Homeland Security Outlook

In the event of a large-scale natural disaster or terrorist attack, US military forces could be called on for domestic deployment -- working alongside first responders -- and both sides must learn to work effectively together, says Barry Rosenberg, Editorial Director of the upcoming Domestic Defense 2010 conference.

At the 2nd Annual Domestic Defense Symposium: U.S. Military Forces, First Responders & Defense of the Nation conference scheduled for March 24 in Washington DC's Walter Washington Convention Center, Rosenberg hopes to bring together the nation's first responder community and the military community in an effort to prepare them for interacting with each other during a crisis. "Many first responders like fire, police and EMTs have not had experience working with military groups like the Rapid Deployment Forces which were established in 1977 for foreign deployment. If we have a CBRNE or natural disaster, first responders will have to work with military, and it's not something many of them are familiar with doing," he says. "This conference will address how the military and first responders can work together prior to and during an event to ensure an effective, timely and coordinated response at the most challenging times."

Speakers will include: William Bratton, former chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department. He previously served as the New York City Police Commissioner and Boston Police Commissioner; Kelvin J. Cochran, Administrator of the US Fire Administration and former Atlanta Fire Chief and Diane Webber, Rear Admiral Diane E.H. Webber, USN, director, command control systems, J-6, NORAD/NORTHCOM.

The conference is co-sponsored by Defense Systems and Homeland Security Outlook and include the following sessions: The Domestic Defense Priorities of the Obama Administration, Coordination between the Military and First Responders, The Role of the US Military in Capturing Terrorism Suspects on American Soil, Coping with Less: How States are Dealing with Reduced National Guard Presence Due to Military Commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Intel Gathering & Sharing for Domestic Defense. The conference is part of the annual Gov/Sec U.S. Law 2010 Expo.

For details, go to Domestic Defense Symposium: US Military Forces, First Responders & Defense of the Nation.