Pt 1 - National Perspective - Thomas Kean
Pt 2 - Vulnerability
Pt 3 - Cooperation Issues
Pt 4 - Societal Resilience - Stephen E. Flynn
Pt 5 - Public Health Preparedness

(Apr 3, 2009 at Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.  Sponsored by the Policy Research Institute for the Region)

Agenda:

Pt 1: “Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness -- The National Perspective”
The Honorable Thomas Kean, former Governor, State of New Jersey and Co-Chairman of the 9/11 Commission

Pt 2: Vulnerability of Critical Infrastructure - Do We Need to Re-evaluate?

Seven years after 9/11, our nation has a long way to go to secure adequately the bulk of our critical infrastructure against the likes of natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Transportation systems (including air, rail and shipping), along with chemical facilities, food and water supplies, communication systems, financial institutions, government complexes are at risk. Experts in the field will discuss what has been done to protect these facilities and what models can be implemented to secure private and public facilities in a systematic way.

• MODERATOR: Eric Kutner, Principal, Emergency Response Design Group
• Richard Canas, Director of New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness
• John Paczkowski, Director, Emergency Management and Security, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Naval Postgraduate School Distinguished Fellow at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Benjamin A. Cooper, Chief of the Response Department, US Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, Philadelphia, PA

Pt 3: Cooperation Issues - Among and Between Governments and with the Private Sector

The importance of networking, relationship building, maintaining open lines of communications, and understanding how to bridge gaps is critical for effective emergency preparedness. Furthermore, given the responsibilities and vulnerabilities in the private sector -- especially the protection of critical infrastructure -- it is critical that all segments of government and business be integrated in their planning and implementation procedures. This panel of experts will focus on the interplay among and between public sector entities, and with the business communities to coordinate efforts beyond jurisdictional boundaries to respond to a regional crisis.

• MODERATOR: Michael J. Chumer, Professor & Director -- Emergency Management and Business Program, New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Lori Hennon-Bell, Chief Security Officer, Prudential Insurance Company
• MaryAnn Tierney, Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia
• James Y. Cho, Director, Plan Management Unit, NYC Office of Emergency Management

Pt 4: Recalibrating Homeland Security: The Case for Building Societal Resilience

Stephen E. Flynn, Ira A. Lipman Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations -- and best-selling author of “Edge of Disaster.”

Pt 5: Public Health Preparedness

Public health experts may be called on to make or inform some of the most important decisions of the twenty-first century. These include the decision to allocate scarce healthcare resources including vaccines, where to set up surge facilities, or ‘sheltering in place.’ Is the framework strong enough to support decision making across all sectors, including government, law enforcement, and others? Panelists will discuss these and other considerations with respect to bioterrorism, disease outbreak (e.g., pandemic flu), and natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, flooding). They will also address some of the financial, legal and ethical issues inherent in this area.

• MODERATOR: David Gruber, Senior Assistant Commissioner for Health Infrastructure Preparedness and Emergency Response, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
• Irwin Redlener, Professor, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness
• Peter D. Marghella, Executive Vice President, Disaster Preparedness Resources, Inc.
• Leonard Cole, author and Adjunct Professor, Division of Global Affairs, Rutgers University