~ Recently Created Secretariat Brings Spotlight to Virginia’s Veterans, Military and Military Families While Continuing to Oversee the Commonwealth’s Homeland Security and All-Hazards Preparedness Efforts ~

RICHMOND – Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Terrie L. Suit, herself a 9-year veteran of the House of Delegates before joining the McDonnell administration in 2010, announced today some of the recent accomplishments and future goals of the office that was created during the 2011 General Assembly session.

The former Office of Commonwealth Preparedness has now become the focal point for the McDonnell administration’s efforts to make Virginia the “most veteran-friendly state in the nation” while continuing to serve as the all-hazards, homeland security liaison between the governor and the federal Department of Homeland Security. As part of the office re-naming and re-organization, the Department of Veterans Services, the Virginia War Memorial, and the Veterans Services Foundation now fall under Suit’s purview, giving her the ability to directly align the Commonwealth’s capabilities with the vision of the governor.

The 2011 General Assembly session saw the passage of HB1773 and SB1263, which changed the name and re-organized the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness into the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security. The new law not only changed Suit’s title from Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness to Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, it elevated the government’s focus on Virginia’s veterans’ issues and clarified the homeland security duties the office has been tasked with for many years.

Secretary Suit commented that, “Our office has been tasked with two tremendous endeavors. On the one hand, we are working to create the most veteran-, service member-, and military family-friendly climate in the nation, while at the same time we must continue to meet the high call of remaining vigilant in keeping our citizens as safe as possible under any and all circumstances. It is truly my honor to serve both the governor and the Commonwealth on such important matters.”

One of the key issues for the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security is addressing veterans’ homelessness in the Commonwealth. The office is currently identifying all programs and resources that are available to homeless veterans on the state and federal level to recommend to the governor a more cohesive program to meet the needs of these veterans. Many homeless veterans, for example, are entitled to federal Veterans Affairs benefits which they are either unaware of or have not pursued because of overwhelming circumstances that accompany homelessness.

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Jim Hopper commented, “As a retired Colonel in the United State Army. I have a deep appreciation for what our service members sacrifice in order to maintain the freedoms we enjoy back home. It is both heartbreaking and completely unacceptable for those proud men and women who have fought and protected our homes to find themselves in the unfortunate position of not having one of their own.”

“The military and its operations account for approximately 14 percent of Virginia’s economy,” said Secretary Suit. “Not only is the military one of our best national assets and sources of strength, but it is a vital component Virginia’s economy in both the public and private sectors. It is extremely important to foster a positive environment to sustain and grow our military presence in the Commonwealth.”

Secretary Suit also facilitates the Virginia Military Advisory Council which focuses on all of the military installations and activities in the Commonwealth. The council works to ensure healthy partnerships are cultivated between the state, the military and the private sector in order to keep Virginia’s proud military tradition in-tact both now and in the future.

Recent Initiatives

• The First Lady of Virginia Maureen McDonnell partnered with the new secretariat earlier this year for the Serving Our Service Members (SOS) project and website. This initiative encourages citizens to partner with the Commonwealth to offer support to families of deployed service members. The website, www.sos.virginia.gov, is a resource for citizens and charitable organizations that are willing to donate their time and effort toward helping these military families.
• The Hampton Roads Full Scale Exercise was held in May of this year and provided the Commonwealth of Virginia with the opportunity to strengthen its anti-terrorism capabilities as well as test local, state and federal response efforts in multiple scenarios. Planning for this event required 18 months and involved more than 400 participants. The three-day federally funded exercise simulated a maritime terrorist threat on the first day, a building barricaded by a group with hostages the second day, and a mass casualty event the final day.
• Secretary Suit works in coordination with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to administer preparedness grant funding to Virginia localities and state agencies. These grants are released annually by the Department of Homeland Security through the Homeland Security Grant Program. Virginia has developed a competitive process by which localities and state agencies submit project ideas for review and evaluation. The Commonwealth holds regional meetings following the release of grant guidance from the Department of Homeland Security to explain the competitive process each year, including any changes in the federal guidelines and which of the federal and state strategic goals and objectives should be taken into consideration with project planning. Projects should also take risk and threat into consideration as the intent behind the Homeland Security Grant Program is to prepare for, prevent and respond to terrorist attacks.
• The Homeland Security Working Group, formerly the Commonwealth Preparedness Working Group, consists of cross-secretariat and state agency partners who coordinate, develop, and implement policy on funding and operational issues relating to homeland security and all-hazards preparedness. Currently, the group is coordinating a landmark integrated planning effort with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management regarding sheltering/evacuation efforts throughout the Commonwealth to include secretariats, state agency partners, and local government. This effort helps to ensure the Commonwealth is prepared should the need for sheltering and evacuation occur following a major disaster or emergency.
• In 2010, Executive Order #22 created the Virginia Commission on Military and National Security Facilities. The commission’s appointees are former senior members of the armed services as well as civilian and private industry leaders. It is tasked with, among other things, identifying appropriate opportunities for relocating additional military commands, missions and non-military national security facilities to the Commonwealth. It also recommends best business practices for the Commonwealth to retain its existing facilities and to foster collaboration among local and regional entities and the private sector to promote business, technology, transportation, education and economic development.

The commission played an important role when Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced in August 2010 that there were plans to close U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM). Secretary Suit, Virginia’s congressional delegation, the commission and local elected officials worked together to try to stop this from happening. Although not able to save the entire command, they were able to reduce the impact by about 50 percent. Today, in partnership with the City of Suffolk, Hampton Roads is home to is the Virginia Regional Center for USJFCOM Workforce Transition and Business Development. This center is servicing this workforce by providing employment assistance through the Virginia Employment Commission, Opportunity Inc., the Virginia Community College System and the Small Business Development Center.

Preparedness

The homeland security and all-hazards preparedness mission directs the office to create and maintain plans and policies that keep the Commonwealth safe from an array of emergencies ranging from natural disasters to terrorism. Among Secretary Suit’s critical functions is to serve as a direct liaison between the governor and local governments and first responders regarding emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Additionally, Secretary Suit serves as Virginia’s point of contact with the federal department of Homeland Security. Within these roles Suit works with and through others, including federal, state and local officials, as well as the private sector, to develop a seamless, coordinated security and preparedness strategy and implementation plan for Virginia. Another of Secretary Suit’s duties is to serve as the governor’s representative on the regional efforts to develop a coordinated security and preparedness strategy in the National Capital Region and meets regularly with her counterparts from Maryland, Washington D.C. and the federal government.

Interoperability

Falling within the secretariat is Virginia’s state interoperability coordinator. This staff member ensures that key public safety personnel can communicate seamlessly to perform mission-critical duties. The Commonwealth has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security’s SAFECOM program to develop a stakeholder-driven approach to tackling communications interoperability issues. Virginia created the Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan, a nationally accepted best practice for communications interoperability planning, resulting in recognition by both Homeland Security and SAFECOM.  The interoperability coordinator also equips, trains, and maintains strategic communications caches which are collections of equipment that can be deployed to emergency sites within hours. In January 2010, the Fairfax cache was deployed to Haiti to assist with search, rescue and recovery.

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Another key responsibility included in the secretariat is Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resiliency. This nationally recognized initiative includes several programs administered within localities, state agencies and the private sector under the guidance of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. Virginia was the first state to implement the National Infrastructure Protection Plan when it created the “Virginia Plan” incorporating planning for risk management, governance and outreach. Virginia conducts risk assessments performed on infrastructure of national, state, and local significance through the Department of Homeland Security’s Automated Critical Asset Management System.

Continuity of Operations

The office also has oversight on the Continuity of Operations Plans for state agencies and institutions of higher education, as well as overall agency preparedness in the Commonwealth. For 2011, the Office of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security is working to finalize recommendations that will more clearly define the role of the emergency coordination officer, the requirements of individual state employee preparedness, plans pertaining to continuity and the means by which Virginia tests agency and institutions of higher education preparedness. These recommendations are being written with input from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Homeland Security Working Group and representatives of the emergency managers of Virginia’s institutions of higher education.

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