June 24-28, 2013. 3rd Annual Mid-Atlantic Intelligence and Law Enforcement Training Seminar (INLETS): Violent Crimes and Terrorism Trends!

Registration is now open for the expanded 3rd Annual Mid-Atlantic Intelligence and Law Enforcement Training Seminar (INLETS):  Violent Crimes and Terrorism Trends!  The seminar will be held June 24-28, 2013 at the DoubleTree Hotel, Annapolis, MD.

An opening night dinner presentation with the CIA Officers from Hollywood's "Argo" and "Charlie Wilson's War" will kick of a week of multi-day workshops inlcuding Social Media Exploitation, Crimes Against Children, Criminal Analysis, and profiling Arsonists and Bombers.  Scheduled to speak this year are FBI profilers, New Scotland Yard, John Reid & Associates, Dr. Kirk Yeager (FBI explosive expert), Bob Paudert (West Memphis Police Chief, Retired), and many, many, more.  In-depth case studies will also be part of the week, including a 2012 Serial Killer, a war-time kidnapping with Special Forces exfiltration, an LCN Italian Organized Crime White Collar take down, and Radiological, Chemical, and Explosive terror attacks in London.

For more information and registration, please visit http://www.midatlanticinlets.com/id1.html.

More precious then......Water our most precious resource

http://www.climate.org/topics/water.html

WATER

The vast majority of the Earth's water resources are salt water, with only 2.5% being fresh water. Approximately 70% of the fresh water available on the planet is frozen in the icecaps of Antarctica and Greenland leaving the remaining 30% (equal to only 0.7% of total water resources worldwide) available for consumption. From this remaining 0.7%, roughly 87% is allocated to agricultural purposes (IPCC 2007).

These statistics are particularly illustrative of the drastic problem of water scarcity facing the world. Water scarcity is defined as per capita supplies less than 1700 m3/year (IPCC 2007).

Source: World Resources 2000-2001: People and Ecosystems: The Fraying Web of Life. World Resources Institute, Washington DC (2000).
Figure 1: Freshwater availability: groundwater and river flow (2000). InUNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library. Retrieved 15:50, March 26, 2008.

According to the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, one in three people are already facing water shortages (2007). Around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-fifth of the world's population, live in areas of physical scarcity, while another 1.6 billion people, or almost one quarter of the world's population, live in a developing country that lacks the necessary infrastructure to take water from rivers and aquifers (known as an economic water shortage).

Figure 2: Water use in the world (2005)

There are four main factors aggravating water scarcity according to the IPCC:

• Population growth: in the last century, world population has tripled. It is expected to rise from the present 6.5 billion to 8.9 billion by 2050. Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century, and, although there is no global water scarcity as such, an increasing number of regions are chronically short of water.
• Increased urbanization will focus on the demand for water among a more concentrated population. Asian cities alone are expected to grow by 1 billion people in the next 20 years.
• High level of consumption: as the world becomes more developed, the amount of domestic water used by each person is expected to rise significantly.
• Climate change will shrink the resources of freshwater.

Water and Climate Change

Water scarcity is expected to become an ever-increasing problem in the future, for various reasons. First, the distribution of precipitation in space and time is very uneven, leading to tremendous temporal variability in water resources worldwide (Oki et al, 2006). For example, the Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest place on earth, receives imperceptible annual quantities of rainfall each year. On the other hand, Mawsynram, Assam, India receives over 450 inches annually. If all the freshwater on the planet were divided equally among the global population, there would be 5,000 to 6,000 m3 of water available for everyone, every year (Vorosmarty 2000).

Second, the rate of evaporation varies a great deal, depending on temperature and relative humidity, which impacts the amount of water available to replenish groundwater supplies. The combination of shorter duration but more intense rainfall (meaning more runoff and less infiltration) combined with increased evapotranspiration (the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the earth's land surface to atmosphere) and increased irrigation is expected to lead to groundwater depletion (Konikow and Kendy 2005).

The Hydrological Cycle

The hydrological cycle begins with evaporation from the surface of the ocean or land, continues as the atmosphere redistributes the water vapor to locations where it forms clouds, and then returns to the surface as precipitation. The cycle ends when the precipitation is either absorbed into the ground or runs off to the ocean, beginning the process over again.

Key changes to the hydrological cycle (associated with an increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the resulting changes in climate) include:

• Changes in the seasonal distribution and amount of precipitation.
• An increase in precipitation intensity under most situations.
• Changes in the balance between snow and rain.
• Increased evapotranspiration and a reduction in soil moisture.
• Changes in vegetation cover resulting from changes in temperature and precipitation.
• Consequent changes in management of land resources.
• Accelerated melting glacial ice.
• Increases in fire risk in many areas.
• Increased coastal inundation and wetland loss from sea level rise.
• Effects of CO2 on plant physiology, leading to reduced transpiration and increased water use efficiency (Goudie 2006).

Changes in Precipitation and Drought Patterns

Projections of changes in total annual precipitation indicate that increases are likely in the tropics and at high latitudes, while decreases are likely in the sub-tropics, especially along its poleward edge. Thus, latitudinal variation is likely to affect the distribution of water resources. In general, there has been a decrease in precipitation between 10°S and 30°N since the 1980s (IPCC 2007). With the population of these sub-tropical regions increasing, water resources are likely to become more stressed in these areas, especially as climate change intensifies.

While some areas will likely experience a decrease in precipitation, others (such as the tropics and high latitudes) are expected to see increasing amounts of precipitation. More precipitation will increase a region's susceptibility to a variety of factors, including:

• Flooding
• Rate of soil erosion
• Mass movement of land
• Soil moisture availability

These factors are likely to affect key economic components of the GDP such as agricultural productivity, land values, and an area's habitability (IPCC 2007). In addition, warming accelerates the rate of surface drying, leaving less water moving in near-surface layers of soil. Less soil moisture leads to reduced downward movement of water and so less replenishment of groundwater supplies (Nearing et al 2005). In locations where both precipitation and soil moisture decrease, land surface drying is magnified, and areas are left increasingly susceptible to reduced water supplies.

Although projecting how changed precipitation patterns will affect runoff is not yet a precise science, historical discharge records indicate it is likely that for each 1°C rise in temperature, global runoff will increase by 4%. Applying this projection to changes in evapotranspiration and precipitation leads to the conclusion that global runoff is likely to increase 7.8% globally by the end of the century (Oki and Kanae 2006). Thus, a region that experiences higher annual precipitation and more runoff increases the likelihood for flooding.

Furthermore, in areas that are already vulnerable due to their limited groundwater storage availability, this cycle intensifies with increased warming and diminishing water supplies. In water stressed regions, variability of precipitation patterns is likely to further reduce groundwater recharge ability. Water availability is likely to be further exacerbated by poor management, elevated water tables, overuse from increasing populations, and an increase in water demand primarily from increased agricultural production (IPCC 2007).

A recent global analysis of variations in the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) indicated that the area of land characterized as very dry has more than doubled since the 1970s, while the area of land characterized as very wet has slightly declined during the same time period. In certain susceptible regions, increased temperatures have already resulted in diminished water availability. Precipitations in both western Africa and southern Asia have decreased by 7.5% between 1900 and 2005 (Dai et al 2004).

Most of the major deserts in the world including the Namib, Kalahari, Australian, Thar, Arabian, Patagonian and North Saharan are likely to experience decreased amounts of precipitation and runoff with increased warming. In addition, both semiarid and arid areas are expected to experience a decrease and seasonal shift in flow patterns. If increased temperatures cause an intensification of the water cycle there will be more extreme variations in weather events, as droughts will become prolonged and floods will increase in force (Huntington 2005).

Melting Glacial Ice

Water supplies can also be affected by warmer winter temperatures that cause a decrease in the volume of snowpack. The result is diminished water resources during the summer months. This water supply is particularly important at the midlatitudes and in mountainous regions that depend upon glacial runoff to replenish river systems and groundwater supplies. Consequently, these areas will become increasingly susceptible to water shortages with time, because increased temperatures will initially result in a rapid rise in glacial meltwater during the summer months, followed by a decrease in melt as the size of glaciers continue to shrink. This reduction in glacial runoff water is projected to affect approximately one-sixth of the world's population (IPCC 2007).

A reduction of glacial runoff has already been observed in the Andes, whereby the usual trend of glacial replenishment during winter months has been insufficient. This is due to increased temperatures, which have caused the glaciers to retreat. It is likely that Andean communities such as El Alto in Bolivia have already observed a reduction in glacial runoff due to the scattered distribution of smaller sized glaciers, which further reduces the potential for runoff. In these areas, approximately one-third of the drinking water is dependent upon these supplies, and the recurrent trend of increased melt with diminished replenishment provides a dismal projection for water reserves if this same pattern continues (Goudie 2006).

Water Quality

Freshwater bodies have a limited capacity to process the pollution stemming from expanding urban, industrial and agricultural uses. Water quality degradation can be a major source of water scarcity.

Although the IPCC projects that an increase in average temperatures of several degrees  as a result of climate change will lead to an increase in average global precipitation over the course of the 21st century, this amount does not necessarily relate to an increase in the amount of potable water available.

A decline in water quality can result from the increase in runoff and precipitation- and while the water will carry higher levels of nutrients, it will also contain more pathogens and pollutants. These contaminants were originally stored in the groundwater reserves but the increase in precipitation will flush them out in the discharged water (IPCC 2007).

Similarly, when drought conditions persist and groundwater reserves are depleted, the residual water that remains is often of inferior quality. This is a result of the leakage of saline or contaminated water from the land surface, the confining layers, or the adjacent water bodies that have highly concentrated quantities of contaminants. This occurs because decreased precipitation and runoff results in a concentration of pollution in the water, which leads to an increased load of microbes in waterways and drinking-water reservoirs (IPCC 2007).

One of the most significant sources of water degradation results from an increase in water temperature. The increase in water temperatures can lead to a bloom in microbial populations, which can have a negative impact on human health. Additionally, the rise in water temperature can adversely affect different inhabitants of the ecosystem due to a species' sensitivity to temperature. The health of a body of water, such as a river, is dependent upon its ability to effectively self-purify through biodegradation, which is hindered when there is a reduced amount of dissolved oxygen. This occurs when water warms and its ability to hold oxygen decreases. Consequently, when precipitation events do occur, the contaminants are flushed into waterways and drinking reservoirs, leading to significant health implications (IPCC 2007).

Effects on Coastal Populations

For coastal populations, water quality is likely to be affected by salinization, or increased quantities of salt in water supplies. This will result from a rise in sea levels, which will increase salt concentrations in groundwater and estuaries. Sea-level rise will not only extend areas of salinity, but will also decrease freshwater availability in coastal areas. Saline intrusion is also a result of increased demand due in part to growing coastal populations that leave groundwater reserves increasingly vulnerable to contamination and diminishing water reserves (IPCC 2007).

References

Confalonieri, U.,  Menne B., Akhtar, R., Ebi, K.L.,  Hauengue, M., Kovats, R.S., Revich, B. and Woodward, A. 2007. Human health. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 391-431.

Dai,  A., Trenberth, K., and Qian, T. 2004. A Global Dataset of Palmer Drought Severity Index for 1870-2002: Relationship with Soil Moisture and Effects of Surface Warming. Journal of Hydrometeorology. (5). 1117- 1130.

Goudie, Andrew. 2006.  Global Warming and Fluvial Geomorphology.Geomorphology. (79). 3-4. 384-394.

Huntington, T. G. (2005). Evidence for Intensification of the Global Water Cycle: Review and Synthesis. Journal of Hydrology. (319): 83-95.

Konikow, Leonard and Eloise Kendy. (2005). Groundwater Depletion: A Global Problem. Hydrogeology (13). 317-320.

Nearing, M.A., Jetten, V., Baffaut, C., Cerdan, O., Couturier, A., Hernandez, M., Le Bissonnals, Y., Nichols, M.H., Nunes, J.P., Renschler, C.S., Souchere, V. and Van Oost, K. (2005). Modeling Response of Soil Erosion and Runoff to Changes in Precipitation and Cover. Catena (61). 131–154.

Oki, Taikan and Shinjiro Kanae. (2006). Global Hydrological Cycles and World Water Resources. Science (313): 5790. 1068-1072.

Vorosmarty, Charles, Green, P. Salisbury, J. Lammers, R. (2000). Global Water Resource: Vulnerability from Climate Change and Population Growth. Science (289): 5477. 284-288.

Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture. 2007. David Molden, ed. International Water Management Institute. 3 March 2010.PDF

   

Miscellaneous Hydrology Studies

World Water Assessment Programme. 2003. Water for People, Water for Life: The United Nations World Water Development Report. UNESCO: Paris.

Kabat, Pavel, Henk van Schaik, et al. 2003. Climate changes the water rules: How water managers can cope with today's climate variability and tomorrow's climate change. Dialogue on Water and Climate: The Netherlands. [ FULL TEXT ]

Dialogue on Water and Climate. 2002. Coping with Impacts of Climate Variability and Climate Change in Water Management: A Scoping Paper. Dialogue on Water and Climate: The Netherlands.  [ PDF ]

Nijssen, Bart, Greg M. O'Donnell, Alan F. Hamlet, and Dennis P. Lettenmaier. 2001. "Hydrologic Sensitivity of Global Rivers to Climate Change," Climatic Change, Vol. 50, No. 1-2, July, pp. 143-175.

Vörösmarty, Charles J., Pamela Green, Joseph Salisbury, and Richard B. Lammers. 2000. "Global Water Resources: Vulnerability from Climate Change and Population Growth," Science, Vol. 289, 14 July, pp. 284-288.  [FULL TEXT ]

Arnell, Nigel W. 1999. "Climate change and global water resources," Global Environmental Change, Vol. 9, Suppl. 1 , October, pp. S31-S49.

Frederick, Kenneth D., and David C. Major. 1997. "Climate Change and Water Resources," Climatic Change, Vol. 37, No. 1, September, pp. 7-23.

Major, David C., Kenneth D. Frederick. 1997. "Water Resources Planning and Climate Change Assessment Methods," Climatic Change, Vol. 37, No. 1, September, pp. 25-40.

Boorman, D. B., and C. E. M. Sefton. 1997. "Recognising the Uncertainty in the Quantification of the Effects of Climate Change on Hydrological Response," Climatic Change, Vol. 35, No. 4, April, pp. 415-434.

Frederick, Kenneth. 1997. "Water Resources and Climate Change," Resources for the Future: Washington, D.C.  [ PDF ]

Rind, D., C. Rosenzweig, and R. Goldberg. 1992. "Modelling the hydrological cycle in assessments of climate change," Nature, 358, pp. 119-123.

Loáiciga, H.A. 2003. "Climate Change and Ground Water," Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 93, No. 1, March, pp. 30-41.

Stefan, H. G., X. Fang, and M. Hondzo. 1998. "Simulated Climate Change Effects on Year-Round Water Temperatures in Temperate Zone Lakes," Climatic Change, Vol. 40, No. 3-4, December, pp. 547-576.

Qin, Boqiang, and Qun Huang. 1998. "Evaluation of the Climatic Change Impacts on the Inland Lake - A Case Study of Lake Qinghai, China," Climatic Change, Vol. 39, No. 4, August, pp. 695-714.

Bonell, M. 1998. "Possible Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Tropical Forest Hydrology," Climatic Change, Vol. 39, No. 2-3, July, pp. 215-272.

USDA Releases Report on the Growing Importance of Food Hubs in Rural America

Release No. 0036.13

Contact:

Candice Celestin (202) 690-2385

USDA Releases Report on the Growing Importance of Food Hubs in Rural America

NEW ORLEANS, La., February 26, 2013 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced the release of a report which provides a comprehensive look at the economic role, challenges and opportunities for food hubs in the nation's growing local food movement. The announcement was made during a visit to Hollygrove Market and Farm, a produce market, local distributor and farm in downtown New Orleans. In operation since 2009, Hollygrove Farm and Market sources from twenty local growers across southern Louisiana and Mississippi. Hollygrove's mission includes increasing access to fresh produce for underserved New Orleans neighborhoods. The organization first began operations as part of the city's post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. "At USDA we are committed to food hubs because we believe that they offer strong and sound infrastructure support to producers across the country which will also help build stronger regional food systems," said Merrigan. "This report is an important addition to the ongoing research in this field and Hollygrove is an example of how it is done." The new report is titled The Role of Food Hubs in Local Food Marketing. With an increasing demand for fresh, local, foods, the report finds that the success of food hubs is rapidly expanding, with well over 200 food hubs now operating in the United States. They are a part of a distribution system designed to move locally produced food into mainstream markets by supplying chains for goods to go from farms to the table efficiently. To view the full report click here. USDA's working definition of a regional food hub is "a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand". More information about USDA's work on food hubs is available at www.ams.usda.gov/foodhubs. The dramatic increase in the number of food hubs since President Obama took office has been supported by state and federal efforts including USDA programs like Rural Business Enterprise Grant, Rural Business Opportunity Grant, Value-Added Producer Grant, and the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. For example, as noted in the report, USDA Rural Development's Cooperative grants can be used to support building local food systems infrastructure. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund in Alabama received a grant to establish a vegetable processing and marketing cooperative and a regional goat processing and marketing cooperative. The Federation also trains and supports members involved in direct marketing activities, such as selling at urban farmers markets, redeeming nutrition assistance coupons and selling directly to schools. Part of the grant focused on business planning and training for community development credit unions. Many such USDA supported projects, as well as others which support local and regional food systems, are part of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative (KYF). This Initiative coordinates Department wide efforts and work on local and regional food systems. Many food hubs, and similar projects are described in the Know Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass, a narrative about USDA's work in local and regional food systems and are on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass Map which maps investments in local and regional food. President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $176 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

Is your alumni on the list. Stats on Colleges & Universities with Homeland Security and Emergency Management Programs.

v     Hi Ed Statistical Update for February 2013:

http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/collegelist/

·        Emergency Management Higher Education Programs – 265

o       67 - Certificate, Diploma, Focus-Area, Minor in EM Collegiate Programs

o       50 - Schools Offer Associate Degree Programs

o       51 - Schools Offer Bachelor Degree Programs

o       88 - Schools with Master-Level/Concentrations/Tracks/Specializations/Emphasis

 Areas/Degrees

o       9 - Schools Offer Doctoral-Level Programs

·        132 - U.S. Homeland Security/Defense and Terrorism Hi Ed Programs 

·        16 - U.S. International Disaster Relief/Humanitarian Assistance Programs 

·        31 - Public Health, Medical and Related Program 

·        29 - Listing of Related Programs

FEMA Student and Career Opportunities

Students: Review information regarding the new Pathways Program Internships, Recent Graduates and Presidential Management Fellows on OPM.gov at the following link: http://www.opm.gov/hiringreform/pathways/.

Call for Nominations. White House Champions of Change

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

                     Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA ANNOUNCES HURRICANE SANDY WHITE HOUSE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

WASHINGTON—Today the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the White House Office of Public Engagement, announced that the nomination period for the Hurricane Sandy White House Champions of Change is now open.

On April 24, 2013, the White House will host a Champions of Change event to recognize outstanding leaders and hidden heroes that contributed to the ongoing response and recovery of Hurricane Sandy.  The innovative, collaborative, and solutions-based work of local heroes has significantly contributed to response and recovery efforts.  FEMA is accepting nominations of individuals, community leaders, neighborhood groups, small businesses, and members of academia that implemented creative solutions to problems facing disaster survivors. Nominations will be accepted until Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

“While Superstorm Sandy devastated many communities along its path, it also brought out the best in us, as neighbors helped neighbors to survive and recover,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “As we continue to rebuild after this storm, help us recognize Champions of Change who went above and beyond to help others.”

The White House’s Champions of Change is an initiative of the Obama Administration to honor ordinary Americans using innovative, creative solutions to address challenges in their community. The Champions of Change program highlights the stories and examples of citizens across the country who are “Winning the Future” with projects and initiatives that move their communities forward.  Each week, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosts an event to honor those who are working to empower and inspire other members of their communities.  Agency representatives and White House Policy Offices participate in the events, and host discussions on amplifying best practices learned in each area. 

Additional information on the Champions of Change program can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/champions. To submit a nomination, visit http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=6995, download the nomination form and e-mail it to: FEMA-Sandy-Champions@fema.dhs.gov. Nominations will be accepted through March 6, 2013. 

An Afternoon with the NCR's Protective Security Advisors & Fusion Center representatives - 03/14/2013 from 1:00p - 3:00p

InfraGard National Capital Region monthly meeting - An Afternoon with the NCR's Protective Security Advisors & Fusion Center representatives - 03/14/2013 from 1:00p - 3:00p

InfraGard - National Capital Region Members Alliance

Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (EDT)

Washington, DC

Who:  InfraGard Members and Guests (this meeting is open to the public)
What:  Updates from the NCR's Protective Security Advisors and DC's Fusion Center
When:  Thurs., 03/14/13 from 1:00p - 3:00p
Where:  Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 777 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20002.  (Directions can be found here: 

http://www.mwcog.org/contact/directions/default.asp)

Why:  As the center of our military and government, the National Capital Region faces unique challenges in protecting its critical infrastructure.  Come hear the NCR's Protective Security Advisors (PSA) from DHS speak about the Office of Infrastructure Protection and their roles as PSAs, specifically within the NCR.  Additionally, we will hear from the Washington, DC fusion center - the Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center (WRTAC) - as they discuss their mission and functions within the NCR.

How:  Register at http://incrma031413.eventbrite.com.  There is a $10 fee to attend. Coffee will be provided.  **While there are no refunds, we welcome substitutions if the original registrant is unable to attend.**

**Please note there are new security procedures now in place at the MWCOG building.  When you arrive, you will go to a self-service security wall terminal in the lobby where you will be asked to scan your driver's license or other form of identification.  The terminal will print out a one day pass enabling you to pass the security officers and go to the elevator and to the 3rd floor.  If you park in the garage, you will need to get off the elevator at the lobby level and get your pass.  Building security officers in the lobby will verify your pass and assist if you have any questions.**

Agenda:
1:00 - 1:15  Welcome and Introductions
1:15 - 2:00  DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection overview and Protective Security Advisor program
2:00 - 2:30  Washington Regional Threat Assessment Center (WRTAC) Updates (DC's Fusion Center)
2:30 - 2:50  Q & A
2:50 - 3:00  Wrap-up & Adjournment
Our speakers for this program are:

WRTAC Representative (bio forthcoming)

NCR Protective Security Advisors

Kelly Wilson and Matthew Wombacher currently serve as the Protective Security Advisors (PSA) for the National Capital Region Region within DHS's Office of Infrastructure Protection. They support homeland security efforts, serving in an advising and reach-back capacity for State and District Homeland Security Advisors. They contribute to the development of the national risk picture by assisting with the identification, assessment, monitoring, and minimizing of risk to critical assets at the local level. As a PSA, Ms. Wilson and Mr. Wombacher facilitate, coordinate, and perform vulnerability assessments for local critical infrastructures and assets, and act as physical and technical security advisor to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.

Ms. Wilson (additional bio forthcoming)

Mr. Wombacher served in the United States Secret Service for nine years prior to becoming a PSA. He served in the Technical Security Division, the component of the Office of Protective Research within the Secret Service which operates as the focal point regarding countermeasures for all environmental threats to Secret Service protected persons and facilities. Disciplines included in this field are counter-explosives and counter-IED measures, CBRN incident prevention and mitigation, Fire/Life/Safety and physical security planning, and continuity of operations planning among other countermeasures programs. This routinely involved domestic and worldwide travel as a member of Presidential Advance teams.

Mr. Wombacher brings extensive experience, comprehensive knowledge, in-depth training, and instructional aptitude with regard to the areas of security operations and planning. While assigned to the US Secret Service, Mr. Wombacher coordinated several key training programs for the Technical Security Division.
Prior to employment in the US Secret Service, Mr. Wombacher served eight years in the US Coast Guard performing a variety of assignments. Highlights include selection for duty assignment to the Presidential Honor Guard, and serving as Air Navigator onboard the HC-130H long range aircraft. Mr. Wombacher holds additional professional certification from the ASIS International organization as a Certified Protection Professional.