Director of Homeland Security
DOH@ner.cap.gov 

Director of Homeland Security Assistant
DOHA@ner.cap.gov 

Wing HLS Officers are:
------------------------
CT: TBA
MA: TBA
ME: Maj. Joshua Cuetara
NH: Lt. Col. Walter Brown
NJ: Maj. Norman Stewart
NY: TBA
PA: TBA
RI: TBA
VT: TBA

Training Links

• CAP OPSEC Course Updated 21 Jan 2012
• DoD OPSEC Course Updated 11 Feb 2012

DHS Discontinues Color-Coded Alert System

Washington, D.C. - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will discontinue the color-coded alerts of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) in favor of a new system, the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), that will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector.

The National Terrorism Advisory System will be implemented over the next 90 days, beginning 27 January 2011, in order for DHS and our federal, state, local, tribal, community and private sector partners to transition to the new system.

"Security is a shared responsibility, and we must work together to keep our nation safe from threats," said Secretary Napolitano. "This new system is built on a clear and simple premise: when a credible threat develops that could impact the public, we will tell you and provide whatever information we can so that you know how to keep yourselves, your families and your communities safe."

HSAS was first introduced on March 11, 2002. In July 2009, Secretary Napolitano formed a bipartisan task force of security experts, state and local elected and law enforcement officials, and other key stakeholders - co-chaired by Fran Townsend, former Assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security, and Judge William Webster, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - to assess the effectiveness of HSAS. The results of this assessment formed the basis of the National Terrorism Advisory System.

Under the new system, DHS will coordinate with other federal entities to issue formal, detailed alerts when the federal government receives information about a specific or credible terrorist threat. These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an "imminent threat" or "elevated threat."

The alerts also will provide a concise summary of the potential threat, information about actions being taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals and communities, businesses and governments can take.

The National Terrorism Advisory System alerts will be based on the nature of the threat: in some cases, alerts will be sent directly to law enforcement or affected areas of the private sector, while in others, alerts will be issued more broadly to the American people through both official and media channels.

CAP - You and Terrorism

All Personnel, Northeast Region, CAP:

Almost daily each of us hears on the news about another terrorist incident or plot thwarted by some country's security forces. The efforts globally by our own government as well as various others are in fact extremely successful in combating terrorism both abroad and even more successfully in our country.

However, it is a sad reality that we live in a country where the threat of terrorism is still real and that not only our intelligence services, but our police, military and other Government agencies must daily combat and weed out the threat. Part of that reality is that few of us in Civil Air Patrol often think about the fact that our own organization is a potential target. As the official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force, our equipment and personnel could make us target for would be terrorists.

I would like to remind ALL members of the Northeast Region that each and everyone of you is another set or eyes and ears to help combat this threat. Anyone from the newest cadet, to our senior leadership, should be on the lookout for anything that seems out of place. We should all be aware of our surroundings and identify suspicious items that may be a threat to our safety. From a 2 x 4 stuck under a CAP van tire to a strange piece of equipment left near one of our airplanes or an unusual package left in our meeting locations, each and every one of us should be on the look out for something or someone that seems out of place.

If you do see something or someone that makes you question its origin or reason for being where they are, PLEASE do not touch it (device) or confront them (persons), rather inform your commander as soon as possible. Commanders themselves should use their best judgements, and if warranted, contact the appropriate local government agency (often police) to determine the nature of the item or persons.

This message is just a simple reminder of the extra vigilance we all need to take in our lives and especially in our Civil Air Patrol activities. Commanders should re-emphasis our uniform policies and procedures especially as they relate to the wear of the uniform outside of and going to and from CAP activities.

Paul A. Ghiron, Maj, CAP
Northeast Region/Director of Emergency Services
NER/DOS