The Defense Department last month released the Strategy for Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities, the policy document that aims to position DOD to respond effectively and efficiently to threats to the United States through 2020. The 25-page document identifies the two priority missions for DOD in the homeland: defend US territory from direct attack by state and non-state actors; and provide assistance to domestic civil authorities in the event of natural or manmade disasters, potentially in response to a very significant or catastrophic event, according to the Pentagon’s March 22 release. “This strategy emphasizes strengthening our partnerships with federal agencies like the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, with state and local governments, with the private sector, and with our Canadian and Mexican neighbors,” said Todd Rosenblum, acting assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas’ security affairs. This will allow not only for “more comprehensive approaches to complex security challenges in the homeland” but also “efficiencies through collaboration and joint action,” he added. (Strategy full document; caution, large-sized file.)
The Air Force is shoring up its cyber defenses both on and off base for critical infrastructure such as water and electrical power, and industry experts are calling for more, even specialized, dedicated microgrids offsite to support USAF operations in case of a total blackout caused by cyberattacks.
