CRM-Mod 5 Discus.

Asja Merritt

This

week’s

reading

discussed

briefly

the

topic

of

fusion

centers

and

joint

terrorism

task

forces.

These

two

teams

are

joined

together

to

help

protect

our

nation

by

sharing

vital

homeland

security

information.

Even

though

they

work

together

they

each

have

their

own

unique

functions.

Fusion

centers

gather,

analyz

e,

and

share

comprehensive

crimes,

hazards,

and

terrorism

information

to

inform

local,

regional,

and

national

threat

analysis

and

prevention

efforts.

In

contrast,

JTTFs

primarily

focus

on

providing

investigative

support

to

open

FBI

counterterrorism

investi

gations.

The

article

went

further

on

explaining

how

each

of

these

forces

work.

The

second

article

was

a

testimonial

from

the

FBI

explaining

the

organizations

attempt

on

sharing

information

related

to

national

security.

Gary Cothran

After

reading

the

testimony

from

Eric

Velez

-

Villar

Assistant

Director,

Directorate

of

Intelligence

Federal

Bureau

of

Investigation

I

learned

that

information

and

intelligence

gathered

by

the

FBI

regarded

terrorism

is

distributed

throughout

3

other

entities

:

Fusion

Centers,

the

FBI’s

Field

Intelligence

Groups

(FIGs),

and

the

FBI’s

Joint

Terrorism

Task

Forces

(JTTFs)

("Intelligence

Sharing

with

Federal,

State,

and

Local

Law

Enforcement

10

Years

After

9/11",

2012).

I

also

gained

a

better

understand

that

even

t

hough

similar

in

their

role

as

fusion

centers,

Federal

Intel

Groups

gather

intelligence

for

the

fusion

centers

and

provides

all

terrorist

intelligence

to

the

JTTF

("Intelligence

Sharing

with

Federal,

State,

and

Local

Law

Enforcement

10

Years

After

9/11",

2

012).

The

most

important

takeaway

from

my

readings

is

the

unified

approach

that

the

FBI

as

created

from

the

lowest

level

of

law

enforcement

to

different

federal

agencies.

Having

standardized

operating

procedures

ensure

that

all

lines

of

communication

stay

available

and

information

flows

smoothly.

After

reviewing

the

fusion

center

and

joint

terrorism

task

forces

website,

I

learned

about

different

cases

in

which

fusions

cell

prevented

attacks

or

incidents

from

occurring.

The

main

takeaway

was

the

importance

o

f

Fusion

centers,

FIGs,

JTTFs,

and

SLTTs

as

they

all

work

collectively

in

the

prevention

of

terrorist

attacks

and

incidents.

They

all

work

hand

in

hand

from

the

collection

of

intelligence

gathering

from

the

FIGs

and

Fusion

centers

to

the

execution

of

inter

diction

carried

out

by

the

JTTF.

In

January

2008,

the

Virginia

Fusion

Center

along

with

the

Illinois

Statewide

Terrorism

and

Intelligence

Center

prevented

a

Virginian

man

from

driving

across

the

country

and

killing

a

female

and

her

companion

following

be

a

school

shooting

("Fusion

Centers

and

Joint

Terrorism

Task

Forces",

Asja Merritt

This week’s reading discussed briefly the topic of fusion centers and joint terrorism task

forces. These two teams are joined together to help protect our nation by sharing vital

homeland security information. Even though they work together they each have their own

unique functions. Fusion centers gather, analyze, and share comprehensive crimes, hazards,

and terrorism information to inform local, regional, and national threat analysis and

prevention efforts. In contrast, JTTFs primarily focus on providing investigative support to

open FBI counterterrorism investigations. The article went further on explaining how each of

these forces work. The second article was a testimonial from the FBI explaining the

organizations attempt on sharing information related to national security.

Gary Cothran

After reading the testimony from Eric Velez-Villar Assistant Director, Directorate of

Intelligence Federal Bureau of Investigation I learned that information and intelligence gathered by

the FBI regarded terrorism is distributed throughout 3 other entities: Fusion Centers, the FBI’s Field

Intelligence Groups (FIGs), and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) ("Intelligence Sharing

with Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement 10 Years After 9/11", 2012). I also gained a better

understand that even though similar in their role as fusion centers, Federal Intel Groups gather

intelligence for the fusion centers and provides all terrorist intelligence to the JTTF ("Intelligence

Sharing with Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement 10 Years After 9/11", 2012). The most

important takeaway from my readings is the unified approach that the FBI as created from the lowest

level of law enforcement to different federal agencies. Having standardized operating procedures

ensure that all lines of communication stay available and information flows smoothly.

After reviewing the fusion center and joint terrorism task forces website, I learned about

different cases in which fusions cell prevented attacks or incidents from occurring. The main takeaway

was the importance of Fusion centers, FIGs, JTTFs, and SLTTs as they all work collectively in the

prevention of terrorist attacks and incidents. They all work hand in hand from the collection of

intelligence gathering from the FIGs and Fusion centers to the execution of interdiction carried out by

the JTTF. In January 2008, the Virginia Fusion Center along with the Illinois Statewide Terrorism and

Intelligence Center prevented a Virginian man from driving across the country and killing a female

and her companion following be a school shooting ("Fusion Centers and Joint Terrorism Task Forces",