Job 11:18 (New King James Version Bible, 1982) states, “And you will be secure,
because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.” I
remembered this verse throughout this eight-week course. Throughout history disasters have
repeatedly shown the importance in standing together as one country. Such is the only avenue
for preserving the homeland and our shared freedoms and security. Each week, the discussion
board topics discussed were directed at homeland security and how it is accomplished.
I made an argument that the number one pressing issue regarding the security of the
homeland was cybersecurity. I thoroughly examined the consequences of the American
government neglecting such a critical vulnerability. Our textbook for the semester was written by
Charles Nemeth. He identified sixteen critical infrastructure sectors, which are named in the
Presidential Policy Directive 21. Nemeth (2017) considered each vital to the United States, and
without one or more, it would be debilitating to the security of the American economy’s health
and safety. I discussed the circumstances behind the Colonial Pipeline hack exhibiting the
importance of cybersecurity due to its ability to completely change American infrastructure.
Further, I examined the North Korean Hack on Sony in response to the country’s leader being
upset over the showing of “The Interview”. Both are examples of how easy it has become to
hack and inflict potentially catastrophic issues socially and economically.
Previously, I provided solutions to these issues in a discussion board and various replies. I
suggested a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy must be created. The strategy would include
legislation on internet privacy and the collection, use, and sale of personal information by
private-sector companies (U.S. Government Accountability Office, n.d.). In addition, the strategy
would include policy and procedures regarding how the networks that protect our society ought
to be protected from intruders, ensuring secure federal systems and protecting cyber critical
infrastructure (U.S. Government Accountability Office, n.d.). Further, I explained the
government must perform effective oversight on organizations and agencies collecting personal
data for users and protecting their privacy and sensitive data (U.S. Government Accountability
Office, n.d.). Moreover, I discussed the importance of employee training to guarantee proper
procedures are taken to safeguard American infrastructure. For example, knowing the red flags
on a potential phishing email and managing passwords properly (Department of Homeland
Security, 2022).
Nothing particular in this course caused me to change my mind or opinion in relation to
homeland security. However, Vernon completed a discussion board in week two for the
homeland security paradigm and opened my eyes to a potential threat I never previously
considered. Vernon discussed the importance of the Space Force, and I had previously heard of
them as it related to my current job but had not had the opportunity to properly garner an
understanding of who they are or how they secure the homeland. The Space Force organizes,
trains, and equips Guardians to conduct global space operations that enhance the way the United
States can conduct military objectives to achieve national security. (The United States Space
Force, n.d.). This is important as other countries such as China and Russia are pushing their
satellites to get an advantage over the American social and economic climate (Chow, 2020).
Proverbs 18:15 counsels, “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise
seeks knowledge.” An important lesson of this course was to stay an active learner. Many
American citizens believe they know what is best for national security and are simultaneously
quick to criticize how our government conducts itself. Ostensibly, things are not nearly as
simple and straightforward as these citizens may presumptuously perceive. This course opened
my eyes to emergency management, its importance, and the differences in manmade and natural
disasters. It was particularly interesting to understand the circumstances of COVID and how it
could be seen as an intelligence failure. In November 2019, the United States government was
informed by intelligence agencies of the potential risks a new virus originating in China might
pose. However, it was not until March 2020, the United States recognized COVID-19 as a
“substantial problem” (Gradon et al., 2021). Due to their neglect in using this information,
delayed preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts were chaotic, and the need for recovery
was ultimately made drastically dire.
I gained a lot of valuable knowledge from this course. It has helped me understand homeland
security and all its facets. The curriculum has guided me to see heed the Bible’s warnings and to
accept how God wants us to protect ourselves from the many dangers we face. One of the biggest
takeaways from this course is homeland security cannot be accomplished through a singular
person or entity; it is a full-scale group effort. Every person within governmental agencies,
private organizations, and the nation’s citizenry must unify in collaboration. We each have our
own role that when completed jointly, makes it possible to attain and preserve prosperity,
security, and enduring freedom.
References
Chow, B. G. (2020). Space Traffic Management in the New Space age. Strategic Studies
Quarterly.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. (n.d.). Free cybersecurity services and tools.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA. Retrieved August 9, 2022,
from https://www.cisa.gov/free-cybersecurity-services-and-tools
Department of Homeland Security. (2022). Cybersecurity. Cybersecurity | Ready.gov. Retrieved
August 9, 2022, from https://www.ready.gov/cybersecurity
Gradon, K., & Moy, W. R. (2021). Covid-19 response – lessons from secret intelligence
failures. The International Journal of Intelligence, Security, and Public Affairs, 23(3),
161–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/23800992.2021.1956776
Nemeth, C. P. (2017). Homeland security: An introduction to principles and practices (3rd ed.).
New King James Version Bible. (1982). Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The United States Space Force. (n.d.). What's the space force. Retrieved August 9, 2022,
from https://www.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/FAQs/Whats-the-Space-Force/
Israel,
I appreciate your thoughts on why you feel it is important agencies managing immigration issues
should be their own separate department. The issue that lies ahead for such a transition, is the
importance of these agencies withing DHS. The priority mission of DHS is “to secure the nation
from the many threats we face…Our duties are wide-ranging, and our goal is clear - keeping
America safe.” (U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2022a). Further, the mission of Customs
and Border Patrol is “preventing terrorists and terrorists’ weapons, including weapons of mass
destruction, from entering the United States.” (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2021).
Immigration and Custom Enforcement states their mission is “Protect America through criminal
investigations and enforcing immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety.”
(U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2022b). Each organization serves a purpose in
protecting the security of the nation. If they were separate from DHS, there could be
reprehensible consequences. Rather than sharing, many agencies are known to hold information.
What if this were the case and DHS was not in the loop on potential intelligence necessary to
continue their duties to accomplish their mission? A huge concern for American citizens and
government should be border protection. The human trafficking, drug smuggling, and illegal
immigration are causing serious security issues. Imagine what the problem may look like if the
agency most important in protecting the homeland was unaware of what was occurring within
immigration enforcement? I believe DHS is functioning and would function best with its current
structure, complete with its specialized parts. Separating these parts could conceivably spur
numerous critical security vulnerabilities would be on the rise, and the United States would
become fair game to global perpetrators in an unprecedented fashion.
References
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2021). Border patrol overview. U.S. Customs and
Border Protection. Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://www.cbp.gov/border-
security/along-us-borders/overview
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2022a). About DHS. About DHS | Homeland Security.
Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://www.dhs.gov/about-dhs#:~:text=The
%20Department%20of%20Homeland%20Security,analyst%20to%20chemical%20facility
%20inspector.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2022b). Ice's mission. ICE. Retrieved August 12, 2022,
from https://www.ice.gov/mission
Mark,
Wow, your discussion board is very informative. You have opened my eyes to the types of
security issues commonly observed at the border. I appreciated this class for giving me the
opportunity to analyze the topics I have heard about prior, but merely on a surface level in terms
of depth. I do not think any average citizen could really understand the problems we face with
drug smuggling. For example, the San Diego sector is responsible for over fifty percent of all the
fentanyl seized by the CBP in 2022 thus far (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2022). Just
recently, they arrested an individual attempting to smuggle approximately 250 pounds of
fentanyl (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2022). This issue is appalling and certainly
should be managed accordingly.
Interestingly, Mexico and China are the primary source countries for fentanyl and fentanyl-
related substances smuggled to the United States (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 2020).
India is emerging as a prominent source as well. You discussed transnational criminal
organizations taking advantage of the current administration’s policies. Do you normally see an
uptick or reduction in drug crimes when a change in power is made? Or, is it specific to this
administration?
The DEA is finding and stopping operations of the Sinaloa Cartel (U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, 2020). They found individuals from China and India sending fentanyl to Mexico,
and then, Mexico began using individuals to smuggle across American borders to confuse the
path of the drugs smuggled to the U.S. (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 2020). Further,
The DEA found the Sinaloa and the New Generation Jalisco cartels are likely the primary
trafficking groups responsible for smuggling fentanyl into the United States from Mexico (U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration, 2020).
Mark, I appreciate your discussion board this week because you have opened my eyes to a very
serious problem. Thank you for sharing the information about the struggles CBP is facing at the
border.
References
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2022). Border Patrol agents seize over 200 pounds of
Fentanyl. U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/border-patrol-agents-seize-over-200-
pounds-fentanyl
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2020). Unclassified fentanyl flow to the United States -
dea.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-
03/DEA_GOV_DIR-008-20%20Fentanyl%20Flow%20in%20the%20United
%20States_0.pdf
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