Homeland Security & Cybersecurity

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, along with the significant and continued growth of cyber-attacks against the United States.

To support Governors’ priorities, the Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Program provides technical assistance to Governors and their staffs on a range of national security policy issues, including cybersecurity policies and practices, targeted violence and terrorism prevention, energy assurance, public health emergency preparedness, and emergency management, including disaster response, recovery and resilience.

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.

Focus Areas

  • Critical Infrastructure Protection
  • Cybersecurity
  • Disaster Response, Recovery and Resilience
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Energy Security
  • Homeland Security
  • Nation-State Threats
  • National Guard
  • Preventing Targeted Violence
  • Public Health Emergency Preparedness
  • School Safety  

Meet the Team

  • Jessica Davenport, Program Director
  • Phil Nichols, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Michelle Blakeslee, Policy Analyst
  • Aisley Wallace Harper, Policy Coordinator

Contact the Team

  • Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council

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  • Resource Center for State Cybersecurity

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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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  • Public Safety & Legal Counsels Program

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  • Defense/National Guard Resources

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  • Resilience Resources

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NGA Resources

States Focus on Preventing Targeted Violence

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) today announced that four states, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Virginia, have been selected for a policy academy aimed at developing strategic plans ...

FirstNet Appointments

The Honorable Wilbur Ross Secretary U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC 20230 Michael Poth Chief Executive Officer First Responder Network Authority 12201 Sunshine Valley Drive Reston, ...

States Work to Improve Resilience Against Human and Natural Disasters

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association today announced that it will work with Idaho, Maryland and Oregon to test its forthcoming State Resilience Assessment and Planning Tool (SRAP Tool) and identify best practices in adapting to, withstanding ...

NGA Letter on Professional Licensure Reciprocity

March 27, 2018 The Honorable Mark T. Esper Secretary of the Army 101 Army Pentagon Washington, DC 20310-0101 The Honorable Richard V. Spencer Secretary of the Navy 1051 Navy Pentagon ...

Council Letter On Use of National Guard in Disaster Response

The Honorable Patrick M. Shanahan Deputy Secretary of Defense 1010 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1010 General Joseph Lengyel Chief, National Guard Bureau 1636 Defense Pentagon Ste 1E169 Washington, DC 20301-0001 ...

FY19 Appropriations Request–National Guard Funding

The Honorable Kay Granger Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Defense House Committee on Appropriations H-405, The Capitol Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Thad Cochran Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense Senate Committee on Appropriations ...
Cybersecurity Newsletters 2018-2021

Cybersecurity Newsletters 2018-2021

2021 OctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary 2020 OctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary 2019 NovemberOctoberSeptemberAugust JulyJuneFebruary 2018 OctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarch ...

Retreat on Energy Resilience Coordination and Planning in Oregon and Washington

January 31, 2018 | Portland, OR With the increased prevalence of large-scale natural disasters and the threat of a future Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami, regional energy resilience coordination ...

Council of Governors Letter Regarding Annual Report on the Non-Federalize National Guard

General Joseph Lengyel Chief, National Guard Bureau 1636 Defense Pentagon Ste 1E169 Washington, DC 20301-0001 Dear General Lengyel: As you know, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 National Defense Authorization Act ...