1 Federal Emergency Management Agency Charlie Hoffman Disaster Operations Directorate Chief, DEC Programs Disaster Emergency Communications National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Seattle, Washington September 15, 2008

2 *Communications is Elevated in the JFO ORG Structure * Now Reports Directly to Operations Chief FCO OPERATIONS DISASTER EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS FINANCEPLANNINGLOGISTICS FCO OPERATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE ESF2OTHER FINANCEPLANNINGLOGISTICS CURRENT 2008 PRIOR YEARS New in 2008 – JFO Disaster Emergency Communication Branch JFO – FCO Organization

3 JFO ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

4 Tactical Communications Group  The Tactical Communications Group is responsible for communications command and control, acquisition, coordination and interoperability requirement in an incident. In addition to DHS/FEMA personnel, the FCC and NTIA will provide spectrum manager and communications specialists for assignment within the division.

5 Communications Interoperability Unit –The Communications Interoperability Unit is responsible for, and the development, deployment and maintenance of wireless system solutions. The Unit is also responsible for the establishment of a Communications Command Center and for providing interoperability.

6 Communications Operations and Coordination Unit –The Wireless Communications Unit is responsible for spectrum management liaison support to include: assistance in submitting frequency assignment requests, requests for Special Temporary Authority and waivers, and resolving frequency interference issues. FCC or NTIA personnel will be assigned to manage the Wireless Communications.

7 Communications Operations and Coordination Unit –The Communications Operations and Coordination Unit is responsible for communications requirements and coordination. The requirements function involves receiving, validating, prioritizing, tracking, and assigning field requests for communications services using the DHS/FEMA CONOPS Matrix Tool. To accomplish sourcing, the Communications Operations and Coordination Unit uses the DHS/FEMA Telecommunications Information Management and Control System (TIMACS), described in Appendix D. The coordination function involves maintaining operational awareness of all available federal resources and capabilities, including those deployed by DHS components through liaison with other government entities.

8 Communications Planning Unit –The Communications Planning Unit is responsible for the communications resources management process. To fulfill this responsibility, the Communications Planning Unit has the following functions: Resource management; technical writing; Remedial Action Management Program (RAMP) participation; generation of communications input to the JFO Planning Section for Situation (SITREP) and Spot (SPOTREP) reports; evaluation of TIMACS activities; and trend analysis. Specific responsibilities include monitoring and tracking current and anticipated communications procurement requirements and actions, as well as expenditures. The Communications Planning Unit is also responsible for coordinating communications financial management and procurement activities with the JFO Finance/Administration Section.

9 FEMA DEC ORGANIZATION

10 FEMA DEC CIB Sections The DEC Program Section manages internal and external customer and partner relationships, provides program and project management for all DEC projects and program initiatives, compiles and disseminates best practices for the DEC Division and FEMA, supports standards development, and builds DEC Program recognition nationally. The Policy and Planning Section establishes policies, procedures, and plans to ensure that the DEC Division is prepared to respond and well integrated during response. The Section works to build DEC policies that describe the scope and methods for providing DEC capabilities alongside partners and to customers.

11 FEMA DEC CIB Sections The Architecture and Engineering (AE) Section provides technical influence and oversight for FEMA’s DEC capability to include fixed, transportable, and mobile equipment and systems. Building on appropriate standards recommended in the NECP and standards bodies, the AE Section establishes FEMA DEC technical standards to build equipment standardization and system interoperability among the technical components of FEMA’s DEC capability within and outside the FEMA DEC Division The RECCWG National Coordinator provides headquarter-level guidance, strategic and planning support to the 10 RECCWGs and regional DEC planning and support staff. The RECCWG National Coordinator coordinates DEC program activities with the FEMA Regional Administrators and Federal organizational elements in the regions. The Coordinator oversees execution of DEC planning processes and technical support at the regional level and interfaces with other Federal agencies that have emergency communications roles in the regions (e.g., OEC, NCS). The RECCWG Coordinator also disseminates National-level DEC plans and procedures, manages the headquarters RECCWG budget distribution, and serves as an advocate or RECCWG activities at the national level.

12 Contact Information: Charles Hoffman Disaster Emergency Communications Division Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Department of Homeland Security 500 C Street, SW, Suite 502 Washington, DC (Office) (Cell)