(Photos courtesy of The George Washington University)

The National Strategy for Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 served to mobilize and organize our nation to secure the homeland from terrorist attacks. This exceedingly complex mission requires a focused effort from our entire society if we are to be successful. To this end, one primary reason for the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security was to provide the unifying core for the vast national network of organizations and institutions involved in efforts to secure our nation. In order to better do this and to provide guidance to the 180,000 DHS men and women who work every day on this important task, the Department developed its own high-level strategic plan. The vision and mission statements, strategic goals and objectives provide the framework guiding the actions that make up the daily operations of the department.

The Department of Homeland Security goals are:

• Continue to protect our nation from dangerous people
• Continue to protect our nation from dangerous goods
• Protect critical infrastructure
• Build a nimble, effective emergency response system and a culture of preparedness
• Strengthen and unify DHS operations and management

"We must focus on the greatest risks and be flexible to changing threats, disciplined in our use of resources, and fully committed to building a Department that will meet future challenges, preserve freedom and privacy, and protect the American people."
-- Secretary Michael Chertoff

Learn more about the DHS at: www.dhs.gov

Additional, relevant links to DHS Community Outreach efforts:

www.dhs.gov/crcloutreach
www.dhs.gov/xnews/gallery/photo_gallery.shtm

Celebrating a Century 1908-2008

Established in 1908 as the investigative arm of the US Department of Justice, the FBI motto is “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity”. The very heart of FBI operations lies in their investigations—which serve, as their mission states, "to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of the United States." They currently have jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal law grouped within three national security priorities (Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Cyber Crime) and five criminal priorities (Public Corruption, Civil Rights, White-Collar Crime, Organized Crime, and Major Thefts/Violent Crime).

The FBI’s top priorities include:

• Protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks, from foreign intelligence operations, and from cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes
• Combating public corruption at all levels
• Protecting civil rights
• Combating international and national organized crime, major white-collar crime, and significant violent crime
• Supporting law enforcement and intelligence partners

"While we remain committed to our other security and law enforcement responsibilities, terrorism takes precedence in our thinking hiring and staffing; in our training and technologies most importantly, in our investigations."
-- FBI Director Mueller

Learn more about the FBI at: www.fbi.gov

An Act of Congress created the The George Washington University (GWU) in 1821, stemming from George Washington’s desire to have a national university for youth from across the country. It is currently located just four blocks from the White House, and it is the largest institution of higher education in the nation’s capital.

The University has played host to numerous national and international dignitaries. In recent years, former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, former Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban, and both former President Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton have lectured or spoken at GWU.

Currently, the University's enrollments total more than 25,000, of which 10,400 are undergraduates, about 13,700 are graduate and professional students, and almost 1,000 are nondegree students. The students come from all 50 states and about 125 different countries.

Learn more about GWU at: www.gwu.edu