Next week, the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) will sponsor its second large-scale national cyber exercise, Cyber Storm II. During my time at DHS, my involvement with the first Cyber Storm, along with other training programs, taught me how important these exercises are to enhance preparedness. In particular, Cyber Storm II has added importance and will help raise the consciousness of government and business leaders to serve as a vivid reminder that along with its many benefits, the global IT revolution carries a new generation of risk.

Earlier this week, representatives of the chemical industry expressed concerns at a hearing by the House Homeland Security Committee to make the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards regulation - that went into effect in June 2007 and is set to sunset in October 2009 - permanent. The debate shows that Congress needs more education about the nuances of the chemical legislation.

A recently issued Congressional Research Service report expresses concern over the operation of the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate, including the ability of businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs to access S&T leaders and the effectiveness of the Directorate’s relationships with others. The report seems to overlook many of S&T’s initiatives - if there is any component of DHS that is readily open, accessible and clear on its priorities and the others identified in the CRS Report, it’s the Department’s S&T shop.

As seen in the Washington Post’s Government Inc. blog, the Intelligence and National Security Alliance is hosting a summit where technology companies can present their ideas and innovations to a panel of representatives from the federal government Science & Technology organizations.

Having DHS S&T look at technology that will assist local homeowners in the event of natural disasters may seem like heresy to those who believe that DHS should be solely focused on anti-terrorism programs, but DHS was intended to be an all-hazards agency, and this is one of the first bits of evidence that S&T is serious about helping protect lives and property irrespective of the cause.