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Homeland Security

Homeland Security Advisory Council

The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) leverages the experience, expertise, and national and global connections of the HSAC membership to provide the Secretary real-time, real-world, sensing and independent advice to support decision-making across the spectrum of homeland security operations.

The Homeland Security Advisory Council:

  • Provides organizationally independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary, including the creation and implementation of critical and actionable policies for the security of the homeland.
  • Conducts research and provides policy analysis and recommendations on a variety of security issues.
  • Evaluates the impact of security related public and private policies in an attempt to formulate prospective security policies.

About HSAC

The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary on matters related to homeland security. The Council comprises leaders from state and local government, first responder communities, the private sector, and academia.

Learn more about HSAC: Homeland Security Advisory Council Archived Advisory Committees, Recommendations & Press Releases

HSAC Leadership

CBP Integrity Advisory Panel

Secretary Johnson directed the Homeland Security Advisory Committee to form the CBP Integrity Advisory Panel in December of 2014 to provide findings and recommendations on the best practices from federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement integrity leaders. HSAC will be able to provide actionable expertise to policymakers, governments, faith-based and civic organizations, and communities. The Advisory Panel will address topics such as the progress in response to Use of Force reviews, identifying the best practices from federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement on integrity incident prevention as well as on transparency pertaining to incident response and discipline. Other subjects to be discussed include ensuring CBP develops an effective capability for investigating criminal misconduct, evaluating CBP’s efforts to become an intelligence-driven organization in the context of current labor/management constraints, and obtaining recommendations for CBP to facilitate enhanced participation among law enforcement and intelligence agencies within an interagency task force environment. Task force findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

DHS Employee Task Force

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Jeh Johnson tasked his Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) to establish a DHS Employee Task Force on Thursday, October 9, 2014. The DHS Employee Task Force will provide recommendations on how to improve employee morale throughout the DHS enterprise. The DHS Employee Task Force’s findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Homeland Security Advisory Council for their deliberation and vote during a public meeting. Once the report is approved it will be sent to the Secretary for his review and acceptance. DHS Employee Task Force findings and recommendations should be submitted to the Homeland Security Advisory Council no later than nine months after the publication of the date of this tasking.

DHS Grant Review Task Force

In November 2014, Secretary Johnson directed the HSAC to form the Grant Review Task Force in order to assess preparedness grant program effectiveness. The Task Force will be shifting the focus from how much funding needs to be provided to different areas, to a focus on what that funding should be used for. The Task Force will be considering the National Preparedness Goal to address the outcomes that the grants process is intended to achieve, the mechanisms that are best suited to achieving the desired outcomes, as well as levels of approach. Task Force members will be providing recommendations and findings to the Homeland Security Advisory Council following the publication of this tasking.

DHS Faith Based Security and Communications Subcommittee

In October 2012, Secretary Napolitano tasked the Homeland Security Advisory Council to establish  the Faith Based Security and Communications subcommittee. The subcommittee was important to establish following incidents in Dearborn, Michigan; the Sikh Temple shooting in Oak Creek, Wisconsin; the U.S. Embassy and consulate attacks in Egypt and Libya; and several others. The issues that will be addressed by this subcommittee include how DHS and faith-based organizations can effectively work together around the country, how DHS can identify additional protocols and practices to assist in the sharing of secure information with faith based organizations, and how faith based organizations can become institutionalized into the Department’s online Countering Violent Extremism efforts.

Foreign Fighter Task Force

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Jeh Johnson tasked his Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) to establish a subcommittee entitled the Foreign Fighter Task Force on Thursday, October 29, 2014.  The Foreign Fighter Task Force will provide ongoing recommendations to the Homeland Security Advisory Council on the foreign fighter threat and its impact on our homeland security. The Foreign Fighter Task Force’s findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Homeland. Security Advisory Council for their deliberation and vote during its upcoming public meetings.  Once the report(s) are voted on by the Homeland Security Advisory Council, they will be sent to the Secretary for his review and acceptance.  The Foreign Fighter Task Force findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, first through an interim report, than on a standing basis thereafter following the publication of this tasking on the listed date.

Recommendations to the Secretary

Recommendations Archive

Authorities

Past Meetings

Archived Meeting Minutes

Updates and Press Releases

If you have any problems accessing the files on this webpage please contact hsac@hq.dhs.gov

Point of Contact:

Mike Miron, DirectorHomeland Security Advisory CouncilDHS Mailstop 0385245 Murray Lane, SWWashington DC  20528-0385hsac@hq.dhs.gov
Last Published Date: October 1, 2015

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