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

State Resilience Assessment and Planning Tool

State Resilience Assessment and Planning Tool

The State Resilience Assessment and Planning Tool was created to help Governors and their staffs assess state resilience, identify gaps, and plan for natural and man-made disasters. Background | Vision/Goals ...
Bolster the Resilience of Defense Installations

Bolster the Resilience of Defense Installations

A virtual event to identify state and federal strategies to bolster the resilience of defense installations to natural and human hazards. The second in a series of virtual workshops being ...
Coalition Letter on the FEMA Assistance Relief Act

Coalition Letter on the FEMA Assistance Relief Act

Given the frequency and severity of disasters this fall, we urge swift passage of the FEMA Assistance Relief Act in the House as it will make timely changes to assistance ...
Reach And Engage Our Defense Communities

Reach And Engage Our Defense Communities

Our virtual series kicked-off in September with a workshop dedicated to highlighting federal and state collaboration on enhancing the experience of our military connected students, military spouses seeking licensure, and ...
operations at U.S. Army Cyber Command headquarters at Fort Belvoir

Protected: Enhancing Our Defense Communities—Resources

This content is password protected. To view please enter the password below: Password: Enter If you do not have the password, and believe you should have access to this page, ...
NGA, Department of Defense Launch Initiative to Unlock Economic Potential of Defense Assets

NGA, Department of Defense Launch Initiative to Unlock Economic Potential of Defense Assets

Governors, States Examine their Role in Supporting Defense Mission To help governors and states work more closely with the defense sector to promote military resiliency and better realize more economic ...
Enhancing Our Defense Communities—a Virtual Workshop Series, 2020

Enhancing Our Defense Communities—a Virtual Workshop Series, 2020

Reach and Engage our Defense Communities Our virtual series kicked-off in September with a workshop dedicated to highlighting federal and state collaboration on enhancing the experience of our military connected ...
Letter to FEMA Regarding COVID-19 Reimbursable Expenses

Letter to FEMA Regarding COVID-19 Reimbursable Expenses

August 25, 2020The Honorable Pete GaynorAdministratorFederal Emergency Management Agency500 C Street S.W.Washington, D.C. 20472 Dear Administrator Gaynor:We write to you on behalf of our collective organizations to express concern over ...
Governors Call for Equity in Title 32 Cost Share

Governors Call for Equity in Title 32 Cost Share

Today, governors are calling on the President to institute a fair and equitable solution to the use of and funding for Title 32. Governors appreciate the President’s action earlier this ...