About the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mission

The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) promotes an integrated national approach to homeland security by coordinating and advancing federal interaction with state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments. IGA is responsible for opening the homeland security dialogue with executive-level partners at the SLTT levels, along with the national associations that represent them.

Leadership and Organization

Assistant Secretary – Betsy Markey
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary– Jarrod Bernstein
Deputy Assistant Secretary - Stephanie Tennyson
Director of External Engagement – Jen Hoelzle
Director of Tribal Affairs – Steve Golubic
Deputy Director of State Affairs – Alaina Duggan
Deputy Director of Local Affairs – Drew Schneider

IGA is focused on four major areas, each of which is served by a "Desk" dedicated to serving its stakeholders. The State, Local, Tribal, and Public Engagement Desks are each served by a Director, who is charged with overseeing outreach and developing lasting partnerships with state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) stakeholders on a variety of issues and policy agendas.

State Desk

The State Desk is the designated lead for state relations and consultation at the Department. Governors, State Homeland Security Advisors (HSA), and state agencies constitute a large amount of the Department’s outreach and collaboration. IGA State Coordinators are tasked with maintaining relationships and situational awareness of events and issues in all 56 states and territories, as well as communicating with numerous associations that address homeland security-related issues.

State Coordinators are also responsible for maintaining an up-to-date awareness and continuous communication with all Department of Homeland Security components, and facilitating direct communication and flow of information on all Department issues with our SLTT stakeholders.

Local and Urban Affairs Desk

The Local and Urban Affairs Desk is the designated lead for local and urban relations and consultation at the Department. Through the Local and Urban Affairs Desk at IGA, the Department emphasizes direct relationships with cities and localities across the country in order to understand the needs of one of our key stakeholders and to incorporate local and urban views into the policy formation process.

Tribal Desk

IGA is the designated lead for tribal relations and consultation at the Department. In its "Plan of Action" (PDF - 12 pages, 125 KB), IGA has identified a number of near- and medium-term actions the Department should take to implement the policies and directives of E.O. 13175 and the November 5, 2009 Presidential Memorandum. IGA created the Tribal Plan of Action in consultation with tribal governments, and is working to ensure effective communication regarding these efforts across the Department and with tribal nations.

Public Engagement Desk

The Public Engagement Desk at IGA extends beyond Intergovernmental Affairs, to include special projects, policy, and outreach initiatives. The Public Engagement Desk serves as the primary coordinator between IGA, the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), and the Private Sector Office (PSO) to streamline communication and coordination efforts with intergovernmental partners throughout the Department. Additionally, the Public Engagement Desk is responsible for strategic communication and announcements from the Department's Office of Public Affairs to IGA stakeholders during steady-state as well as crisis communications.

Interagency IGA Offices

• White House 
• Department of Agriculture 
• Department of Commerce 
• Department of Defense 
• Department of Education 
• Department of Energy 
• Environmental Protection Agency 
• Department of Health and Human Services 
• Department of Housing and Urban Development 
• Department of Interior 
• Department of Justice 
• Department of Labor 
• Department of State 
• Department of Transportation