National Exercise Program (NEP) Overview August 2009
Creating a Unified Exercise Strategy In response to presidential and congressional requirements, the Homeland Security Council in coordination with DHS and FEMA created and put into place the National Exercise Program (NEP) to unify homeland security preparedness exercise strategies National Exercise Program (NEP) Meets requirements laid out in Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 8, Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as amended by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act), and The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned Provides the U.S. Government (USG) a national, interagency-wide program and a multi-year planning system to focus, coordinate, plan, conduct, execute, evaluate, and prioritize national security and homeland security preparedness-related exercises activities Works as the primary mechanism to improve delivery of Federal preparedness assistances to State and local governments Strengthening preparedness capabilities of Federal, State, and local entities Incorporates Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology 2
NEP Overview The President approved the NEP Charter and Implementation Plan on April 11, 2007 Department and agency designees coordinate their exercise program responsibilities and requirements through the NEP Executive Steering Committee; an interagency governance structure Chaired by the Director of the FEMA National Exercise Division The NEP shall serve as the mechanism for: Examining the preparation of the USG and its officers and other officials Adopting policy changes that might improve such preparation 3
NEP Components NEP program components include: National-Level Exercise (NLEs) (Annual NEP Tier I exercise) (national security and/or homeland security exercises centered on White House directed, USG-wide strategy and policy) Principal-Level Exercise (PLEs) (Quarterly cabinet level exercises focused on current USG-wide strategic issues) NEP Five-Year Exercise Schedule of NLE/PLE and significant NEP Tiered exercises with a strategic USG-wide focus National Exercise Schedule (NEXS) (schedule of all Federal, Regional, State, and local exercises) Corrective Action Program (CAP) Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) 4
NEP Guidance NLEs, PLEs, and NEP Tier II exercises will reflect USG-wide priorities, not single department or agency programs Homeland Security Council (HSC) Domestic Readiness Group s Exercise & Evaluation Sub-Interagency Policy Committee (E&E sub-ipc) recommends exercise priorities, goals, objectives, schedules, and corrective action issues to the Deputies Committee (Cabinet Deputy Secretaries) for approval FEMA NED chaired NEP Executive Steering Committee supports day-to-day coordination Develops proposed exercise priorities, goals, objectives, schedules, and corrective action issues for the E&E Sub-IPC Charged with ensuring that all NEP exercises are successfully coordinated and conducted Comprised of representatives across the USG Defining and drafting a NEP Five-Year Exercise Schedule 5
NEP Exercise Tiers Tier I: White House directed, U.S. Government-wide strategy and policy focused. (1 NLE and 4 PLEs annually) Tier II: Federal strategy and policy focused. (<3 annually) Tier III: Other federal exercises operational, tactical or organizational focused Tier IV: State, territorial, local, tribal or private sector focused Tier I Tier II Tier III Regional or Other Federal Exercises Tier IV Non-Federal Exercises 6
NEP Five-Year Exercise Schedule Based on strategic direction and policy priorities Transition Training Domestic Natural Disaster National Security Domestic Terrorism Sets forth focus, goals, themes, and schedule for NLEs & PLEs Requires process for discouraging changes less than two fiscal years out Allows for departments and agencies to: Align other exercises, training activities, and preparatory reviews of policies, plans, and procedures Align with regional and State efforts Budget resources for exercise planning & participation Leverages existing interagency exercise conferences 7
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National Exercise Program Five-Year Exercise Schedule (Tier I / Tier II) FY 09 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep IED FY 10 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep FY 11 Exercise 1-11 WMD or MANPADS FY 12 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Exercise 1-12 Chemical FY 13 Elections Exercise 1-10 Attack on Transit Transition Inauguration Exercise 1-09 NSSE: Presidential Inauguration Exercise 2-10 Exercise 2-12 Biological Confirmation Exercise 2-09 Administration Transition Training Program Olympics in Vancouver Exercise 3-10 Prep for NLE 2010 Exercise 3-11 Prep for NLE 2011 Exercise 3-12 Prep for NLE 2012 NLE 2010 Domestic Terrorism Improvised Nuclear Device Region VIII & IX Exercise 3-09 Prep for NLE 09 NLE 09 International Terrorism Prevention Focus Regions VI Exercise 4-10 HSC Assigned Exercise 4-12 NSSE: Political National Convention Exercise 4-09 HSC Assigned Oct Elections Nov Transition Dec Inauguration Jan Confirmation Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Congressional Elections & Transition Governor / House of Reps. NLE 2011 Exercise 2-11 Exercise 4-11 Transition Training Program Vigilant Shield 2011 Vigilant Shield 2012 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Elections Transition Olympics Prep Food Security Inauguration NSSE: Presidential Inauguration Exercise 1-13 IED Pan Flu SONS 2010 Region I Confirmation Administration Transition Training Program Major Hurricane 2012 Date TBD FRMAC 12 Exercise 2-13 TBD 2013 Date TBD Diablo Bravo 13 SONS 13 Domestic Non-Terrorism Major Earthquake Region IV, V, VI, VII NLE 2012 International Defense / Crisis Cyber Attack Region (TBD) Empire 09 RDD / FRMAC Region II Exercise 3-13 Prep for NLE 2013 HSC Assigned HSC Assigned NLE 2013 Domestic Non-Terrorism Major Hurricane Region IV & VI Unified Support 09 Mass Migration Region IV Cyber Storm III NSSE: Political National Convention Exercise 4-13 HSC Assigned National Level Exercise Exercise National Special Security Events NEP Tier II Exercise Version: 2008-06-17
National Exercise Simulation Center Section 664 of 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act: The National Exercise Simulation Center uses various methods of simulation to train elected officials and emergency response personnel from all levels of government. The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned, page 119: DHS should develop and fund a National Exercise Simulation Center (SIMCEN), similar to the Department of Defense s Joint Warfighting Center. The SIMCEN would act as a tool to simulate the Federal role in emergency response and be capable of working with State and local exercises. Vision Statement: To establish a state-of-the art National Exercise Simulation Center (NESC) at FEMA Headquarters to support the Department s all-hazards preparedness and response program through the use of a central facility that coordinates Modeling & Simulation resources, maximizes exercise efficiency, and provides sustained exercise and training support to all stakeholders 10
NESC Overview The NESC was formally established 12 January 2009 and is a component of the National Exercise Division NESC supports the NED s role as the executive agent for the NEP NESC capability will be utilized during National-Level, NEP Tier II and other NEP Tiered exercises as necessary Current Operating Capabilities: Multiple linked display capability VTC, Teleconference 100+ networked workstations with integrated phone isave technology installed In-house dedicated secure communications Capability includes up to secret classification level 11
NESC Projected Capabilities Fully operational State-of-the-Art Exercise Control and Sim Center to: Support national, federal, state, and local exercises throughout the United States and internationally with around-the-clock services Act as the central hub linking exercises and planning personnel to specialty services in a hub and spoke framework Incorporate National and FEMA improvement management services to include FEMA Remedial Action Management Program, National Corrective Action Program, and Lessons Learned Information System Provide advanced operational planning support Facilitate modeling and simulation activities that support exercises, training, and unique events Act as an extension of the NRCC for purposes of supporting national readiness 12
NLE Project Guidance The National Exercise Division drafted guidance for conducting NLEs Major components include: Project goals and characteristics Planning working group considerations (Scenario, External Affairs, Control and Evaluation, etc) Conduct and security guidance National after action evaluation process Version 1.0 posted to www.llis.gov and is considered a living document and maintained by the National Exercise Division 13
Regional Exercise Support Program Established as a formal application-based process to provide subject matter expert assistance to regionally coordinated initiatives RESP supports Regional, State, Territorial, Tribal, local and Urban Area Security Initiative s exercise initiatives RESP support includes: Facilitation of Training and Exercise Plan Workshops (TEPW) Delivery of the HSEEP Training Course Exercise Support for discussion and operations-based exercises (design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning) All applications for RESP support is coordinated through the appropriate FEMA Regional Exercise Officer More information on this program can be found at https://hseep.dhs.gov 14
HSEEP Overview Capabilities and performance-based exercise program, which provides a standardized policy, methodology, and terminology for exercise design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning Provides a consistent exercise methodology for all entities involved in exercises, including Federal, State, and local governments, departments, and agencies; private sector entities; and Non-Governmental Organizations, regardless of the exercise scenario Articulated in four policy and guidance Reference Volumes: HSEEP Volume I: HSEEP Overview and Exercise Program Management HSEEP Volume II: Exercise Planning and Conduct HSEEP Volume III: Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning HSEEP Volume IV: Sample Exercise Documents and Formats HSEEP Volume: Prevention Exercises 15
HSEEP Program Description Capabilities-based approach Standard policy, methodology and terminology for exercises Policy and Guidance Training through the HSEEP Training course and online independent study courses Direct Support HSEEP Training Technological support through the HSEEP Toolkit Support for Improvement Planning Workshops and Training and Exercise Planning Workshops Technology 16
HSEEP Cycle 17
CAP Overview (USG Interagency) The USG Interagency CAP provides a disciplined process and automated tracking system to ensure that corrective actions are implemented in a timely, reliable manner after exercises and real-world events. The Interagency CAP does not replace existing department and agency remedial action programs - Links the outputs of departmental and agency programs to provide effective Interagency-level coordination and tracking of corrective actions The CAP captures lessons learned via Lessons Learned Information Sharing website 18
CAP Scope The Interagency CAP coordinates and tracks: Corrective actions arising from officially designated National- Level Exercises (NLE) and other appropriate NEP Tiered exercises Corrective actions requiring coordination by multiple departments and agencies Available for real-world events for which the HSC s DRG convenes an After-Action Conference within 30-days of the end of response activities 19
CAP Purpose The CAP closes the circle of a broader preparedness cycle, ensuring that evaluation of exercises and real-world incidents consistently yields concrete improvements to the Nation s preparedness Establishes a disciplined approach and consistent processes for implementation of corrective actions that are currently handled through a wide array of inconsistent, ad hoc processes Provides coordination channels for departments and agencies to jointly vet and implement corrective actions Tracking and reporting functions provide senior officials and decisionmakers with real-time insight into the status of corrective actions Solves the recurring problem of observing the same issues identified as shortcomings in after-action reports following exercises and real-world events 20
What is Lessons Learned Information Sharing? The national, online network of lessons learned, best practices, and innovative ideas for the emergency response and homeland security communities Online since April 19, 2004, with over 46,000 members Over 13,000 documents currently available, including: 650 after-action reports 1,600 state and local plans 800 LLIS.gov original content documents LLIS.gov serves as both a comprehensive repository for preparedness information and a network for sharing expertise. 21