Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Amy Sebring, my partner/associate, and I are pleased you could join us today! Avagene Moore: Today's topic is "Defense Support of Civil Authorities - Incident Response and Specialized Capabilities." If you have not read the background materials, including our speaker's bio, please do so after today's session. Avagene Moore: For the benefit of any first-timers, we will begin today's session with a formal presentation followed by an opportunity for your questions. Avagene Moore: We will provide further instructions on the protocol for asking questions or commenting just before we begin the Q&A part of our session. However, it is wise to jot down your questions or comments as we go along. Avagene Moore: Please do not send private messages to our speaker or the moderator, as we will be busy with the presentation. If you need assistance, you may send a private message to Amy Sebring or Lori Wieber. Avagene Moore: The transcript of today's session will be available late this afternoon or early this evening -- just check back on our home page. Avagene Moore: It is a pleasure to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Garza to the EIIP Virtual Forum. Lt. Col. Garza was commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in military history. ... Avagene Moore: He is currently a Public Affairs Officer for U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Please read Lt. Col. Garza's bio for a sketch of his distinguised military career. ... Avagene Moore: Please help me welcome Lt. Col. Garza to today's EIIP Virtual Forum - we are delighted you are here and I now turn the floor to you. Avagene Moore: Are you ready to begin, Lt Col Garza? Please start now. Lt Col Roberto Garza: ok, thanks, Avagene... Lt Col Roberto Garza: I will start by posting my script.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: It is a pleasure to be here today to discuss Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). To start our discussion, let's consider the following question. What are US NORTHERN COMMAND'S (USNORTHCOM) missions? ... Lt Col Roberto Garza: USNORTHCOM was established in 2002 to provide command and control of Department of Defense (DoD) homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support to civil authorities. USNORTHCOM reached full operational capability on 11 September 2003. USNORTHCOM's specific mission is to:... Lt Col Roberto Garza: * Conduct operations to deter, prevent, defeat and mitigate threats and aggression aimed at the U.S., its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility (AOR); and.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: * As directed by the President or Secretary of Defense, provide defense support to civil authorities (DSCA) during disasters or emergencies, including consequence management operations.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: The DSCA Mission.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: USNORTHCOM's civil support mission includes counterdrug operations, managing the consequences of a terrorist event employing a weapon of mass destruction (WMD)... Lt Col Roberto Garza: and domestic disaster relief operations that occur during natural disasters such as fires, hurricanes, ice storms, floods and earthquakes. The command provides assistance to a primary federal agency (PFA) when tasked by DoD... Lt Col Roberto Garza: In providing DSCA, USNORTHCOM generally operates through established Joint Task Forces (JTFs) which are subordinate to the command. Currently, the following units are subordinate to USNORTHCOM:.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: * Standing Joint Force Headquarters-North (SJFHQ-N) * Joint Task Force-Civil Support (JTF-CS) * Joint Task Force-Alaska (JTF-AK) * Joint Task Force-North (JTF-N) * Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR).... Lt Col Roberto Garza: When Does USNORTHCOM Get Involved?.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: An emergency must exceed the capabilities of local, state and federal agencies before USNORTHCOM becomes involved. The command provides assistance to a PFA when tasked by DoD..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: In most cases, support will be limited, localized and specific. When the scope of the disaster is reduced to the point that the PFA no longer requires USNORTHCOM assistance, USNORTHCOM will exit, leaving the on- scene experts to finish the job.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: The Request Process..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: USNORTHCOM has as part of its mission, providing DSCA when tasked by the President or Secretary of Defense -- most likely in response to an emergency, in helping deal with its management consequence or clean-up. .... Lt Col Roberto Garza: USNORTHCOM only provides assistance after the PFA asks DoD for it and after DoD tasks USNORTHCOM to provide it. A PFA might be any of the federal agencies with which USNORTHCOM works, including FEMA, EPA, USCG, USDA, DOE, DHS, DOT, DOJ, DOC, etc..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: When a disaster happens, the first responders are the local agencies -- police, fire fighters, EMS. If the emergency exceeds their ability to contain or manage it, they usually seek state-level assistance.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: If the emergency is large enough, the state may seek federal assistance. If the emergency pushes the limits of the PFA's ability to manage it, they may contact the President or DoD and ask for assistance..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: If it looks like the military does indeed have those skills or equipment, DoD validates the request and may task USNORTHCOM with providing that support to the PFA.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Considerable coordination and synchronization is required to make all of this work. USNORTHCOM synchronizes activities with multiple national, international agencies and departments, National Guard Bureau, and U.S. Reserve Commands to ensure mutual understanding and unity of effort across the full spectrum of operations..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Only Respond When Requested.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: USNORTHCOM will not jump into every emergency. In fact, USNORTHCOM will probably assist civil authorities during comparatively few emergencies. When USNORTHCOM does get involved, we assist instead of control -- the primary federal agency continues to control to ensure continuity.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: "Assistance" does not mean that we overwhelmingly deploy troops or scramble fighter jets. In most cases, assistance will be limited, localized, and specific. Also, the assistance provided will come as a last resort and,... Lt Col Roberto Garza: when the volatility of the disaster is reduced to the point that the primary federal agency no longer requires military assistance, we will exit leaving the on-scene experts to finish the job.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Posse Comitatus Act.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: USNORTHCOM will operate within the confines of the law. It will not engage in law enforcement activities but when requested by civil authorities and approved by the civilian leadership of the DoD it will support civil authorities in their public safety missions..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Basically, whoever uses any part of the military to participate in a search and seizure, arrest, or similar activities to enforce laws will be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act and shall be fined or imprisoned. .... Lt Col Roberto Garza: USNORTHCOM is a federal or national level resource. Local military bases or installations across the country work with State and local level governments.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: However, the local base can be a great resource for local jurisdictions. I highly recommend establishing working relationships with local base or installation commanders..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: This concludes my formal remarks. I am available for questions and now turn the floor back to our Moderator. Avagene Moore: Thank you, Lt. Col. Garza. I am sure there are several questions for you from our audience. ... Avagene Moore: Our protocol for audience questions is to enter a question mark ? to indicate you wish to ask a question or make a comment. ... Avagene Moore: Then go ahead and compose your question or comment to have it ready, but do NOT hit your Enter key or click on the Send button until you are recognized by name. Please WAIT your turn. ... Rick Pinzon: ? Avagene Moore: But be ready when you are called upon. .... Avagene Moore: We will take questions in the order the question marks are sent to the screen. One question at a time please. If you have a follow up question, please get back in line with another ? - we want to be courteous and give everyone an opportunity to speak and ask a question. ... Avagene Moore: We are ready to begin now. Please input a question mark (?) at any time. Avagene Moore: Rick, whenever you are ready with your question, please. Rick Pinzon: Thxs.......How does JFCOM fit into the picture as a force provider? Larry Porter: ? Mike Barney: ? Ed PearceCBCP: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Rick, I don't want to speak for JFCOM, you need to ask them that question. Vijaya Tripathi: ? Vivien Sazon: ? ray pena: ? Avagene Moore: Larry Porter is next. Larry Porter: Lt Col, When will DoD and/or NORTHCOM update the DoD Directives on MACA (3025 series) to reflect NORTHCOM and DSCA, etc.? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Planners are probably working on them as we speak. Larry Porter: Thank you. Avagene Moore: Mike Barney, you are next, please. Mike Barney: Thank you Lt. Col Garza for taking the time for this webinar. Do you see that the help from Northcom / DoD would then be more likey be related to providing a very specific capability, such as providing a specific SIGINT capability to locate trapped persons, or integrated comms support, as a support team to an Incident Command, as opposed to sending a company or brigade in as general help? Rick Pinzon: Joint Forces Command Terry Storer: ? Avagene Moore: SIGINT = ? Vijaya Tripathi: Signal intelligence Lt Col Roberto Garza: Got kicked off again... Mike Barney: Signals Intelligence. Used in prior building collapses to locate cellphones on people Avagene Moore: Lt Col Garza, did you see the last question by Mike Barney? Lt Col Roberto Garza: In response to last question, depends on situation or incident... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Some requests will require specialize capabilities... Lt Col Roberto Garza: other requests do not.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: If the Federal agency in the lead of incident.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: has the capabilities, specialized or general in nature, then... Lt Col Roberto Garza: no need for us to get involved. Avagene Moore: Ed, your question, please. Ed PearceCBCP: Does Northcom's role change the mission of the National Guard as the primary military resource for disasters within a State under the control of the Governor and state AG? Joe Sukaskas: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: No..... Lois McCoy: Loia mcCoy? Lt Col Roberto Garza: The State will call on its resources, to include the Guard.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: To respond to emergencies or disasters, .... Lt Col Roberto Garza: and they will be under State control.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: It is only when the State exhausts all resources.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: and federal resources are exhausted as well... Rick Pinzon: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: that the Guard members may be federalized if they ask Northcom to get invloved. Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: Vijaya, your turn, please. Vijaya Tripathi: Sir, you mentioned that in the request consideration process, a deciding factor is whether the military has the skills or equipment. What skills/equipment does USNORTHCOM generally find itself called upon to provide to support first responders/EMS personnel in emergency situations? Vijaya Tripathi: Thank you. Lt Col Roberto Garza: Again, depends on the situation... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Most of the time, the local, state or federal authorities.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: can handle the situation and NC will not get called in to help... Lt Col Roberto Garza: But in the event, the disaster overwhelms all.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: ten we'll get tasked to support. Avagene Moore: Vivien, please. Michaela Kekedy: ? Avagene Moore: Do you have a question, Vivien? Please input now. Vivien Sazon: Sir, what kinds of needs do you expect to have for in-motion broadband communications to support domestic disaster operations? Isabel McCurdy: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Do not know, that type of specific question would have to be staffed..... Lt Col Roberto Garza: with our comms directorate.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: they would be able to tell you. Avagene Moore: Ray, your question, please. ray pena: Sir, you indicate that the DSCA mission includes "managing the consequences of a terrorist event employing a WMD." Recent newspaper articles and an editorial in today's Washington Times make it clear that civilians are in charge if we are ever attacked by terrorists using WMD. What does "managing the consequences of a terrorist event employing WMD" mean in the DSCA mission statement? Lt Col Roberto Garza: As an example, lets say it is a chemical attack, and the local, state, or federal authorities are not equipped with chemical gear to perform clean-up, they can turn to our military capabilities to dispatch a team to clean it up. Avagene Moore: Terry, please. Terry Storer: What role does your Command have in relation to the Immediate Response Authority under the NRP? Lt Col Roberto Garza: with respect to NRP, a supporting role. Avagene Moore: Joe, you are next, please. Joe Sukaskas: Col. Garza, does USNORTHCOM regularly test/exercise its Defense Support to Civil Authorities role together with State / local governments and with the private sector that is responsible for much of the nation's critical infrastructure, and are reports/summaries of such exercises publicly available? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Yes we do conduct exercises.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: with all levels of government a number of times.... Terry Storer: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Don't know if the reports of exercises are publicly available, they should be. Avagene Moore: Lois McCoy, your turn, please. Lois McCoy: Col Garza, sir: At what level will NORTHCOM enter an event under the DHS Catastrophic Interim Incident Response Plan? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Not sure of the levels.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: I would guess at the federal level.... Lois McCoy: Thank yu sir Lt Col Roberto Garza: We get called in after federal resources of that particular agence are exhausted.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: or they in need of our specialized capabilities. Avagene Moore: Rick, please input your question. Rick Pinzon: When can we expect to see an updated version of the DOD HLD and Civil Support Joint Operating Concept? I understand your J5 has this for action. Lt Col Roberto Garza: I do not have specific date or timeline.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Needs to go through coordination process once updated. Avagene Moore: Amy, your turn, please. Amy Sebring: Are VA (Veterans Affairs) resources, such as medical resources, subject to the same request process if you know? or is there a different process in coordination with DHHS (Dept. of Health and Human Services) in support of the National Response Plan health and medical Emergency Support Function? Lt Col Roberto Garza: I do not know. Avagene Moore: Michaela, please. Michaela Kekedy: Sir, can you give any examples of how NORTHCOM has responded to an approved request? Lt Col Roberto Garza: We are currently flying C-130's.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: equipped with fire fighting equipment.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: in support of fire fighting efforts in the Northwest. Avagene Moore: Isabel, please. Isabel McCurdy: Lt. Col. Garza, is your reponse only done on domestic American soil or will you assist internationally? Lt Col Roberto Garza: got kicked off again.... Avagene Moore: Did you see the last question by Isabel, Sir? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Yes, In response to assisting.... Lois McCoy: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: on international level, only at the request of sovereign (sp?) nation, and approval from our government. Lois McCoy: Thank you Col Garza and we appreciate the fine work that NORTHCOM has done in this new risky domestic area. Lt Col Roberto Garza: You are welcome. Avagene Moore: Lt Col Garza, do you wish to give your email address before we go to our next question? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Yes, roberto.garza@northcom.mil Avagene Moore: Thank you. Terry, you are next, please. Terry Storer: Recently CNN visited the NORTHCOM/NORAD Operations Center. I noted a number of individuals in civilian attire. Do you use a "blended" group of both military & civilian operations personnel? Isabel McCurdy: ? Amy Sebring: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Yes, we do. Avagene Moore: Lois, do you have a question or was your thanks all you wanted to say? Lois McCoy: My thanks Avagene Moore: Isabel, please. Isabel McCurdy: Lt Col Garza, are you familiar with Canada's Dod- Disaster Assistance Response Team known as DART? Lt Col Roberto Garza: I am familiar only because they were at a.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: Disaster Management Conference with us.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: and I had a chance to chat with them, but that is my extend of familiarity. Avagene Moore: Amy, please. Last call for other questions. Input your ? now if you wish to ask Lt Col Garza a question. Amy Sebring: Without getting into any sensitive areas, can you give a few more examples of specialized skills or resources that have not been previously mentioned here? Terry Storer: ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Deep sea divers.... Lt Col Roberto Garza: aviation assets, comm equipment. Avagene Moore: Terry, please. Lt Col Roberto Garza: There's other areas as well... Avagene Moore: Sorry, Sir. Lt Col Roberto Garza: but, long laundry list not at my disposal. Avagene Moore: Thanks. Terry. Terry Storer: Are costs covered by DOD ? Lt Col Roberto Garza: If we respond to request from federal agency... Lt Col Roberto Garza: that particular federal agency bears the cost. John Anderson: I must say I was impressed with the Priz rescue off Kamchatka. I think the whole world was impressed. Kudos to the USN etc. for responding to that one. Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: Amy, please. Amy Sebring: Are there any current planning efforts underway that you can mention? Lt Col Roberto Garza: Yes, a great job by all. Lt Col Roberto Garza: We have plans for many contingencies... Lt Col Roberto Garza: and continue to create new plans as our missions evolve... Lt Col Roberto Garza: or expand. we continue to update plans as well. Avagene Moore: That is all the time we have for today's session. Thank you, Lt. Col. Garza! We greatly appreciate your effort and time on our behalf. ... Avagene Moore: Please stand by a moment while we make some quick announcements .... Avagene Moore: If you are not currently on our mailing list, and would like to get program announcements and notices of transcript availability, please see the Subscribe link on our home page. Avagene Moore: If you are interested in becoming an EIIP Partner, please see the "Partnership for You" link on the EIIP Virtual Forum homepage http://www.emforum.org . Avagene Moore: Again, the transcript of today's session will be posted later today and you will be able to access it from our home page. An announcement will also be sent to our Mail Lists when the transcript is available. Avagene Moore: Thanks to everyone for participating today. We appreciate you, the audience! Avagene Moore: Before you go, please help me show our appreciation to Lt. Col. Garza for a fine job. The EIIP Virtual Forum is adjourned!