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Release Date: January 22, 2007
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: (202) 282-8010
Washington - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has designated the President's State of the Union Address as a National Special Security Event (NSSE).
Secretary Chertoff has named Steven C. Woodard, Deputy Assistant Director of the U.S. Secret Service, to serve as the Principal Federal Official (PFO) for the State of the Union.
A number of factors are taken into consideration when designating an event as a National Special Security Event, including anticipated attendance by dignitaries and the size and significance of the event. When an event is designated a NSSE, the U.S. Secret Service assumes its legally mandated role as the lead federal agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan. Federal resources will be deployed to maintain the level of security needed for the event.
The Secret Service is responsible for planning, directing and executing federal security operations at designated NSSEs and, together with state and local law enforcement partners, develops the overall security plan. The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, and a number of other federal and local agencies will play an active role in providing security at this event. Assets from the Department of Defense, including the North American Aerospace Command and the United States Northern Command are also supporting this event.
Deputy Assistant Director Woodard has experience in the preparation and coordination that are required for NSSEs, and most recently served as the PFO for former President Ford's state funeral in Washington D.C. earlier this month. In his role as PFO, Deputy Assistant Director Woodard is responsible for ensuring overall seamless coordination of the federal domestic incident management activities.
Since 1998, the Secret Service has led federal security operations at 24 National Special Security Events, including former President Ford's state funeral, the 2005 Presidential Inauguration, the 2004 Republican and Democratic National Conventions, former President Ronald Reagan's state funeral in 2004, and the last three State of the Union Addresses.
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This page was last modified on January 22, 2007