The mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may seem straightforward - protect the homeland - but in practice a lot goes into fulfilling that promise. DHS is an incredibly complex organization with a set of agencies that, while focused on the singular mission of keeping America safe, do so in incredibly diverse ways. The Department has laid out six core missions that all support the effort to secure the nation.

• Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats - collecting and sharing intelligence is key to this goal
• Secure U.S. Borders and Approaches - this area is focused on the work that happens at our borders, coordinating efforts across the country
• Secure Cyberspace and Critical Infrastructure - DHS is focused on the intersection of cyberspace and physical assets with proactive efforts to secure Federal IT systems and get ahead of threats before they make an impact
• Preserve and Uphold the Nation's Prosperity and Economic Security - intersections with transportation, finance, and international trade mean DHS must coordinate closely with a wide range of Federal departments
• Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience - from natural disasters to man-made incidents, DHS is responsible for making sure the building blocks are in place to mitigate the risks, limit the impact, and drive recovery
• Champion the DHS Workforce and Strengthen the Department - an inward-looking goal, the support of the workforce is critical to DHS's success

Recent efforts of DHS highlight their commitment to these goals. Continue reading →