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  6. Morning Roundup - December 16th

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In an effort to keep DHS.gov current, the archive contains outdated information that may not reflect current policy or programs.

Morning Roundup - December 16th

From Homeland Security Today, on the Secretary’s employee town hall yesterday:
Integrating DHS virtually, physically remains a big priority Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Tuesday emphasized progress the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made to integrate its disparate components in a year-end speech of the department's accomplishments in 2009.

"Sometimes I don't even see DHS as an organization of components, I see it as an organization of missions and responsibilities. That is the genesis of my vision for One DHS," Napolitano said in a speech at the headquarters of US Citizenship and Immigration.

Acknowledging that the work to standardize processes and tie together infrastructure at DHS began under former Secretaries Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff and would continue long after her tenure, Napolitano stressed the progress represented by a consolidated DHS headquarters that broke ground this year and a department-wide intranet coming online next year.

The DHS headquarters, to be located on the campus of Saint Elizabeth's hospital in southwest Washington, DC, will help unify the DHS components into one department simply by collocating them in the same physical space, Napolitano asserted. The consolidated DHS campus also will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars as the department's components pull their resources into shared maintenance and operations costs at one location.

The DHS intranet, slated to become operational in early 2010, will help sharing and collaboration virtually across the entire department, she added.

From Government Technology, on EINSTEIN 1 on Michigan’s government network:
In a move that could change security monitoring for states nationwide, Michigan announced it will deploy the federal government's network monitoring system EINSTEIN 1. The system, which all federal agencies are required to use, is run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The federal-state partnership is the first of its kind, which Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm hopes will increase the types of cyber-threats Michigan can detect. The project could have implications for similar ones in others states in the future.

"It will enable greater federal and state coordination to promote mutual cyber-security interests and, if successful, will inform the efforts of state governments to enhance their own cyber-security efforts," Granholm said in a statement.

Michigan's collaboration with the DHS will include services from the agency's U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), which will identify possible abnormal activities on Michigan's networks and address threats to the cyber-infrastructure.

EINSTEIN 1 automates the collection and analysis of computer network security information from participating agency and government networks to help analysts identify and combat malicious cyber-activity that may threaten government network systems, data protection and communications infrastructure.

In 2008, the DHS updated the system, adding automation and a real-time reporting function. At the same time, the George W. Bush administration mandated that all federal agencies use it. Time will show whether those improvements translate to best practices for state network monitoring.


From the Los Angeles Times, because, come on – puppies!:
Federal authorities in San Diego County rescued 15 sick puppies that were being smuggled across the U.S. border from Mexico to be sold here as Christmas presents, officials said today.

The 2-month-old puppies, described as mixed-breed miniature poodles, were discovered Monday evening by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Tecate Port of Entry, according to San Diego County officials.

A majority of the animals were suffering from parvo, a virus that is often deadly. The puppies would be receiving intensive care from San Diego County Department of Animal Services or a local adoption center, officials said.

Officials identified the alleged smuggler as Raul Jimenez Gonzalez. He told authorities that he had a bottle of tequila as he attempted to cross the border, but federal officers saw something move in the back seat of his vehicle, according to county officials.

The puppies were discovered under a blanket in the back seat.


Leadership Events
12 PM EST
Secretary Napolitano will deliver remarks at the “Women in Power” luncheon
Ritz Carlton Hotel, Salon I & II
1150 22nd Street NW
Washington, D.C.

Public Events
2 PM EST
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Acting Administrator Gale Rossides will testify about TSA’s response to the improper Web posting of an outdated, unclassified version of a Standard Operating Procedures document before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight.
311 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Last Updated: 09/20/2018
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