Homeland Security releases state fusion center report
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis released its second annual report on the state of fusion centers across the country, the department said.
Scott McAllister, deputy under secretary for the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, said the report, initiated in August 2012, looks to highlight the progress of fusion centers over the past year and provide recommendations to improve capabilities and performance in an effort to help decision-makers make informed decisions to protect the homeland from a variety of threats and hazards.
“State and major urban area fusion centers … are the heart of the homeland security intelligence enterprise at the state and local level,” McAllister wrote.” They serve as focal points for the receipt, analysis, sharing, and safeguarding of threat-related information between all levels of government and private sector partners.
He continued, “Fusion centers therefore provide a valuable state and local context that enables local officials to better protect their communities. They also provide critical information and subject matter expertise that allows the Intelligence Community to more effectively prevent and protect against threats to the homeland.”
