Center for Homeland Defense and Security

Center for Homeland Defense and Security CHDS is the nation’s homeland security educator and the sponsor of the HSDL (Homeland Security Digital Library).

The Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) is located at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Since 2002, CHDS has conducted a wide range of programs focused on assisting current and future leaders in Homeland Defense and Security to develop the policies, strategies, programs and organizational elements needed to defeat terrorism in the United States. The programs are developed

in partnership with and are sponsored by the National Preparedness Directorate, FEMA. CHDS sponsors the Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL), the nation's premier collection of documents related to homeland security policy, strategy, and organizational management. The mission of the HSDL is to strengthen the national security of the United States by supporting federal, state, local, and tribal analysis, debate, and decision-making needs, and to assist academics of all disciplines in homeland defense and security related research.

This week, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) Executive Education Program (EEP) partnered with the The...
09/04/2026

This week, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) Executive Education Program (EEP) partnered with the The City Of NOLA deliver two Executive Education Seminars focused on hurricane preparedness, response, and recovery.

This weeks seminar brought together elected and senior City leadership, including Mayor Helena Moreno, to examine the executive decisions required before, during, and after a major hurricane. An afternoon seminar with operational leadership explored how those strategic decisions translate into coordinated action across departments and agencies.

Through facilitated scenarios and discussion, participants examined challenges including citywide coordination, public communication, continuity of government, resource prioritization, and the transition from immediate response to sustained operations and recovery.

The CHDS team brought multidisciplinary expertise to the discussions, helping participants examine the complex strategic and operational challenges that can emerge during a rapidly evolving emergency.

We are grateful to the The City Of NOLA, Mayor Moreno, and all who participated for their engagement and commitment to strengthening preparedness before the next crisis demands action.

The Week of August 17 in Honolulu: Pacific homeland security and emergency management leaders came together to prepare f...
09/03/2026

The Week of August 17 in Honolulu: Pacific homeland security and emergency management leaders came together to prepare for whatever storm comes next.

Hosted by the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security's Pacific Executive Leaders Program in partnership with FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 9, the 2026 Pacific Partnership Meeting brought together 77 participants from Hawaiʻi, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

For over a decade, the annual Pacific Partnership Meeting has provided a forum for strengthening joint readiness and resilience across a region where distance, time, and resource constraints shape nearly every response—and where the geopolitical environment continues to evolve.

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton opened the meeting with a discussion of the changing emergency management landscape: evolving threats, new partnerships, and the principle that disaster response should be locally led, state- and territory-managed, and federally supported.

Some of the most valuable conversations centered on hard-won lessons from this year’s typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, which battered the CNMI and Guam. Responders shared what worked, from hardened utility poles that stayed standing to satellite communications positioned ahead of the storm. They also spoke candidly about what needs to improve, particularly fuel logistics and reducing reliance on federal defense support.

That’s what PPM is about: learning from what happened, strengthening the relationships that matter, and preparing together for what comes next.

Relationships. Readiness. Resilience.

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Congratulations to Erin Hoffman (ELP2202), who has been named Deputy Under Secretary for Management at the Department of...
08/03/2026

Congratulations to Erin Hoffman (ELP2202), who has been named Deputy Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security.

Happy 4th of July from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence,...
07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, we're proud to stand alongside the practitioners and leaders who work every day to protect it.

06/29/2026
As the Crane Clean Energy Center moves toward its highly anticipated restart in 2027, the CHDS Radiological Emergency Pr...
06/09/2026

As the Crane Clean Energy Center moves toward its highly anticipated restart in 2027, the CHDS Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program partnered with Dauphin County Department of Public Safety to convene local, state, and federal leaders for strategic dialogue in Hershey today. 🤝🏭

The momentum surrounding the Crane Clean Energy Center is impressive, and the CHDS REP team is honored to support these important preparedness efforts. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration and intergovernmental coordination, with particular attention to policy, decision-making, leadership responsibilities, and effective risk communication to support public confidence and readiness.

CHDS extends its gratitude to Dauphin County for welcoming the Center and partnering with us to develop this program. We are also grateful to our exceptional team of subject matter experts, whose dedication continues to strengthen radiological emergency preparedness efforts across the nation.

Over the past week, the CHDS REP Program delivered educational seminars in both Florida and Pennsylvania, reflecting the continued commitment to supporting local, state, and federal leaders involved in radiological emergency preparedness nationwide.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.chds.us/rep



Stan McKinney
Morgan James

Congratulations to ELP alum Terry Hastings, who has recently been named as the first-ever Chief Wellness Officer for the...
06/08/2026

Congratulations to ELP alum Terry Hastings, who has recently been named as the first-ever Chief Wellness Officer for the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Read more:

The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services will never call you asking for personal information. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Homeland Security and asking for personal information, it is a scam. Do not share your personal information.

Congratulations to NPS-CHDS Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program grad, Jamie Penza, who started a new position as...
06/04/2026

Congratulations to NPS-CHDS Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program grad, Jamie Penza, who started a new position as a Senior Exercise Officer for Wisconsin Emergency Management.

Congratulations on your new position, Chief!
06/02/2026

Congratulations on your new position, Chief!

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Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA
93940

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+18316563829

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