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
  • Camille Lodugnon, 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

Idaho Energy Resilience Retreat

November 15 - 16 | Boise, ID The state of Idaho, in partnership with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Environment, Energy, & Transportation and Homeland ...

Energy Resilience for Water & Wastewater Systems

Water and wastewater systems are highly dependent on reliable supplies of electricity. Long duration power outages can interrupt water supplies, leading to adverse health impacts and lost economic activity. Speakers ...

Testimony – FEMA Grant Funding

Written testimony by Governor Sandoval and Governor Bullock on behalf of NGA to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on the importance of FEMA grant programs for state ...

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 ...

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 ...

Co-Chairs Welcome Letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Nielsen

The Honorable Kirstjen M. Nielsen Secretary of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Secretary Nielsen: Congratulations on your confirmation to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security. Since its creation, the ...