National Exercise Program (NEP) and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

(1)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO) _{March 13, 2007}

National Exercise Program (NEP) and the Homeland

Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

NEP and HSEEP: Interagency Exercise Strategy

(NRT/RRT Co-Chairs Meeting)

James Kish, Senior Director, Exercise and Evaluation Division National Preparedness Task Force

(2)

Overview

HSEEP

- Program Basis - Background - Current Status - Conclusion

NEP

- Charter

- Challenges for Federal Exercises

- Limited Cabinet-Level of Tiered Exercises

- Five-Year Exercise Schedule

- “Soft Alignment” of Other Exercises

(3)

NEP – Origin and Mandate

HSPD-8: Requires DHS Secretary to “establish a national program and a multi-year planning system to conduct homeland security preparedness-related exercises….” (2003)

Additional emerging strategic guidance and the development of

corresponding plans and programs has increased the scope and complexity required to prepare our nation

Focus is National:

- NEP Charter specifies the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) shall fulfill the “National Exercise Program” requirement as established by HSPD 8

- Codifies the NEP as encompassing a broader approach to preparedness activities and exercises necessary to fulfill strategic missions directed by a range of Presidential directives

(4)

NEP – As an Interagency Exercise Strategy

Support U.S. Government Officers’ preparation for managing

national crises, and accountability of those who support them

Limits ad hoc requests for U.S. Government Officers’ involvement

thereby focusing participation on selected events

Maximize value of that involvement—make it worthwhile

– Exercise what is important at a strategic/policy level – Exercise what is important, in sufficient depth

– Follow through on exercises and correct/improve elements of national response policy and capability

Avoid temptation to over-centralize and stifle needed exercise

(5)

NEP –Tiered Exercises Structure

Notes:

Tiered approach enables appropriate participation, producing better results

Five annual events with required

participation of Cabinet Officers and other key Federal officials

CABINET LEVEL EXERCISES:

Discussion-based exercises (tabletops, seminars) to examine emerging issues; one is preparatory to NLE

NATIONAL LEVEL EXERCISE:

Operations-based exercise (full scale, command post) to evaluate existing national plans/policy, in concert with intergovernmental partners – as well as private sector and/or international entities as appropriate

1 NLE

4 CLEs

Other Federal Exercises

Non-Federal Exercises

(6)

NEP – Five-Year Exercise Schedule

Based on strategic direction and policy priorities

Sets forth goals, themes, and schedule slots for NLEs, CLEs

- May involve progressive level of detail (implementation plan issue) - Requires process for discouraging changes less than two fiscal years

out (implementation plan issue)

Submitted by June 30 each year (in time for budget call)

Allows for departments and agencies to align other exercises,

training activities, and preparatory reviews of policies, plans, and procedures

Leverages existing interagency exercise conferences of DHS and

(7)

The Five-Year National Exercise Program Schedule (DRAFT)

NLE 09 Terrorism

TOPOFF 5 FSE; Pinnacle; Chairman’s Exercise Program; Ardent Sentry; Able Warrior; Ultimate Caduceus; (Olympics Prep) NLE 1-07 Positive Response; Vigilant Shield; Nuclear Weapons Accident Cabinet Level Exercise NLE 10 Natural Disaster TOPOFF 6 CPX; Ardent Sentry; Northern Edge; JLOTS CEP; (SONS) NLE 11 Terrorism

TOPOFF 6 Full Scale Exercise; Ardent Sentry; Chairman’s Exercise Program NLE 1-08 Terrorism

TOPOFF 4 FSE; Flexible Response; Global Lightning; CEP; Able Warrior

NSSE NSSE

NSSE

Olympics in Vancouver

Elections Transition Inauguration Confirmation Congressional Elections & Transition

Congressional Elections & Transition

Cabinet Level Exercise

FY 08

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Cabinet Level

Exercise Cabinet Level _Exercise

FY 07

FY 09

FY 10

FY 11

Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level

Exercise Cabinet Level _Exercise

National Level Exercise National Special Security

Events

Cabinet Level Exercise

Elections Transition Inauguration Confirmation

(Policy Review of Pandemic Influenza Plans) (IED) (Prep for NLE 2-07)

(Nuclear)

(Prep for NLE 1-08) (Radiological)

(MANPADS) (Bio)

(Prep for NSSE)

Terrorism CPX, Training And Orientation for new sub cabinet officials

Transition Training Program

(Prep for NLE 09)

(Prep for NLE 11) (Prep for NLE 10)

Version: 01-19-07

(Prep for NLE 2-08)

NLE 2-08 Natural Hazard Ardent Sentry; Chairman’s Exercise Program

(Prep for NSSEs)

Cabinet Level Exercise NLE 2-07 Positive Response; Ardent Sentry; Northern Edge; Ultimate Caduceus Cabinet Level Exercise

(8)

The Five-Year Tier 2 and Tier 3 Exercise Schedule (DRAFT)

NSSE NSSE

NSSE

Olympics in Vancouver

Elections Transition Inauguration Confirmation Congressional Elections & Transition

Congressional Elections & Transition Golden Guardian 06

FY 08

FY 07

FY 09

FY 10

FY 11

Cabinet Level Exercise

Elections Transition Inauguration Confirmation

SONS 07

Version: 01-23-07 Hurricane Preparedness Exercises

Cyber Storm II NATO CMX Positive Force SONS 2010

Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 National Special Security Events

Governor / House of Reps. Transition Training Program

Able Warrior NLE 2-08 Natural Hazard African FCM Pinnacle Vigilant Shield Diablo Bravo 2008 Vigilant Shield Able Warrior JLOTS Able Warrior Global Lightning Global Lightning Global Lightning NLE 2-07 Unified Support 07 NLE 09 Terrorism Terrorism NLE 10 Natural Disaster NLE 11 Terrorism Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise Cabinet Level Exercise NLE 1-08 Terrorism NLE 1-07 Able Warrior T4 LSG

Transition Training Program

Cabinet Level Exercise Able Warrior Able Warrior Able Warrior Able Warrior Able Warrior Able Warrior Catastrophic Assessment Task Force Pinnacle Pinnacle Pandemic Influenza Exercises Vigilant Shield

Hurricane Preparedness Exercises

Hurricane Preparedness Exercises Hurricane Preparedness Exercises

Vigilant Shield

(9)

NEP – “Soft Alignment” of Other Exercises

“The NEP shall not replace existing Department and Agency

exercise programs. Rather, the NEP shall address directed policy priorities and […] may incorporate Department- and Agency-specific exercises as needed.”

Other “unincorporated” exercises are not addressed in detail; they

can be

– Aligned to NEP priorities, as potential building blocks for out-year exercises OR

– Used to address issues specific to individual Departments and Agencies

Requirements for NEP should lead to supporting processes at

individual Departments and Agencies, where they do not exist:

– Prioritization of goals, objectives, and exercise proposals for submission – Internal corrective action program process

(10)

NEP – Corrective Action Program (CAP)

CAP is a basic requirement to ensure exercises have

outcomes

rather than short-lived outputs

NEP CAP process is required to:

– Document issues for resolution

– Prioritize issues for Cabinet-level attention (strategic/national/interagency)

– Ensure issues are assigned for resolution – Track resolution

– Report progress

Reporting may be the only “enforcement” mechanism

from PTEE PCC perspective

(11)

2. Prioritization

Lead: PTEE PCC

1. Identification and Initial Analysis

Lead: CAP Analysts

Support: Exercise Stakeholders

3. Assignment & Scheduling

Lead: PTEE PCC

Support: CAP Analysts

6. Implementation

Lead: Designated Interagency Dept.

7. Tracking/Analysis

4. Mission Analysis/Solution

Development

Lead: Designated agency with Interagency support

5. Solution Concurrence

Lead: PTEE PCC

8. Reporting

Exercise/ Operational

Results Future Plans,

Exercises, and Operations

Corrective

Action

Program

(12)

HSEEP – Origin

Different exercise policies, methodologies and course curriculum

have been promulgated by various Federal exercise programs

Multiple policies, methodologies, and curricula led to confusion,

especially at the State and local level

Varying exercise evaluation methodologies also makes it difficult

to assess preparedness nationally

To help remedy these inconsistencies, DHS developed the

HSEEP as policy and guidance that standardizes exercise

activities

(13)

HSEEP – Background

The first HSEEP Volumes were published in 2002

Programs that influenced HSEEP methodology:

– Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)

– Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program

– Nunn-Lugar-Domenici (NLD) Domestic Preparedness Program

Since the initial publication of HSEEP, national policies have been

implemented such as the NRP, NIMS, and National Preparedness Goal

With the promulgation of these national policies, as well as the

Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned Report which calls for HSEEP to be designated “as the common exercise methodology across all levels of government; HSEEP has been revised to be applicable to exercises at all levels of government

(14)

HSEEP – Current Status

Volumes were disseminated to the Federal Interagency

for review and comment and are awaiting Departmental

approval

Interagency feedback has been incorporated into the

final DRAFT version of HSEEP

HSEEP will meet the NEP Charter requirement to

establish exercise doctrine an NEP Implementation Plan

that prescribes; can serve as that doctrine

(15)

HSEEP – Conclusion

The implementation of HSEEP will help ensure a

common exercise methodology at all levels of

government, as well as a way to assess preparedness

nationally

It will provide some continuity among Federal, State and

local governments as State and local entities are

required to be HSEEP compliant when using grant funds

It will also ensure that State and local partners do not

have to continually adapt and adhere to various Federal

exercise policies, methodologies, and requirements

(16)

NEP – Benefits of Proposed Approach

Manageable and worthwhile engagement of Cabinet and

key officials to prepare for national crises

Multi-year strategic planning for exercise requirements

– Departments and Agencies direct exercise resources to

USG-wide priorities

– Departments and Agencies retain flexibility to address specific

concerns as exercise resources permit, or make additional

preparations for future NLEs/CLEs

Institutionalized requirement for interagency corrective

action program

(17)

NEP – Transition

Concurrence on chartering memorandum requires:

– A final NEP implementation plan to be presented to the HS Deputies within 30 days

– The conduct of an exercise scheduling conference to refine the current (draft) Five Year Exercise Schedule so that it both conforms to the NEP I-Plan, and is coordinated across the Interagency.

– Consideration to forecast and budget for necessary resources to support NEP events.

– Establishes the NEP (and by convention, the HSEEP) as the means for coordination and execution of NEP activities.

(18)

National Exercise Program (NEP) and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)