Your National Security Voice

CLIVE ADDY

Mar 10, 2006

I am very pleased to launch FRONTLINE SECURITY in the wake of the change in our national Government. One of the elements that we believe was called for in this change is a clearer and more knowledgeable debate of broader national security issues and their impact on our well-being and democratic society. Our magazine has been designed to offer such a national voice to this debate in a more security-conscious Canadian society. Just as Julian Fantino says of Emergency Preparedness in his interview in this issue, our own magazine is also “a work in progress.”

We trust that the present National Security Policy will evolve into a more concrete National Security Strategy and, in several of our articles in this issue, we propose, quite clearly, key and pertinent realms where better results can and should be obtained from our investments in national security.

These are examples of the type and tone of issues that we intend be debated in this magazine. For government practitioners at all levels, for industry and for policy and academic centres across the country, it is important to us, and, we trust, to you, that FRONTLINE SECURITY become for Canada the premier forum for the debate of current policy, techniques, innovations and concepts in all national realms of security likely to affect the safety of our fellow citizens.

It is our intent, for this and all editions of FRONTLINE SECURITY, to reach the most senior personnel in government, industry and services, and the public safety, security and enforcement agencies, such as: municipal and provincial governments; Police, Fire and Ambulance Services; federal departments and agencies (such as Public Safety; RCMP; Coast Guard; CSE; DND; Canada Border Security; Transport Canada; Health Canada; DFO; etc.); senior industry executives; and Members of Parliament and the Senate.

Our aim is to encourage among our readers serious discussion that, of itself, will help and influence those charged with the security and the public safety of our citizens to keep abreast of risks, innovations, shortcomings and solutions.

For each issue we will have regular department reports on one or more of the following: Emergency Management, Communications, First Responders, BioSecurity, Medical, Mass Transit, Resource Preparedness, Border Security, Cyber Security, and Economic Security.

We also seek and encourage contributions, advertising and comment in all realms of security – from broad policy to the “real today” solutions.

Here are the issues that we have targeted for the coming two years. The list, though long, is by no means exhaustive and new ideas are not only welcome but avidly sought.

Global Issues & Policy Development
Root causes and management of threat risks • impacts of technology and/or globalization • environmental issues relating to biological weapons, WMD, health crises • global impacts, implications and issues of national policies • Emergency Management • municipal, provincial and national security structures and alliances • risk analysis, mitigation and business continuity • security coordination between departments, across jurisdictions, and with allies.

Safety & Security: Threats and Responses
Natural disasters, environmental emergencies • timely intelligence sharing • implications of new capabilities, weapons, and tactics • rogue states • instability: civil strife and the breakdown of organized government • biometrics • emergency response systems and resources.

Security & Enforcement
Border issues • capabilities: personnel, organization; equipment; and weapons • policy and doctrine • strategy and tactics • missions, operations and exercises • equipment and technology • relationships between missions and capabilities • trends, challenges, regulations & developments • management, cooperation & interoperability between organizations & jurisdictions.

Public Health & Safety
Global health, defence and safety challenges • health crises and response issues relating to WMD, biological weapons and pandemics • biotechnology for health & safety • HR management in a pandemic.

Critical Infrastructure
Logistics, transportation and delivery relating to emergency response • business resilience and continuity • cooperation between organizations and jurisdictions • emergency preparedness for mass transit systems • security for critical utilities • business case for security preparedness.

Leadership, Management & Teamwork
Interviews & profiles of innovative ‘frontline’ leaders • trends and approaches in leadership and management; increasing use of teamwork; management methods and initiatives • leadership and management of safety and security organizations which are increasingly knowledge-based.

Communications
Mission critical interoperability • emergency communication technologies • cooperation between first responders • radio frequency ID and innovative warning systems.

Cyber Security
Strategies for applying information technology • examples of IM/IT applications in safety & security • safety, security and enforcement as leading users of technology • management of corporate information (critical database and electronic document management) • IT security and electronic operations • use of the Internet • methods, improvements, impact • R&D • S&T • knowledge management as a means of managing and improving security.

Learning, Training & Competencies
Large scale multi-disciplinary simulations and exercises • leadership and skills development • training programs &innovations • training and learning as an investment • innovative approaches: rotational assignments, peer learning, action research, learning networks, joint education/training programs • cooperative, joint, and multinational training • collating and sharing lessons learned.

Finance, Economic Security and Accountability
Financial management and budget issues • program integrity • procurement procedures, practices, and reform • measurement and tracking systems; enterprise secure resource planning • liability and brand protection • performance management • accountability and reporting to parliament and the public.

Human Resources
Crisis response • motivation and morale • recruitment & retention • analysis & mgmt • diversity • physical and mental health.

First Responders
Emergency response challenges & solutions • equipment and technique sharing • technology • cooperation & interoperability • training and multi-level exercises.

FRONTLINE SECURITY hopes that you will enjoy this first edition. We are open for business and look forward to your contributions. Together, may we face all threats realistically and do our share to make our part of the world less threatening to all citizens.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please address them to me at caddy@frontline-canada.com