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

Testimony -Pandemic Flu

Chairman Pryor, Ranking Member Ensign, members of the subcommittee, my name is John Thomasian and I am the director of the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) ...

Testimony – REAL ID, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Voinovich and distinguished members of the subcommittee, my name is David Quam and I am the director of federal relations for the National Governors Association (NGA) ...

Testimony – Homeland Security Grants: Supporting a National Preparedness and Response System

Chairman Price, Ranking Member Rogers, and members of the Subcommittee, my name is Ray Scheppach and I am the Executive Director of the National Governors Association. On behalf of the ...

Testimony – Real ID

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Voinovich and distinguished members of the subcommittee, my name is David Quam and I am the director of federal relations for the National Governors Association (NGA) ...

Testimony – Homeland Security

"Funding for First Responders: Ensuring That Federal Funds are Distributed Intelligently" Thank you Chairman Cox, Ranking Member Turner, and distinguished committee members for this opportunity to offer my testimony on ...

Testimony – Homeland Security

Madam Chair: I appreciate this opportunity to testify before the Senate Government Affairs Committee and thank you and Senator Lieberman for the thorough review you are conducting on this most ...

Testimony – Homeland Security Funding

Mr. Chairman, Senator Stevens, and members of the Committee: The nation's Governors appreciate this opportunity to discuss the issue of homeland security. Since September 11, states have responded in every ...