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 Pledge to Meet the Cyber Threat

States Pledge to Meet the Cyber Threat

PROVIDENCE, RI—Today National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe kicked off the 2017 NGA Summer Meeting with a discussion on how states continue to develop strategies to thwart ...
Gov. McAuliffe: States Need Core Cyber Protections to Fight Threats

Gov. McAuliffe: States Need Core Cyber Protections to Fight Threats

The National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe hosted the final summit for his chair’s initiative, Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge, in Leesburg, Virginia, earlier ...

Council of Governors Letter to Secretary Mattis

The Honorable James Mattis Secretary U.S. Department of Defense The Pentagon Washington, D.C. Dear Secretary Mattis, As co-chairs of the Council of Governors, we look forward to working with you ...

FEMA Administrator Nomination

The Honorable Ron Johnson Chairman Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Room 340, Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Claire McCaskill Ranking Member Senate Committee ...

Cybersecurity: The Next Frontier of State Legislation

National Governors Association (NGA) homeland security and public safety policy analyst David Forscey co-authored a piece on state cybersecurity for Law360. In the article, Forscey, Steven Cash and Benjamin Nissim ...

NGA Welcomes Council of Governors Appointments

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) welcomes the appointment and reappointment of governors to the critically important Council of Governors (Council) focused on national security issues. Newly appointed governors are Alaska Gov ...

Governors: Defense Authorization Modification Essential to Preserve National Guard

WASHINGTON—As Congress returns from recess and looks to pass the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the National Governors Association (NGA) expresses its strong support for legislation that would allow ...

Military Technicians

The Honorable John McCain Chairman Senate Armed Services Committee 218 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Jack Reed Ranking Member Senate Armed Services Committee 728 Russell Senate ...

Military Technicians

The Honorable Mac Thornberry Chairman House Armed Services Committee 2208 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Adam Smith Ranking Member House Armed Services Committee 2264 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, ...
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