Essay | HLSS 502 | American Military University

Assignment Instructions

This assignment is a take-home essay assignment of four questions for which you are expected to develop a 2-3 page essay for each question that fully responds to the question being posed. 

Essay 1: CO-3: Assess risk management processes for supporting resource relocation.

The basic equation for risk is defined as R = ƒ(C*V*T) where R is the level of risk, C is the consequences (public health, our economy, government action, public confidence in our institutions) of an attack, V is an assessment of the vulnerability of a potential target (how hard or easy it would be for it to be hit by terrorists) and T is the threat or the likelihood that a specific target will suffer an attack or disaster from a specific weapon. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that it will apply risk management principles to homeland security operations and has stated that “Ultimately, homeland security is about effectively managing risks to the Nation’s security” (DHS, 2010, p. 2). Drawing upon your class readings and additional research examine how risk management is used by the homeland security enterprise and how that use benefits such aspects as resource allocation, strategic planning, grant award, or any of the multitudes of other homeland security issues or operations.

Reference:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2010). Quadrennial homeland security review report: A strategic framework for a secure homeland. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.  Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/qhsr_report.pdf

Essay 2: CO-1: Analyze the organizational roles, responsibilities, and strategies of homeland security and homeland defense.

In your readings you have been provided a variety of definitions for the term homeland security. Additionally, the national strategies and readings have talked to the difference between homeland security and homeland defense. Drawing upon your readings and other class materials, craft two columns; one labeled Homeland Security and the other Homeland Defense. Under the headers of each column list those missions, tasks, duties, responsibilities, operations, etc. which are identified from the national policies, strategies and readings. Some tasks may be listed under both columns. Where this occurs, be sure to identify if there is any element of that item that is specific to either homeland security or homeland defense. Lastly, drawing upon the list you developed, provide a definition of homeland security. 

Essay 3: CO-4: Describe protection of key assets and critical infrastructure.

Critical infrastructure is defined in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan as “Systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital that the incapacity or destruction of such may have a debilitating impact on the security, economy, public health or safety, environment, or any combination of these matters, across any Federal, State, regional, territorial, or local jurisdiction” (DHS, 2009, p. 109). From this definition, one can reasonably presume that protection of these assets is vital to the well-being of the United States and as such is an essential element of homeland security. Drawing upon the readings provide your assessment of the capability of the nation’s infrastructure protection program to ensure the survivability of its critical infrastructure. 

Reference:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2009). National Infrastructure Protection Plan. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Retrieved from  http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdf

Essay 4: CO-2: Evaluate intelligence support to homeland security policy makers and practitioners. 

Provide an examination of the various elements that comprise the intelligence community from local law enforcement to national agencies and how each of those entities contributes to the development of homeland security intelligence. In crafting your response, it would be good to remember the lessons learned from the 9/11 Commission on intelligence sharing and analyze how those lessons/recommendations are being addressed. Lastly, your examination of the question should include the issue of domestic versus foreign intelligence. 

Scoring Rubric: A copy of the complete scoring rubric for this assignment is provided in the Writing Resources module within the course lessons. The following is a synopsis of that rubric.
 

Area of Evaluation

Maximum Points

Focus/Thesis

20

Content/Subject Knowledge

20

Critical Thinking Skills

20

Organization of Ideas/Format

20

Writing Conventions 

20

Technical Requirements:

Length: 2-3 pages, double spaced, 1″ margins, 12 pitch type in Times New Roman font left justified format. 

Sources: All sources for this assignment must come the assigned reading within the course. You are not limited to the pages assigned from each document, but are limited to those documents to defend and support your arguments/claims. 

Citations/References:  You must use APA style for this assignment.