PWPORG, a Platinum Award Winner for Excellence in Public Safety & Community Enrichment in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, has launched Edition Six of the Parents With Preparedness digital magazine.
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY AT www.pwporg.org.
PWP provides go-to resources for parents, educators, and community organizations each guiding families through this amazingly complex and wonderful experience called life.
“The PWP TEAM had the opportunity and the honor to work with another TEAM of amazing athletes who symbolize the best examples of resilience, of preparedness through not only athletic rigor, but academic rigor, of collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” explains Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, the Founder of PWPORG.org.
“The Washington Spirit Professional Women’s Soccer Team are champions—not only on the field, but in life by being role models to kids who are in search of heroes more now than ever as we re-emerge slowly from a pandemic restricted world.”
“Having the opportunity to see the world through their eyes and Welcome to Parents with Preparedness Magazine listen through their words, reinforce essential values for all of us, not just for young kids.”
“They remind us that the ingredients to success have a great deal to do with not giving up, being accepting of feedback, being responsible and accountable to one another, and understanding that the view from, and energy of “an energetic” bench, is an essential part of the success of any team.
As always, PWP has collected an amazing group of contributing authors who bring a well-earned and practical knowledge to the dialogue about school violence, exploitation which is often hidden in plain sight, and family preparedness.
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY AT www.pwporg.org.
Edition Six Articles Include:
TEAMING FOR SUCCESS: THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT
Q: How do you respond/react after losing a game in order to prepare for the next game?
Andi Sullivan: There are a lot of different ways I respond to a loss and get ready for the next game. I think it’s important to accept how you feel and feel what you feel. If you’re in a bad mood, give yourself a time limit for how long you’re going to allow yourself to be in that bad mood.
Another thing I like to do is bounce ideas off of teammates and coaches to see if we have similar ideas about what went right and wrong. It’s important to evaluate on your own and collectively with your team.
Then, we have to get back to the process of recovering. We have to eat to make sure we’re getting our calories back and before bed, I like to do something that makes me happy as a way to zoom out and gain some perspective. After initial recovery, I watch game film.
A friend of mine always says it’s never as bad as you think and it’s never as good as you think and I think that’s very accurate. We tend to amplify things in our heads in the moment and it’s important to look back with a fresh set of eyes to update our evaluations.
Take those lessons from a neutral point of view and apply them to your training/preparation for the next week.
Q: Any advice you would give to your younger self about preparedness and resiliency?
Andi: This is a tough question and I have novels worth of answers. With regard to resiliency, I would advise my younger self to stay in the moment and focus on what you can do to keep progressing.
In college, I tore my ACL and kept asking myself “what else can I do?” It was very easy to look at what I couldn’t do and get discouraged and sad but there were just as many things I could do, from quad sets to range of motion work and rehab exercises.
I learned to focus on my capabilities as opposed to my inabilities because it helped me to stay present and keep powering forward.
I would also tell my younger self that preparedness is very much intertwined with the “what else can I do?” question. You have to trust the work you’ve put in while also giving a fair evaluation of yourself to know if you should be doing more.
Q: What would you say to children who want to play team sports but who have been told they’re not athletic or any good at sports?
Andi: It really upsets me that this is an issue for so many kids and their families. We’ve learned so much as to why this is wrong for developing kids.
It’s so important for kids to find a coach, friend, teammate and/or community that believes in your ability to learn and grow and follow through with your work. A growing and teaching environment is so valuable for young kids to find fulfillment in playing sports.
Too often the focus is on whether or not you’re on the best team or are the best player on your team when it should be whether or not you’re enjoying yourself and continuously getting better. Your environment has to fit your goals.
Any person who is at a high level in their sport would likely not say that their successes all came down to their athleticism; they would tell you it’s more about how they are able to accept feedback and apply it to their preparation, push through times of poor performance and problem solve.
So many skills and character traits are taught to kids through playing sports, athleticism is just a tiny piece of the puzzle and not the most important. Your physical abilities are constantly changing as a kid but what you learn and take away from sports and into your everyday life can be consistent.
(See Andi and the Washington Spirit in action, on Road to the Championship presented by Budweiser. Courtesy of the National Women’s Soccer League and YouTube.)
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 6, on Page 6
OVERCOMING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES
Looking back on how and why I began my career, I can’t help but be reminded of my childhood adversities. Through the years, I’ve delved into the research of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the negative lifelong consequences. This includes the brain’s response to trauma and adversity.
It amazes me how pliable our brains are, especially our ability to create new pathways. Of course, it’s always easier to continue down the same pathways we’ve created, whether positive or negative. The neurological pathways developed within a child’s brain depend on the child’s protective factors.
In 1995, the Center for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente conducted an extensive research study that changed how we see child adversities. This study looked into three different categories: abuse, household challenges, and neglect.
Each one of those categories had subcategories that addressed ten adversities: child abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional), parental incarceration, substance abuse in the home, domestic violence, mental health, divorce/separation, and neglect (physical and emotional).
Each adversity was scored with a single point in the study if someone had experienced it during childhood. The higher the ACE score, the higher the probability of life-long negative consequences such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and death by suicide.
Many adults are still unfamiliar with the ACE study. However, once surveyed, 6 in 10 adults report experiencing at least one ACE, and nearly 1 in 6 reports experiencing four or more different types of ACEs.
I have experienced 7 of the 10. Statistically speaking, my outcome as an adult was grim. If I had allowed research to predict my future, I would have given up all hope long ago.
So what stopped me? Why have I not thrown in the towel?
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 7
Deaneé Johnson, Ph.D., is a key player in advancing the field of responding to trauma and child adversities, specifically responding to child victims of sexual exploitation and poly victimization.
She has over 20 years of experience working directly with victims and survivors, partnering with multidisciplinary professionals and teams who meet the needs of child victims and their families.
Dr. Johnson led the working group focused on the victim services component of the 2016 National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction out of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Deputy Attorney General.
She serves on the National Steering Committee for the Vision 21 Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) demonstration project. She is the Chairwoman for Preparedness Without Paranoia Advisory Board (www.pwporg.org).
SEXTORTION: AN EDUCATION- AL OVERVIEW
As information technology becomes increasingly present in the professional and personal lives of society, the frequency of sexting and sextortion continues to rise. As digital tools are incorporated into learning, children have more access to electronic devices now than ever before.
Education is, therefore, a vital mechanism to spread awareness and instill prevention skills in children. This article aims to provide relief through education for parents, caregivers, general users of technology, and victims of sextortion.
Sexting can be defined broadly as “the sharing of personal, suggestive text messages, or nude or nearly nude photographs or videos through electronic devices” (Ouytsel et al., 2020, p. 36).
(Learn More from FBI Special Agent Brian Herrick who defines sextortion and talks about how young people are being manipulated and coerced into creating and sharing sexually explicit content online. Courtesy of the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation and YouTube.)
Research estimates sexting behaviors have increased over the past decade, approximately 15 to 27 percent of youths are sending or receiving sexting messages, and increases for high school-aged and adult participants, at 50 percent or higher.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sextortion is a serious crime that occurs when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you do not provide them images of sexual nature, sexual acts, or money.
The Child Rescue Coalition estimates 72.5 million unique IP addresses worldwide have shared or downloaded sexually explicit images, 90 percent of children are abused by someone known to their family, children are most vulnerable between the ages of 7 to 13, predators victimize 50-100 individuals in their lifetime, and young girls are disproportionality affected to boys.
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 9
Christian A. Nanry is a veteran and serves his community as a law enforcement official.
He holds an undergraduate degree from Empire State College, a master’s degree from Seton Hall University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Texas State University.
Contributor and Co-author: Heather C. Fisher is the senior advisor for human rights crimes at Thompson Reuters Special Services. In this capacity, Fischer advises on the company strategy to protect human rights and combat crimes of exploitation, including human trafficking.
THE SCIENCE OF HOPE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR PARENTING IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
Hope is a mindset not an emotion. Hope is a psychological resource based upon our ability to set, pursue, and achieve desired goals.
This positive expectation of the future is grounded in three simple elements: Goals, Pathways, and Willpower. Goals (short- and long-term) are the cornerstone of hope.
When we are in distress, we should focus on short-term goals. Pathways represent the strategies or plans we identify to pursue our goals. Neither willpower nor pathways alone is sufficient for hope.
For example, a child may have a strong desire to get good grades but struggles to complete homework assignments. Alternatively, the child may understand how to do the assignments but seem unmotivated to do the work. Both scenarios will result in failure or underachievement.
The hopeful child is able to identify multiple pathways to the goal and can effectively identify alternative pathways or solutions to potential barriers.
Willpower refers to the mental energy, such as attention and intention, on our pathway pursuits. The hopeful child has the willpower to self-regulate their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions when selecting and pursuing their desired goals.
With over 2,000 published research studies, hope has emerged as one of the most important predictors of well-being for children, adults, and families.
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 11
Chan M. Hellman, Ph.D. is a professor of social work at the University of Oklahoma and Director of The Hope Research Center.
He has written more than 150 scientific publications and has presented at numerous national and international conferences worldwide, and presented his work TEDx in May of 2021.
Chan’s research is focused on hope as a psychological strength helping children and adults overcome trauma and adversity. This research informed the development of the “Hope Centered and Trauma Informed” training program.
Chan is the co-author of the award-winning book “Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life” with his co-author Casey Gwinn published by Morgan James. As a result of this work, Chan was one of five invited workshops for Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit (November, 2021).
Stacy Phillips, DSW, MSW is a Victim Justice Program Specialist with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. Phillips works with on the Discretionary Team and Human Trafficking Team where she assists the office in developing, implementing, and monitoring victimization-related efforts and programs.
Dr. Phillips has more than 20 years of experience in the victim services field and is a child and youth expert within OVC focusing on trauma, poly victimization, and brain science.
She represents OVC on the DOJ Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Working Group and the Federal Inter-Agency Work Group on Child Abuse and Neglect.
She also addresses crime victims’ rights enforcement and legal wraparound networks, law enforcement-based direct services, post-conviction initiatives, and has spearheaded demonstration initiatives on poly victimization, reducing child fatalities and recurring serious child injuries, and leads the opioid/ drug addiction crisis initiative.
She is a social innovation strategist working on developing and deploying effective solutions to challenging and systemic issues. Before joining OVC, Ms. Phillips spent 15 years working in child welfare.
Dr. Phillips holds a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California with a focus on smart decarceration specifically with youth; an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University; and an M.S.W. from The Catholic University of America.
FOSTERING RESILIENCY IN OUR YOUTH: CALIFORNIA’S INCLUSION OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARENESS
Preparing our youth for academic rigor and societal challenges is the driving force of our academic institutions.
As we learn more about human trafficking and how traffickers groom young boys and girls in order to exploit them, we must provide our educators with the tools to help identify suspicious behavior and position our children to be resilient against coercive methods.
The State of California, often seen as a leader in counter-trafficking policies, has begun applying a novel approach – to fostering greater public awareness and attempting to instill resiliency in their youth by mandating anti-human trafficking in junior and senior high school curricula.
The term “human trafficking” can be jarring and too often is a loaded phrase used for political purposes. This is done because it invokes a visceral reaction. Unfortunately, many of the connotations the public conjure are cultural stereotypes, gender or ethnic bias, or Hollywood-based hysteria and hyperbole.
Approaching this issue from a fact-based lens, assessing and addressing root causes, and then building a resiliency response from a practical application perspective can help put our children in a position to repel inappropriate and harmful interactions.
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 13
Benjamin Thomas Greer, J.D., M.A.. is an Emergency Management Instructor for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES); a Research Associate for the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking (CCARHT); and holds a Master’s Degree from Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Program (NPS-CHDS), which was recognized in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program for ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’.
UASEM 2021 (The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM))
A zombie apocalypse taking over the South Street Seaport, a four-alarm fire in the Bronx with people trapped, a water main break with large-scale flooding on the A/C subway lines, Manhattan hospitals overrun with patients from a nationwide Salmonella outbreak, these are some of the topics you could hear walking the halls of The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM) on any given day.
UASEM is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school that prepares students for both college and career in the field of Emergency Management and Emergency Response.
The Beginning The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM) puts students in the shoes of Emergency Managers and first responders to identify high-stakes problems and create novel solutions.
In spring of 2013 Rodolfo Elizondo (Principal) and Robert Magliaro (Assistant Principal) with a small, but dedicated staff, began building the foundations of the first high school for Emergency Management in the United States.
Much like the Emergency Management industry itself, UASEM experienced some growing pains in our early days. Our small staff would meet in different restaurants and coffee houses around New York City, as the school did not yet have a physical space.
Our founding staff would work all day at their other schools, then meet after work to review potential staff hires and build a curriculum for each subject.
One main priority was to bring emergency management to life in all subjects, from art to math. We wanted students to feel and experience the mission of our school across all content areas.
The focus then became, what does emergency management look like for a high school student living in NYC?
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 15
Just over 20 years ago, 23-year-old EMT from Queens Salvatore Puglisi responded to a call for help in lower Manhattan that would change his life.
Arriving on scene at the moment of the second plane’s impact into the World Trade Center, Sal Puglisi began an immediate triage of patients. The days that followed would eventually change the trajectory of his personal and professional life.
Now Sal reports to lower Manhattan every day for a different calling — this time at the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM) as Mr. Puglisi, Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher for Emergency Management and Medicine.
The work at UASEM is a small example of UA’s CTE dreams come to life. Students discover passions, explore them with expert instructors, learn through internships in the field, and build the credentials that become the stepping stones to social and economic mobility
(Hear directly from Sal Puglisi, a teacher with the Urban Assembly School of Emergency Management, as he talks about the mission of the school and shares the impact of teaching emergency management in fun, engaging ways. Courtesy of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Naval Postgraduate School and YouTube.)
PUBLIC SERVICE: A FAMILY TRADITION
If acquiring financial wealth is your goal, then a career in public service is probably not right for you; after all, there are no stock options in government.
There are several reasons why an individual would choose a career in public service, but the overriding motivation is usually to have a sense of purpose and make a difference in the world.
In a recent article published by Columbia Southern University, the top inspirations for considering a career in public service include a desire to save lives, improve communities, influence social change, and achieve personal fulfillment.
In today’s politically charged environment, cynicism about government is the norm. A 2015 Pew Research Center poll found a meager 22% of citizens believe the majority of elected officials place the country’s interests ahead of their own.
Despite partisan differences and general mistrust, a majority of the public surveyed have a favorable opinion of the role of government in areas such as keeping the country safe from terrorism, responding to natural disasters, ensuring safe food and medicine, and managing immigration.
Although a majority of those surveyed believe our nation’s difficulties lack simple solutions, they also believe ordinary Americans can make a contribution by choosing a career in public service.
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 18
Terri March has been the Court Administrator for the North Las Vegas Justice Court since 2004, and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, a Master’s of Business Administration, and a Master’s of Public Administration.
Terri left the hotel/casino industry after 17 years to pursue a career in public service, ultimately entering court administration. Advancing her education through the National Center for State Courts, she completed the Court Management Program, Court Executive Development Program, and became a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management in 2009.
She graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Masters’ program in March 2018. Her thesis, “Weapons of Mass Distraction: Strategies for Countering the Paper Terrorism of Sovereign Citizens,” was developed into a distance learning webinar for the Nevada Supreme Court, and will be presented to a national audience with the American Judges’ Association in 2022.
Terri’s son, LTJG Conor Safbom, USN, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2019 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.
During his First Class (senior) year, he was selected as a Shoemaker Scholar, an academic scholarship that afforded him the opportunity to pursue an M.S. in Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.
He conducted research with Dr. Marcello Romano in the Spacecraft Robotics Laboratory and wrote a thesis entitled “Design, Testing, and Analysis of Self-Toss Hopping Maneuvers of Astrobee at NPS and NASA Ames Research Center.”
Following his graduation from NPS, he moved to Pensacola, Florida, to begin Naval Aviation training. He completed primary flight school in August of 2021 before selecting the E-2/C-2 pipeline. He will continue his flight training in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas, before ultimately reporting to Norfolk, Virginia, to learn to fly his ultimate platform.
A POWERFUL MINDSET: INSPIRE – MOTIVATE – RISE
In the past two years, the world has been faced with a plethora of uncertainty and challenges. Parents, teachers, and children have all been tested.
In today’s climate, I have seen a lot of uncertainty and self-doubt while coaching parents and teens. Some parents and teens are thriving, but others are just merely surviving.
With so much negativity and uncertainty in the world, children lack motivation, and parents doubt themselves at work and home. Breaking through these mindset challenges doesn’t have to be complicated.
By the end of this article, you will walk away with an easy process so that you can begin to transform your mindset and your families forever.
I have used this method with my own challenges, and I’ve also implemented it with parents, teachers, and athletes who want to thrive and create a balanced and fulfilling life.
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 20
Rahz Slaughter is a performance and health coach with more than 21 years of experience. Born and raised on Long Island, NY, he currently lives in South Florida with his wife, Michele, and 17-year old stepson, Nicholas.
Rahz’s passion for helping teens develop a powerful mindset resulted from overcoming many life challenges from adolescence to adulthood.
Today Rahz travels the country speaking at schools and conferences about leadership, confidence, and self-awareness. Rahz is the co-author of Student Success Secrets and creator of the S3 Accelerator Life and Success Coaching Program for teens.
EMOJIS – WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?
Written by By Amber Robell with contributions from Marrisa Savron (Courtesy of PWPORG)
Growing up with smartphones and tablets is something that makes current teens unique compared to the previous generations.
With the rapid development of social media platforms and numerous forms of direct messaging, teens are constantly communicating with one another and developing their social media presence.
Emojis, slang, and acronyms have all been intertwined with how we speak to each other and is done so seamlessly that we read and interpret as normal speech.
For those who did not grow up using these emojis, acronyms, and other text lingo, they can seem like a foreign language difficult to translate.
Being able to translate these is the key to understanding direct messages and social media messages, so here is my introduction to breaking down some text language that parents of teenagers should look out for to ensure their teens are being safe online.
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 22
Amber Robell (at right), is a current student at Oregon State University studying BioHealth Sciences with the pre-med option.
She participates in multiple activities on campus including research. In her free time, she enjoys attending group fitness classes and going to coffee shops with her friends.
Marrisa Savron (not pictured) is a freshman high school student in Brunswick, Ohio. She enjoys softball, volleyball and spending time with friends.
ONE SCHOOL’S JOURNEY: BUILDING HOPE ONE STEP AT A TIME
Hope is more than a wish. “Hope is the belief that your future can be brighter and better than your past and that you actually have a role to play in making it better” (Gwinn & Hellman, 2019, p. 8).
In their research, Casey Gwinn and Dr. Chan Hellman (2019) have seen a link between hope-driven individuals and improvements in grades, social and emotional learning, attendance, and more.
Further, when children and adults begin to experience meeting a goal, it raises their level of hope.
It is important that at the school and home level, we create opportunities for children to generate self-goals and meet them; this will increase children’s ability to thrive in all settings.
In this article, I’d like to share with you how I am building hope with the staff and students for which I am blessed to serve as proud principal of Lake Ridge Elementary School. I will also share some ideas I have for parents as they work to build hope in their child/ren.
Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 24
Sarah Harrington is the blessed mother of two children and wife of a retired Navy Officer. She is in her third year as the proud principal of Lake Ridge Elementary School in Woodbridge, Virginia.
Prior to administration, she worked as an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Specialist, ESOL teacher, fourth grade, second grade, and Kindergarten teacher.
Sarah has presented at state and nationwide conferences and holds a Masters in Educational Leadership from George Mason University, and a Masters in Education, Reading from California State University, Long Beach.
Her passions include literacy, English Language Learners, hope science, and growth mindset.
Be a Superhero, Make a Donation and Make a Difference
PWPORG is seeking charitable, donations, contributions and corporate/agency sponsorships to provide Safety and Emergency Preparedness Training to children’s groups in your community.
PWPORG is accepting charitable, donations, contributions and corporate/agency sponsorships to provide Safety and Emergency Preparedness Training to children’s groups in your community.
Please consider taking action to provide educational resources to kids, their families, and their communities today.
Every donation will make a difference and all donations go towards developing new children’s books, parental resources, and educational content.
Become an author of change that can forever enhance the life of a child! Visit pwporg.org/contribute
Are you a parent, caregiver, first responder, or educator who would like to contribute your experience, strength, hope and expertise in an upcoming edition of Parents With Preparedness magazine?
If so, also visit pwporg.org/contribute and sign up to be an author of change!
PWPORG Honored in 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Sixth Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
PWPORG
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Excellence in Public Safety & Community Enrichment
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PWPORG (Preparedness Without Paranoia) is a 501(c)(3) built by law enforcement and security industry practitioners and educators to provide educational resources to kids, families, and communities on safety and emergency preparedness.
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PWPORG is proactively taking action to introduce the children and families in our communities, to skills and educational resources on safety and emergency preparedness, that when learned and practiced, will last for a lifetime.
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Guided by Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, a 29-year veteran of Federal Law Enforcement and President of NEC National Security Systems, the nonprofit PWPORG was created to educate, engage and empower families and kids on issues of preparedness and resiliency to create a safer world, free of active threats and human traffickers.
(Learn about how YOU can Make a Difference in the lives of our Nation’s Children and Families. Be a Superhero, Make a Donation and Make a Difference by helping to support Preparedness Without Paranoia and Parents with Preparedness Magazine. Courtesy of Kiernan Group Holdings and YouTube.)
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards highlight the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
AST Honors Thomas Richardson, FDNY Chief of Department; Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems; and Richard Blatus, FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations, at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East.
The United States was forever changed 20 years ago on September 11th, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon.
In the days that followed 9/11, the critical needs of protecting our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.
Our 2021 keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000 member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.
Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton of the New York Police Department, the Boston Police Department, and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department was also live at the event, meeting with attendees and signing copies of his latest work ‘The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America,’ courtesy of the generosity of our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Premier Sponsors.
The 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by AMAROK, Fortior Solutions and SIMS Software, along with Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Reed Exhibitions.
The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. #MentorshipMatters
So be on the lookout for exciting upcoming announcements of Speakers, Presenters, Book Signing Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2022 in New York City!
2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program Welcomes New PLATINUM SPONSOR: NEC National Security Systems (NSS)!
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | COVID Innovations |
| Workforce Management | Government Security Programs | And Many Others to Choose From! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI)
- Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- DHS Science & Technology (S&T)
- The National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH)
- The American Red Cross
- The InfraGard National Alliance
- The Metropolitan Police (MPD)
- The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)
- Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS)
- The Federal Air Marshals Service
- The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, and Many More!
Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their record of accomplishment include:
AlertMedia, Allied Universal, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems of America, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, HID Global, Mark43, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Lumina Analytics, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Senstar Corporation, ShotSpotter, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and Wiresecure, just to name a few!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local level as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
(See just a few highlights of American Security Today’s 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East. Courtesy of My Pristine Images and Vimeo.)
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
