BREAKING NEWS!
May 15, 2012
NHDF Announces Grants of $48,800
The National Homeland Defense Foundation (NHDF) announced that it has made grants of $48,800 to various military programs in Colorado through the Homeland Defender’s Fund™ that the Foundation administers.
Programs receiving grants at Ft. Carson include rehabilitation for wounded warriors, family programs on marriage counseling, domestic violence seminars, and support for the Fallen Heroes Center and the Family Readiness Center. The Colorado National Guard was awarded a grant to support child care programs, and the US Air Force Academy received a grant for their Airman and Family Readiness Center program.
“We are grateful to the many citizens of our community who have so generously donated to the Fund that allows support of these very worthy programs for our military members and their families. The State of Colorado continues to be very supportive of our men and women in service to our nation,” said Don Addy, President of NHDF.
The Homeland Defender’s Fund is a charitable non-profit fund that receives donations from citizens and corporations who want to support military programs. Donations and gifts to the fund are combined with others and then contributed to various support programs at Colorado military installations. For more information on how to contribute, click on www.thehdfund.org or call 719-577-7417.
April 27, 2012
Northeastern University wins top award; USMA West Point is second; University of Calgary third
Northeastern University captured the top prize of $10,000 for their entry in the 2012 National Security Innovation Competition held at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Friday, April 27, 2012.
Congratulations to all the finalists for a job well done. We look forward to seeing you in 2013.
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM panel to address transnational criminal organizations
By April Jackson
National Homeland Defense Foundation
Editor's note: The 2011 NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM on Homeland Security and Defense™ includes a session on the impact that transnational criminal organizations are having on security in the Western hemisphere. This article addresses some of the issues that are expected to be raised during the session, scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Transnational criminal organizations have increasingly taken advantage of technological advances and our increasingly interconnected world to expand their illicit activities.
These networks are growing their operations and diversifying their activities to obtain power, influence and commercial gains wholly or in part by illegal means.
"Transnational criminal organizations pose a significant threat to our homeland security," according to Dr. Nadav Morag, director of homeland security programs at Colorado Technical University in Colorado Springs. "They have the ability to turn areas into zones of large-scale criminality, ensuring social and economic instability."
These networks also corrupt political systems and thus weaken the very underpinnings of government, Morag explains. They possess real and potential links to international terrorist organizations, often providing services such as money laundering and the smuggling of individuals into the United States.
Examples can be found worldwide of crime groups proliferating and striking powerful alliances every day. The Department of Justice found that 29 of the 63 top drug trafficking groups had links to terrorists in 2010. Also, these networks are increasingly involved in cybercrime, costing consumers billions of dollars annually.
In July, President Obama committed his administration to working with our international partners to constrain, shrink, disrupt and dismantle these groups.
The president's plan revolves around: protecting Americans and our partners from harm and violence; helping partner countries strengthen their capabilities in this fight; destroying crime networks' economic power; defeating organizations that pose the largest threat first; and, building new partnerships with industry, finance, academia, civil society and non-governmental associations.
"To ensure our borders remain safe and secure every day, our nation's homeland security organizations such as our Coast Guard and Customs, Border and Protection are on the front lines responding, deterring, detecting, locating and taking decisive actions against organizations who wish to do us harm," said Bob Lally, dean of homeland security program development at Colorado Technical University. "Their success, along with all the other homeland security organizations, is vital to our nation's security efforts."
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PANEL: "Transnational Criminal Organizations and their impact on Western Hemispheric Security," 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2.
PANELISTS: Dr. Richard Downie, director of the Center for Hemispheric Studies; Dr. Luis Bitencourt, dean of academic affairs and professor, Center for Hemispheric Studies; AMB Cresencio "Cris" Arcos, former U.S. ambassador and political advisor, Center for Hemispheric Studies.
WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 31-Nov. 2, The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colo.
REGISTRATION: Pricing for this year's symposium is $400 for members of the military, $600 for industry professionals. To ensure your seat, please REGISTER today.
The NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM on Homeland Security and Defense™ is the nation's leading public forum on homeland security and homeland defense. The 2011 symposium is the ninth annual conference organized by the National Homeland Defense Foundation. The symposium features international experts discussing the latest research, operations and policies affecting homeland security and defense.
Watch the NHDF web site at www.nhdf.org for more information about the symposium, including updates on speakers and panelists.
