages the independently charted Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council, a forum that brings together governors’ principal homeland security advisors from each state, commonwealth, territory, and the District of Columbia to share best practices and establish policy priorities. The Council is compromised of individuals with a variety of professional backgrounds as their homeland security advisors – from military officers to law enforcement professionals, and emergency manager.


Virtual Resource Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness

This virtual resource center is a repository for state-focused resources pertaining to public health emergency preparedness policy. The resources are targeted at state leaders in the fields of public health, emergency management, and administration, although due to the cross-disciplinary nature of public health emergency preparedness, a broader audience may find these tools useful.


Meet the Team

  • Jessica Davenport, Program Director
  • Phil Nichols, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Michelle Blakeslee, Policy Analyst
  • Aisley Wallace Harper, Policy Coordinator
  • Public Safety & Legal Counsels Program

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  • Cybersecurity Program

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  • Technical Assistance

    We provide complimentary consultation to states as they design and implement new programs and policies.

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  • Equity And Policy Preparedness During Public Health Emergencies

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  • Defense/National Guard Resources

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  • Resilience Resources

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Homeland Security Resources

Announcing the Public Health Emergency Playbook

Announcing the Public Health Emergency Playbook

The National Governors Association (NGA) hosted a webinar to announce the release of the Governors Public Health Emergency Playbook, the cumulation of a yearlong effort to capture and share best ...
Public Health Emergency Playbook

Public Health Emergency Playbook

(Download) The Public Health Emergency Playbook is a guide designed for Governors and their staff, offering a comprehensive resource to effectively prepare for, manage, and recover from health crises across ...
2024 GHSAC Winter Meeting

2024 GHSAC Winter Meeting

The Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC) met January 30 - February 1, 2024, in Washington, D.C., for its annual Winter Meeting. The GHSAC regularly brings together Governors’ homeland security ...
2023 GHSAC Summer Meeting

2023 GHSAC Summer Meeting

The Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC) met August 15-17, 2023, in Boise, Idaho, for its annual Summer Meeting. The GHSAC acts as a forum to bring together Governors’ homeland ...
State Targeted Violence Prevention: Programming & Key Performance Indicators

State Targeted Violence Prevention: Programming & Key Performance Indicators

A resource to develop communities statewide that are well-equipped to prevent targeted violence. (Download) State Targeted Violence Prevention The following resource aims to serve as a guide for U.S. state ...
Governors Welcome Easing of Border Travel Restrictions

Governors Welcome Easing of Border Travel Restrictions

Today, the National Governors Association (NGA) welcomed the announcement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the opening of U.S. borders for vaccinated individuals beginning next month. This summer, ...